How Many Diapers Do I Need?

When answering the question "How many diapers should I buy?", we'll often ask our clients, "Well, how many diapers do you NEED?" Since no family is the same, no cloth diapering system is going to be exactly the same either, however, there are some patterns we've seen emerge in the last several years that will assist you in getting started.

For a complete diapering system, you will probably need an average of 18 cloth diapers. With this many diapers, you should plan on washing every other day. If you are planning to wash less frequently you will need more. If you are willing and able to wash more frequently, you will need less. A good rule of thumb, however is to always have a few more cloth diapers than you might estimate needing in case laundry doesn’t get done a particular day or a diaper emergency or blow out occurs.

Of course, 18-20 diapers is optimal for full-time diapering. If you are considering using cloth diapers on a part-time or infrequent basis, the number required will vary considerably. Again, it is far better to have a few too many diapers than too few.

Additionally, as a baby grows they wet or fill the diaper less frequently. With less messes, cloth diapers don’t need to be changed quite as often, and you need fewer diapers overall.

Newborns need the most diapers as they are changed very frequently, but as the child grows into a toddler, you will need less. Some diapers, such as prefolds, no longer in use for their original purpose as your little one gets older will still be great for other purposes such as dusting or wiping up drool or inevitable spills.

So, to answer "How many diapers should I buy?", simply assess whether or not you will be diapering full or part-time, how old your baby/toddler is and how often they soil their diapers, and then take an honest assessment of just how often you want to do your cloth diaper wash. Still have questions? Contact us for more information.