As a new parent, are you asking yourself “How many newborn diapers do I need?” It’s true that newborn babies go through a lot of diapers, and, of course, you want to be prepared. We’ll answer this question while also diving into how many diapers a newborn needs per day and per month, plus offer some helpful information regarding sizing.
What Size Diaper Do You Need for a Newborn?
Newborn babies use the smallest diaper sizes, of course. It’s important to know that these sizes are organized by weight (not age) and can vary from brand to brand.
Pampers offers three size categories for new arrivals, all based on weight. These include three different sizes for preterm babies and very small infants as well as size N (newborn) and size 1.
Preemie diapers (size P1, P2, P3)
Working with NICU nurses, Pampers created a line of preemie diapers that fit preterm babies of any size. You’ll see three options in this size range, though the smallest are reserved for hospitals. If your little one is a preemie at home, you can get P1 diapers for babies weighing less than six pounds. Some hospitals use P2 for those weighing less than four pounds and P3 as the tiniest size, for those weighing less than one pound and eight ounces.
Newborn diapers (size N)
The Pampers newborn size offers a fit for infants who weigh less than 10 pounds at birth but don’t require premature sizing.
Size 1 diapers
These diapers are designed for babies weighing between 8 and 14 pounds.
How much babies weigh at birth varies a lot. For babies born between 37 and 40 weeks, birth weight typically ranges from 5 pounds and 8 ounces to 8 pounds and 13 ounces. Therefore, it helps to have both size N and size 1 diapers on hand before your baby’s birth. Then, once you know the size you’ll need, you can stock up at home and add them to your diaper bag checklist.
Tip
Some parents-to-be wonder what size diapers to put on their baby registry. Since you won’t know your little one’s birth weight until later, it’s a tricky question. However, even if your baby’s weight requires a preemie diaper at first, you know you’ll need those size 1 diapers eventually. You might want to register for just size 1, or you can ask for a pack or two of size N diapers in addition to size 1, just in case.
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Baby Growth Chart Calculator
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**Source: World Health Organization
How Many Diapers Does a Newborn Use in a Day?
The answer to the question “How many newborn diapers do I need?” is fairly straightforward. Newborns may use up to 10 diapers per day. Of course, every child is different, and days can vary, so think about it in terms of weeks and plan for close to 70 diapers each week. Basically, you’ll learn how to change a diaper very quickly!
Why so many diapers? Newborns urinate quite frequently, as often as every one to three hours. As for baby poop, there’s no precise number of bowel movements to expect from a newborn. Once they’ve passed their first bowel movement (meconium), some infants poop after every feeding. But that frequency will gradually decrease, and by 3 to 4 weeks old, some babies only poop about once per week. Remember to anticipate the occasional diaper blowout by purchasing the right fit and stocking up!
All this adds up to a lot of diaper changes. To avoid skin irritation and diaper rash, you’ll want to change your baby’s diaper every time it’s wet or soiled. That typically works out to about one change for every two to three hours, on average.
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How Many Diapers per Month?
If you want to plan for your baby’s first month, then all you need to do is a little calculation. If you can expect up to ten diapers a day, that’s about 280 diapers per month. But remember how often you'll need to change newborn diapers each day (and month) varies from baby to baby and will change as babies grow and mature. For example, older babies may urinate only after a feeding, so the number of diapers needed decreases.
How Long Are Babies in Newborn Diapers?
Perhaps your question has changed from “How many newborn diapers do I need?” to, more specifically, “How many size 1 diapers do I need?” Again, baby diaper sizes go by weight, so the length of time you’ll need a specific size will depend on your baby’s rate of growth and when they experience growth spurts.
To get a better idea of how long babies are in size 1 diapers, it helps to understand the average baby weight. Healthy babies come in a wide range of weights, but below is how babies tend to grow in terms of weight:
Tip
Thinking about how long babies are in newborn diapers may prompt you to wonder how many diapers to register for on your baby registry. Though you’ll want to have a decent supply (so that you don’t run out mid-diaper-change), it isn’t necessary to stockpile diapers. Your baby will grow out of sizes more quickly than you might expect, so it’s best to ask yourself, “How many diapers do I need per month?” That way, you know you’ll be safe for the month without having too many leftovers if your little one goes up a size.
How Many Diapers Per Day: Chart by Age, Weight, or Size?
It’s tricky to create a diaper chart regarding how many specific diapers you’ll need by age. Remember that diaper size goes by weight and not age. However, we can give you a rough estimate regarding how many diapers, in general, you might need at each size and weight.
| How Many Diapers per Dat Chart by Weight and Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pampers diaper size | Baby weight (in pounds) | Average number of diapers per day* | How long your baby might need this size (in months) |
| Size P1 diapers | <6 | as needed | as needed |
| Size N diapers | <10 | up to 10 | 1.6 |
| Size 1 diapers | 8-14 | up to 9 | 1.7 |
| Size 2 diapers | 12-18 | up to 8 | 2.8 |
| Size 3 diapers | 16-28 | up to 7 | 5.8 |
| Size 4 diapers | 22-37 | up to 7 | 6.8 |
| Size 5 diapers | 27+ | up to 6 | 5.0 |
| Size 6 diapers | 35+ | up to 6 | 5.8 |
| Size 7 diapers | 41+ | up to 6 | 4.1 |
FAQs at a Glance
How many boxes of newborn diapers should you buy?
As babies go through a lot of diapers, you might want to have about 280 newborn diapers for your first month (roughly 3 boxes if you’re buying packs with about 100 diapers). However, as our article mentions, babies do grow and require larger sizes in the first year, so you don’t want to buy too many of the same size at once. Planning month to month is a good strategy.
How many newborn diapers do you need per month?
Babies can go through up to ten diapers a day, though yours might need more or less. To be on the safe side, plan for up to 70 diapers per week, which is 280 newborn diapers in your baby’s first month.
How many newborn diapers do you need per month?
Babies can go through up to ten diapers a day, though yours might need more or less. To be on the safe side, plan for up to 70 diapers per week, which is 280 newborn diapers in your baby’s first month.
How many newborn diapers do you need in a diaper bag?
Stocking your diaper bag with all the necessities is an important task, and diapers are at the top of the priority list. How many you pack depends on the length of your outing. Newborns typically need a diaper change every two to three hours, so try to have a few diapers per outing, just in case.
How many diapers does a newborn use in a week?
A newborn can use up to 10 diapers per day or about 70 per week. Our article details how to plan ahead for your baby’s diaper needs, especially in their newborn stage.
Use our handy Diaper Size and Weight Chart to make sure your baby's diapers always fit properly.
The Bottom Line
Even if you don't always love diaper changes, you will love knowing that your little one feels dry and comfortable in their diaper. Plus, as you become a diapering pro, diaper changes will become easier and easier. Before you know it, you'll be done!
American Academy of Pediatrics. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, 7th ed. (New York: Bantam Books, 2019).
Mayo Clinic. Guide to Your Baby’s First Years, 2nd ed. (Rochester, MN: Mayo Clinic Press, 2020).
KidsHealth: Your Newborn’s Growth
Mayo Clinic: Infant Growth, What’s Normal?
