Choosing the right diaper size can help you avoid leakages and skin irritation, and it might sound a lot easier than it actually is. All babies are built differently – if your child falls between two sizes, consider the smaller size if your child is long and lean and the larger size if your child is short and stout.
But first things first: Any good diaper should be extremely absorbent to lead urine and feces away from the skin and into the core of the diaper as quickly as possible to minimize the risk of irritation and diaper rash. A good diaper should also be breathable; Your baby’s skin will be wrapped in the diaper for almost 24 hours of the day, except for bath time and changing situations.
Let’s go step by step – how do you choose the right size diaper for a newborn?
First time parents often buy too many diapers before the arrival of their new family member due to sheer excitement – which is quite understandable. But the diapers can easily end up being too big or too small. Therefore, we would recommend that you only buy one pack of diapers before the arrival of the baby, or even better, try finding samples in different sizes based on the expected weight of the baby - just keep in mind, the expected size and weight of your baby might not actually be correct when the baby comes.
If you find samples, the different sizes can be tested while in the hospital, and the father or perhaps grandparents could then buy the right size diapers before arrival at home. Usually, newborns weighing about 3-3.5 kilograms start with diapers no. 2 (3-6 kg), and new mothers with full-term babies are usually recommended to choose this size. Diapers no. 0 and 1 are intended for premature babies and twins, as these numbers are suitable for a weight of 1-3 kilograms or 2-4 kilograms.
How should a diaper be put on to minimize the chance of leakages?
Before applying the diaper, make sure that the leakage protectors inside the diaper are standing up. Sometimes you need to straighten these before applying the diaper. Furthermore, make sure that the leg cuffs are pulled out around your child’s legs and bottom. Bonus tip: if your child is a boy, make sure that his penis is pointing down before closing the diaper (this goes for pants too!). Otherwise, he might pee out the top or the sides.
Place the diaper underneath the baby, fold the front over the base of the stomach and close. The diaper should be placed around waist-level and relatively tight – as a rule of thumb, you can check to see if there is room for a finger around the waist, when the diaper is placed.
When should you change to a larger size?
Are you experiencing leakages, even though the diaper size should be the right fit according to your baby’s weight? One of the most common reasons for leakages is that the diaper is too small. As mentioned earlier, babies are built differently and there is really no one-size-fits-all; if you experience repeated leakages, even though the diaper size should be the correct one based on charts and kilograms, try going up a size, but the diaper should never be too loose. As with many other things in parenting, finding the right diaper and the right size is a “try as you go along”-experience.
What if the diaper leaks at night?
We always recommend using open diapers, rather than pants, for your baby or toddler at night, as these can be adjusted to provide a tighter fit for ideal nighttime protection. However, your child might also just be in between two sizes, or maybe your child drinks too much before bedtime. If your child is very thirsty before going to bed, the best thing might be to change the diaper during the night, as each diaper only holds a certain amount of urine. You could also use protective bed mats, like our Bambo Nature Protective Bed Mats. The disposable bed mats have sealed edges for optimum leakage protection and the material is breathable to minimize the risk of skin irritation. They also have tape so you can easily attach them to the bed underneath the sheets.
Bed mats are also great for when your child reaches the potty-training age. At this point, diaper pants are a great alternative to traditional diapers, as the child can pull them up and down themselves, like normal underwear, as they learn to use the toilet. The pants cannot be tightened with elastic waistbands like the open diapers can, so it is important to find a size that provides a snug fit and absorbs enough. Use the size guide on the packaging or try different sizes to find the right fit.
Experienced parents know that it is almost impossible to avoid leakages 100%. You will almost always experience “in-between” moments, where your child falls between two sizes, or situations where you have simply put on the diaper wrongly. But if you follow these tips, you will most likely experience fewer leakages.
Are Bambo Nature diapers suitable for sensitive skin?
In general, everything you put on your baby’s body – especially diapers as they are in contact with the skin almost 24 hours a day – should be as skin-friendly as possible. Bambo Nature’s diapers are dermatologically tested, certified by the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and the EU Ecolabel as well as recommended by Asthma Allergy Nordic and they contain no perfume. The fluff – the wood fibers in the absorbent core – in our diapers is Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) and the material comes from sustainable and well managed FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified forests, where no more trees are felled than the forest can replicate.
So yes, our diapers are suitable for sensitive skin – and so are our other products, from wet wipes to skin care.
Our tips:
- Any good diaper should be extremely absorbent to lead urine and feces away from the skin quickly and breathable. This will help prevent skin irritation. Bambo Nature diapers include the latest channel technology that leads moisture into the super absorbent core very quickly.
- Try finding samples of different sizes and try them on your baby before buying a wrong diaper in bulk.
- Use size charts and kilogram recommendations as a guide – but keep in mind that all babies are built differently and no one-size-fits-all.
- Place the diaper correctly, making sure there is a snug fit around the legs and the waist.
- If you experience repeated leakages, even though the diaper should fit according to weight and size charts, try a larger size, but always make sure that the fit of the diaper is not too loose.
- If you experience repeated leakages at night, your baby might be in-between two sizes or maybe they drink too much before bedtime. Try changing the diaper during the night, limiting fluid intake before bedtime or using Protective Bed Mats. We recommend open diapers during the night, as they can be adjusted and tightened.
- When children reach the potty training age, try using diaper pants instead of open diapers during the daytime. They are easier for the child to pull up and down. We still recommend using open diapers during the night.
- Diapers should be as skin-friendly as possible – look for dermatologically tested products with no perfume and Totally Chlorine Free (TCF), certified according to the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and the EU Ecolabel as well as recommended by Asthma Allergy Nordic.