How Many Newborn Diapers Do I Need?

With 32 in a pack, newborns typically require 1-3 packs of Hello Bello diapers per week or the equivalent of 8-10 diapers each day — but there are many factors that can affect the amount of newborn diapers you’ll actually need. To prepare for your brand new person, you will need to figure out how many you’ll need in reserves. But they don’t teach you how to diaper shop in school, do they? No worries— Hello Bello’s got you covered. We’ve done the math, so you don’t have to!  

Here’s the quick and dirty lowdown: 

What is the Definition of a ‘Newborn’ in Diaper Terms? 

Depending on which experts you ask, the “newborn” stage can last anywhere from 1-3 months. We realize that’s a bit vague, but thankfully, there is an easier way to determine if you should be buying newborn diapers. In terms of diaper size, we define “newborns” as babies weighing up to 10 pounds. 

The average baby born between 37 and 40 weeks weighs between 5 pounds 8 ounces and 8 pounds 13 ounces. It’s common for babies to lose 10% of their weight shortly after birth. This decrease is due to fluid loss and is typically regained within the first week.  

From there, babies tend to gain 4-7 ounces per week. In other words, a smaller 5-pound baby might reach 10 pounds by 3 months, whereas a larger 8-pound baby could hit that same weight milestone in as few as 5 weeks. The most common scenario is for babies to reach 10 pounds at about 1.5 months. 

How Many Diapers Will I Need Per Day, Per Week, or In Total? 

Fortunately, we have a pretty accurate idea of how many diapers you’ll need, so you can plan ahead. Here’s what you need to know. 

Newborn Diaper Numbers by the Day 

During the first few days of life, newborns have 1-3 wet diapers a day. By day 4, your newborn should have 4-6 wet diapers per day. From day 5 through the first month or so, your baby should have 6-8 wet diapers per day.  

Newborn Diaper Numbers by the Week 

If you’re buying per week, you’ll need about 39 diapers for week 1 (1-2 packs) and 56 diapers per week thereafter (2 packs).  

Newborn Diaper Numbers by the Month  

In total, you’ll need about 223 diapers — or 7 packs — to cover that first month. At that point, we recommend assessing the situation to decide if it’s time to size up or stick with newborn size.  

Hello Bello newborn diapers are sold in packs of 32, so you can size up as needed with minimal to no waste.  

Pro Tip: Start a Hello Bello subscription: Get 7 packs of diapers + 4 packs of baby wipes

When Should I Size Up Newborn Diapers? 

Besides baby weight, there’s another telltale way to know it’s time to size up your diapers: leaks! Hello Bello diapers are specially designed with super leak protection and can withstand a lot of fluid. But as your baby approaches the next size up, you may notice greater saturation or leaks letting you that the time has come.  

Pro Tip: 

• You can begin sizing up early, as our Size 1 diapers are for babies weighing 8-12 pounds. 
• Or wait and move directly to Size 2 (10-16 pounds) if your newborn diapers are holding up fine.  

Stock Up on Newborn Size Diapers at Hello Bello
Any parent or guardian will agree that diapers are expensive. With the average family using as many as 3,000 diapers in the first year alone– the cost can seem astronomical. But parents shouldn’t have to sacrifice the quality of their baby products just to save some cash.  

At Hello Bello, we believe every child deserves the best. That’s why we offer top-of-the-line sustainable diapers at a reasonable price. Our diaper packs start at less than $8, with our bundles beginning at $69– including 7 diaper packs, 4 wipe packs, and 15% off additional items. Our hypoallergenic diapers are manufactured with state-of-the-art machines that use 50% less energy than other machines.  

We work hard to minimize our carbon footprint by packaging our diapers in eco-friendly cardboard and pre-degraded plastic — a super cool new method that saves Mama Earth years of degradation.  

Together, we can contribute to a healthier planet for our kids while simultaneously putting a little extra money back in your pocket. 

Do you have any diaper sizing tips, tricks, or fails other parents can learn from? Share in the comments below!