When you first meet your newborn baby, all you can think about is the love, hugs, and kisses you’ll be giving them. Soon after that, the dirty work begins — your cute little bundle of joy will present you with smelly, messy gifts in their diaper, and will probably cry until you change them. If you are a new parent, you may be wondering, how often should I change my newborn’s diaper?
According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), you should change your baby’s diaper every two to three hours because newborns urinate around 20 times per day for the first few months of their lives. If your baby is sleeping, however, it’s not necessary to wake them up to change them, as long as it’s just urine.
Dr. Ari Brown told Parents that when it comes to newborns, it’s really important to change your baby’s diaper as soon as you notice they’ve had a bowel movement. He says that not only can poop irritate your baby’s skin, it could even lead to a bladder infection, especially in baby girls. Not to mention, if left on too long, poopy diapers can leak, messing up bed sheets, blankets, and your baby’s clothes.
What about cloth diapers? Thirsties Babies noted that cloth diapers need to be changed more often than disposable diapers. The article suggested changing your baby’s cloth diapers every one and a half to two hours during the daytime. Their data found that newborn babies will go through about 20 to 24 cloth diapers a day, and will use less as they get older. As babies get older, they explained, their diet goes from mostly liquid to solids, so the amount of wet diapers will decrease.
So whether you are using cloth diapers or disposable ones, it’s a good idea to change your newborn every few hours, and make sure to change poopy diapers right away. Once you and your baby adjust to a daily routine, you’ll find it easier to know exactly when to change their diaper.
