How Many Cloth Diapers Do I Need?

Okay, so you’ve decided to take the plunge into cloth diapering and are now wondering, how many should I buy? 

This really depends on you. If you like a variety of patterns and colors, then go for it! Shop away! There are so many cute prints out there and sometimes you just can’t help yourself. If you need the perfect print for this season, check here! 

But, let’s be honest, probably many of us with new babies are thinking about budget and wondering how many do we really NEED to buy. So, let’s talk numbers.  

Typically with a newborn you go through about 10 diapers a day, give or take. This decreases to about 6-8 as your baby gets older. If you are using diaper covers and inserts you probably want to have about three to four days worth on hand. This gives you a bit of wiggle room if you’re just too darn tired to do the washing one day, or if you line dry. So you’ll need somewhere between 18-32 diapers depending on how often you do your diaper laundry (don’t let it go too long to prevent mold!). You may want a few extra diapers at the beginning, prefolds are great for this as they can be used for burp cloths or to place under your baby when changing them after you no longer need them. 

Apart from diapers, there are a couple other things you should absolutely invest in. A wet bag is a total life saver. They are basically a waterproof bag with a zipper for putting dirty diapers in when out and about. Just do yourself a favor and get one or two of these. The other is some sort of diaper pail or even a bucket with a lid- something covered for storing those dirty diapers until laundry time. 

So, my budget savvy friend, invest in a stash of at least 18 diapers as well as a wet bag and diaper pail to get you started. If you need more, you know where to look!