When a woman welcomes a baby into the world, she knows what she is in for, or at the very least, she has an idea of what she can expect. She knows that the baby may not let her get a lot of sleep, that there is going to be a lot of feedings and she knows that her life is about to be all about changing diapers. Babies go through a lot of diapers in their first months and even year, and even if mom is a novice at changing diapers in the beginning, she will be a pro in no time. It is quite common to change a newborn's diaper very often, but this usually settles down after a few months.
However, there are rough guidelines on how often a parent or caregiver should be changing a diaper. This preference may be different to each mom, and some moms will change a diaper as soon as there is a little bit of wetness to it, but some moms may think that this goes through too many diapers, and surely a diaper can hold a couple of pees before it has to be changed.
Are there official rules on how often a baby’s diaper needs to be changed? Let’s look at what some of the diaper experts say on changing diapers and how often mom should really be doing it.
The Verdict About Diaper Changes
Pampers is one of the most trusted and loved diaper brands for babies, infants, and even toddlers, so they have some advice for how often a parent should be changing a diaper. According to their website, experts recommend that a baby’s diaper should be changed every 2 to 3 hours, and mom shouldn’t let it go past that. However, this is not the same rule for poop. If a baby poops, the diaper should be changed right away.
What About Nighttime Diaper Changes?
Mom may wonder if this applies to nighttime as well. When her baby is finally giving her longer stretches of sleep at night, does she need to wake them every 2 to 3 hours to change their diaper? According to Nanit, unless your baby is extremely wet or dirty, it is fine to let them sleep until morning. You can purchase special nighttime diapers that will absorb more, but as long as the baby seems fine with the diaper they have on, there is no need for mom to go in and change them throughout the night. However, changing that diaper should be the first thing mom does in the morning.
Why Change Baby's Diaper Frequently?
While some moms may think the answer is obvious, there are some who may wonder why they should be changing the diaper that frequently. According to Romper, leaving a baby to sit in a diaper for too long can have some pretty big consequences. The most obvious one is a diaper rash. Diaper rashes can be extremely painful for a baby, and a baby in pain is no fun for anyone. It is important that they are changed frequently to prevent this from happening. Baby will also likely get cranky, even if they don’t have a rash because it is not going to be comfortable to sit in a wet, dirty, and very heavy diaper.