How To Select Right Diapers For My Baby?

Tips To Buy Baby Diapers

It is only by the time the child is two that the parents understand that they have spent maximum money on something they consider as trivial as diapers. This is despite having spent several thousand on clothes and toys.

The reason why the spent diapers hit you slowly is that it builds up gradually. Nevertheless, it is an essential and ongoing spend, much like buying salt for your kitchen. Fortunately, with some planning, there are ways you can shop for diapers in a very smart way and buy what is both appropriate and economical.

1. Decide Between Cloth Diapers And Disposable Diapers

Believe it or not, there is a growing debate on this topic. Cloth diapers are cheap (as they are reusable) and environmentally friendly. But washing and drying these can be cumbersome. Disposable diapers can be expensive, but the convenience they offer is tremendous.

There are occasions when cloth diapers would do just as fine, but for some specific occasions, disposable diapers would serve you the best. Based on your preference and family budget, you can choose either of these options. Some parents even use a combination of both (cloth diapers during the day when changing is easier and disposable diapers during the night for nighttime dryness).

2. Buy Sample-Sized Packs First

There are many brands (Pampers, Mamy Poko, Huggies, and so on) and many types (pants, pre-fold, and so on) of diapers available. They also vary in quality. Different parents swear by different brands, so clearly there are pros and cons for all kinds of diapers.

So rather than buy a jumbo-sized package initially, we suggest it is better to buy an assortment of brands and types containing just 2-5 diapers. This way, you can try them all one after the other and find one that satisfies you and keep your baby dry and happy for a longer time and then buy a jumbo saver pack of that brand.

3. Look For Offers

Online shops like Thekidscircle.com, Amazon, Babyoye, and First cry offer great discounts on diapers. Some of them have a “guaranteed savings” scheme that ensures that your every purchase is Rs.100-Rs.200 cheaper. Also during sales season, you can plan ahead and buy some extra packages and stock. Some big stores also carry out seasonal sales and discounts and you can check them as well.

4. Do Not Overstock Diapers

We just told you to stock diapers during the sales season. However, do not go overboard with this without planning. This is because your child is growing fast and might soon outgrow the current size of diaper he uses. If you overstock the diapers, some of them might get wasted. This does not mean that you have to lose out on offers though. If you feel that your child is transitioning from one weight range to another, it is a good idea to buy a size bigger.

Change the diaper type according to age. Different age groups demand different kinds of diapers. See below for an age-by-age diapering guide.

How To Select A Diaper According To Age Wise

Selecting a diaper according to the age and need of your baby is important. Here are some tips you can try while selecting the diaper.

Selecting  Diapers For Newborns

Newborns make little messes when compared to big babies as all the infant is having is breast milk. But the frequency of urination and poo is much more in infants than in big babies as the fluid intake is more. Till day five the frequency of diaper change ranges from 2 to 4 but after 5 days newborn changes 7 to 10 diapers per day. As the diaper is changed every 2 to 3 hours, absorbency is not a major issue.

Select the diaper shaped and manufactured exclusively for newborns. This type of diaper bears a “U” shaped hole cut out on the front which makes room for an umbilical cord stump. Once the stump is dropped off, the small wound will heal properly as the notch cut will allow the wound to breathe and you can take care of it.

Selecting Diapers For A Six-Month-Old Baby

Once the baby turns six months he starts to eat solid foods. This results in more messy diapers. At this age, you should be careful when selecting the diaper. Always select well-fitting leak-proofed diapers.

Now the baby also starts to sleep longer during the night. Longer the sleep, the wetter the diaper. Hence, make him wear diapers designed for overnight use during night-time. This will give him uninterrupted good night’s sleep.

Selecting Diapers For A 1-2 Year-Old Baby

Baby will be very active during this time. Select a diaper with plenty of stretches. The quantity of stool and the amount of urination will increase. So will be the building up of infection-causing bacteria. Changing diapers more often is needed to avoid nappy rashes. Never let the child wear the diaper even for a minute after soiling.

Once your child does the toilet you can be pretty sure that he is not going to do it for a while. So in between the time, you can use cloth diaper inserts with reusable liners which are relatively cheaper and you can change them every time he passes urine.

Selecting Diapers For A Baby 2 Years And Above

Now, as the child has reached the potty training period, so switching them from diaper to pant diaper is recommended. The baby can easily pull down the diaper pant just as underwear whenever he shows a sign to do the toilet.

Gradually we can ask him to try to do so. This pant diaper will help to hold the pee and stool they accidentally do. This way switching from diapers to training pants will become easier.

What Is The Right Age To Stop Diapers For A Baby?

There is no so-called right age to stop the usage of diaper. Never stop using a diaper before your child is ready. And the ‘getting ready’ period varies with kids. Even though stopping the habit of using the diaper as early as possible is recommended, (taking a little pain on your part you can stop your child from using a diaper before his second birthday) never pressurize your child to do so. It can backfire.

Anyway, it is advisable to stop the habit of using diapers before his third birthday. Making your kid say ‘bye’ to the diaper is not an overnight process. It’s a gradual process of reducing the usage step by step, first during the day and then during the night that too after good potty training.

There is no doubt that a disposable diaper is more convenient. Diaper is actually advantageous during the night and when you are going for an outing with your little one. It is also very helpful when your baby is ill or has just had some painful shots that cause difficulty in cleaning frequently which is unavoidable with a cloth diaper. But it is always better to reserve it for such needs only. For more on diapers, click here.