By Jeana Lee Tahnk
When my first baby came into the world, like most new parents, I was
completely clueless about everything. I listened intently to the nurses
after the birth, studied how they bathed my baby and left the hospital
with whatever they put into that big plastic bag.
One of those items, of course, was that starter pack of diapers.
Believe me, after changing 10 to 12 diapers a day, you get pretty
comfortable after a week or so and you've logged about 100 changes.
I remember running out of that initial pack of diapers and standing
in the aisle at my local pharmacy, gazing through a euphoric and
sleep-deprived haze of all the diaper options out there. Wait, he's 8 pounds-do I go newborn or do I go size 1?
And to add to the sizing confusion, I couldn't figure out why there
were different types of diapers under the same brand. What were the
differences? This was way before the age of the smartphone, when I could
look things up in an instant.
For me, back in the day, it was through trial and error that I
figured out what worked when it came to diaper sizing. And after three
kids in diapers (one of whom is still in the diaper stage), I feel like
I've become pretty well-versed in what works.
Here are my suggestions on how to find the right diaper:
Experimentation: There are lots of diaper styles out
there. Get a few packs and see what works the best, what you like and
what seems to make your baby the most comfortable.
Recommendation: Ask your friends what diapers they
use. Why do they like them? I found that most of my friends ended up
picking one brand and sticking with it.
Size of baby: Just like adults, no two babies are the
same size. If your baby has super squishy legs or is more lean in the
leg, you may want to consider sizing up or down accordingly.
Size of diaper: The weight recommendations are general
guidelines, but again, based on fit and your baby's body, you might
want to try different sizing. My baby doesn't quite meet the weight
guidelines for the size diaper she wears, but I like that they're a
little bigger on her and give her a little extra room.
Diaper features: Something I found very important,
especially during those first few months when diaper changes were
abundant, is having an elastic waistband. So many middle-of-the-night
changes were spared from having a full head-to-toe clothing change
because of that elastic band in the back.
Aside from your baby, your baby's diapers are something you become
familiar with very quickly. You want to make sure that you find ones
that you have faith in (no leaks!) and are comfortable with. And when
you do, chances are you'll stick with them for years to come-or, at
least until your little one is potty-trained.
Read More by Jeana Lee Tahnk