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How Many Diapers Do I Need?

When trying to decide how many diapers to purchase, think about the following:

  1. How Many Diapers You Will Use In a Day
  2. How Many Diapers Your Machine Can Handle
  3. How Long You Want to Leave Used Diapers Sitting Before Washing
  4. How Often You Will Wash Diapers

1.  How Many Diapers You Will Use In a Day

With a newborn baby, you should allow for the use of twelve (12) cloth diapers per day.  As your baby grows and changes diaper sizes, you can plan to adjust that number to ten (10) and later, eight (8).

2.  How Many Diapers Your Machine Can Handle

It's very important not to overload your washer.  But it's nearly as important not to underload your washer for the amount of water it's using.  For more information on this, please see my article and e-book on washing.

Although washers vary in size, in general a washer can hold about three dozen (36) newborn size prefold diapers.  It's better to err on the side of underloading your machine, however, so take this number as a general guideline only.

3.  How Long You Want to Leave Used Diapers Sitting Before Washing

Well, this will depend on your sensibilities--and on how fragrant your baby's diapers are!

4.  How Often You Will Wash Diapers

Based on the information above, you could plan to wash your newborn's diapers every three days.

So--How Many Diapers Do I Need?

Well, let's add it up.  You will need three days' worth of diapers to wash at one time.  You will need an extra day's worth of diapers so that your baby will have something to wear WHILE you are washing.  And then, it is always wise to give yourself one (1) extra day's worth of diapers as a cushion.  Things happen, especially when you have a baby in the house.

That makes five dozen (60) diapers.

That may sound like a lot.  You may quickly find that you'd rather wash every other day, and that your washer handles that size of a load better.  So perhaps you'd like to start with four dozen (48) diapers instead.  You can always buy more later on if you find you need them.  That's also a good idea if you are unsure of the diaper brand or style you're purchasing, if you plan to change sizes soon, or if you are not absolutely sure about cloth diapering.


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Chantal L. DeYoe
Products For A Good Life

  • I am a Christian and a homeschooling, homesteading mom who endeavors to continue moving along the path toward becoming a full-time writer.

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Copyright 1999-2010 Chantal L. DeYoe
"For God So Loved The World..." John 3:16