I vastly underestimated the world of diapers – how many varieties there are on the market, the price of diapers, and the sheer number that babies get through during their diaper-wearing years.
Welcoming a new little one into the world is amazing, but tough, and relentless diaper changes are no mean feat. Diapers will become a very (very) regular part of your life as a parent when your baby makes their arrival. So it’s worth being prepared – it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re trying to do a million and one things at once… which gets better in time, promise.
So what do you need in preparation for a new baby? Do you need newborn size diapers or size 1 diapers? And what’s the difference?
Let’s find out…
What’s the difference between size 1 and newborn?
Newborn diapers are, as a rule, suitable for babies who weigh less than 10lbs.
Generally, size 1 diapers are for little ones who weigh 8-14lbs. Every baby is different – some parents might find that their little one needs size 1 diapers straight away, whilst others will be a month old+ before they need size 1 diapers.
How do you know when to switch from newborn diapers to size 1?
If you’re experiencing leaks with newborn diapers, it might be worth giving size 1 a try, especially if your baby is nearing 8lbs. Size 1 diapers are generally suitable for little ones who are between 8 and 14lbs, so if your baby falls into that weight range, it’s probably time to give size 1 a go.
Related Post: Why Is My Newborn Boy Peeing Out Of His Diaper At Night? The Complete Guide
Do size 1 diapers hold more pee than NB?
It’s not the case that diapers become more absorbent as the size increases. The absorbent core should be the same in all sizes of a particular diaper variety. What’s different is the size of the diaper itself.
Diapers that are too small will cause leaks, so if your little one is nearing 8lbs or over 8lbs, you’ll probably find that size 1 diapers are a good fit.
Related Post: The Best Diapers To Prevent Blowouts; Do All Diapers Leak?
What size diaper should a 2 week old wear?
It really depends on the size and weight of your 2 week old. Newborn diapers are generally suitable for little ones who weigh up to 10lbs, while size 1 diapers tend to fit babies from 8-14lbs. Always check the size guide for your chosen brand, though.
Many babies fit into size 1 diapers after about a month of being born, so a 2 week old is likely to wear newborn diapers. But if your baby is 8lbs or more after 2 weeks, they might fit size 1s a little better, especially if you’re experiencing leaks with newborn sizes.
Read Next: The Best Diapers For Newborn Babies
How do you know if a diaper is too big?
If a diaper is too big, the first sign will be leaks! A diaper that’s too big won’t fit properly around the legs, leading to pee and poop explosions. And no-one wants that…
While you can control the waist tabs, if a diaper’s too big at the legs, it’s never going to work.
It’s best to follow the size guide for your chosen brand, and buy smaller packs until you’re confident that a particular size and brand is right for your baby.
Related Post: The Complete Diaper Size Guide: Chart Of Most Popular Brands
How do I know if my nappy is too small?
If a diaper is too small, you’ll probably find that it’s becoming difficult to close the waist tabs – they’ll probably be very far apart. You might also find that the leg cuffs are too small and this might be uncomfortable for your baby, possibly leaving marks on the skin. If your little one is at the higher end of the weight range for that size and especially if you’re experiencing leaks, it’s time to give the next size up a try.
FAQ about size 1:
1. Can my 2 week old wear size 1 diapers?
You might find that your 2 week old needs size 1 diapers rather than newborn diapers. Newborn diapers are usually suitable for little ones who weigh up to 10lbs, while size 1 diapers are for babies who weigh 8-14lbs. So it’s perfectly normal for a new baby to skip newborn diapers altogether!
It’s worth having a few newborn and size 1 diapers ready for your new arrival. If your baby is 8lbs or more and you’re experiencing leaks with newborn size, try size 1 instead.
2. Can a 2 month old wear size 1 diapers?
The average weight of a 2 month old is 11lbs 5oz. Given that size 1 diapers are normally suitable for babies who weigh 8-14lbs, it’s likely that your 2 month old will need size 1 diapers. But every baby is different, of course. Your 2 month old might still fit newborn diapers better, and they might be moving on to size 2.
It’s best to look at the size guide for your chosen brand, and go from there. If you’re experiencing leaks with a particular size and your baby is at the higher end of the weight range for that size, try the next size up.
Read Next: The Complete Diaper Size Guide: Chart Of Most Popular Brands
3. Can I use size 1 diapers for newborn?
Some newborns skip newborn sizes altogether and need size 1 straight away. This isn’t surprising, given that newborn diapers tend to be suitable for babies who weigh up to 10lbs, and size 1 diapers are usually suitable for babies who weigh 8-14lbs.
It’s worth buying a few newborn and size 1 diapers ready for your baby’s birth – you might find that they’re too big for newborn diapers, and go straight to size 1. It’s best to follow the size guide for your chosen brand.
4. How long are babies in size 1 diapers?
As a general rule, little ones are in size 1 diapers for about 2-3 months. They might need diapers from when they’re about a month old to 3-4 months old (link to how many diapers a day by age). Every baby is different, of course, so this is just a rough guide.
5. What age is a size 1 diaper?
Your baby might need size 1 diapers from about a month old until they’re 3-4 months old. But every baby is different! You might even find that your newborn needs size 1 diapers straight away and skips the newborn size altogether. Or your little one might not need size 1 diapers until they’re 1-2 months old.
This is just a guide, and it’s important to follow the size guide of your preferred brand.
FAQ about NB diapers
1. How many newborn diapers do I need?
As a rule, newborns go through 8-12 diapers a day… after the first few days, at least. During the first few days, you might only need to change them a handful of times. If they stay in newborn size diapers for the first month of their lives, that’s about 280-300 diapers in total! So just a few…
But, it’s worth stocking up on both newborn and size 1 diapers before your little one arrives as they might grow out of newborn diapers pretty quickly, depending on their size.
2. How many diapers a day for a newborn?
During the first few days, you’ll probably find that you only change your little one’s diaper a handful of times. But after these first few days, your newborn will start peeing and pooping more, which means more diaper changes. As a general rule, expect between 8 and 12 diaper changes per 24 hours. And if you’re ever concerned about your little one’s pees or poops, always consult your pediatrician.
3. How long will a baby wear newborn diapers?
This really depends on your little one, and their weight. As a rule, expect your little one to be in newborn diapers for about a month. But if they’re on the heavier side, you might find you’re going a size up a bit sooner.
Newborn diapers are suitable for little ones who weigh up to 10lbs and size 1 diapers are usually suitable for little ones from 8-14lbs. So it could be that your newborn doesn’t take long to go up to size 1 diapers at all. Having some newborn diapers and size 1 diapers ready for when your little one pops into the world is, therefore, a good idea.
Read Next: How Many Diapers Do I Need For A Newborn Baby In A Day, A Week, A Month And A Year?
Conclusion
Diapers can be confusing. You’d certainly expect size 1 to be the smallest size, but this isn’t the case. In fact, newborn diapers are generally the smallest size in any diaper range, although some brands do preemie sizes.
Newborn size diapers are usually suitable for little ones who weigh up to 10lbs, so that covers the vast majority of newborns! Size 1 diapers, on the other hand, are usually suitable for babies who weigh 8-14lbs. But our little ones grow quickly, so you might find that they quickly go from newborn size to size 1. And some little ones might even skip newborn diapers altogether!
Ultimately, it’s a good idea to stock up on some newborn diapers and some size 1 diapers before your baby enters the world. You’re likely to need at least some newborn diapers, and you’ll certainly need size 1 diapers at some point.
Check out my guide to the cheapest diapers, and how many diapers you’ll need by age for more information on the, often confusing, world of diapering!
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