Gearing up for a New Addition: Keeping the Little One Clean and Comfortable

The thought of adding a new life to an existing family is an exciting one. Nine months of dreaming and hoping with some preparing leading to the day the new baby is born. While dreams and hopes for the newest member are good to have, family members should also make sure they are well stocked prior to his/her arrival. One of the most important items to stock up on is diapers, on average a newborn will go through approximately 2,700 diapers in their first year, according to the website Kids Growth.

In the First Days

The first few days of having a new baby will feel like a blur to their parents. There is a good chance that little sleep will be involved, so keeping the diapering choice in stock and at hand is important. Not only will the baby feel better faster, but the sleepy parent can grab them without much thought.

When choosing the first diapers to buy there are a few things parents are going to want to consider, according to. Some of these include:

• The approximate birth weight of the child.  Disposable diapers are sold in sizes determined by the weight of the child, so it is important to have an idea. Don’t worry about getting ones that are too big, they will grow into them.
• The type of diaper the family wants to use. There are three main types families can choose from cloth, regular disposable and eco-friendly. The Honest Company has information regarding eco-friendly diapering, if this interests you.

Don’t forget the wipes! Baby needs to be clean before the fresh diaper can be applied. Stock up on different types and see what agrees with baby’s skin. Note it might be a good thing to save the receipts or gift receipts for any unopened wipes. If there is a kind that the baby does not seem to agree with return them, unopened, and exchange them for more of what works.

As They Grow

Babies will not stay in one size diaper until they are fully potty trained. Make sure to keep up with the changing sizes so that the child is as comfortable as possible.

As potty training begins, consider switching from diapers all the time to more of a pull up style pant where the child can feel the difference from when they are dry and when they’re not. During the first few weeks of the transition let the child wear continue to wear diapers, according to the experts at Global Post.

On the Go

Whether it’s a family outing to the park or an overnight stay with someone so that mom and dad can have some adult time, there’s a good chance your little one will be traveling. While packing enough clothes for their journey is important it’s also important to keep up on diapering supplies.

Make sure to have a travel changing pad. These can make great gifts, if you want to put them on your baby registry.

Include the contents of what you normally would in the diaper bag, except in larger quantities. If space becomes an issue, there will likely be a store that you can purchase more supplies from when you arrive at your destination.

If the item is only found online, plan ahead and purchase a large enough supply to cover the entire planned length of the trip. It may be a good idea to plan for approximately one diaper per hour, according to the site Baby Center. As you pack, plan for a few extra days to account for weather and other possible travel delays.

For long car trips, consider taking a full bag of diapers to avoid running out while on the road. Keep the supplies handy so that baby can be changed on the move, if needed.

If flying to the destination, consider mailing some supplies such as bulky packs of diapers to the destination prior to your departure. This will help ensure that everything will be in place and ready to go upon your arrival.

Special Considerations

There may be some instances when special circumstances arise, that can potentially impact the purchase of diapers and supplies.

For instance, anytime the child is going to be in the water.  As the child grows and becomes interested in the water, look for products that are specifically made to be used in water.

Keeping the newest member of your family clean and comfortable is a priority for parents. Take some time prior to their arrival to decide the types of products that you wish to use for this activity. Let friends and family members know. There is a good chance people are going to ask what you may want or need for the new little one. Diapers are never a bad thing to ask for. Even if they are not used at first, they will be eventually.