First rule to remember when buying diapers as a first-time parent is to not get too excited at baby fairs when the diapers are going at super-low deals. You see, babies grow really fast and each baby’s build is different. Diapers have a shelf live of maximum two years so if you buy too many, you probably want to sell it off somehow unless you plan to pop another one in a year or two.
Some guidelines when choosing diapers and planning how many to buy:
- Specifications and weight guidelines on the diaper packs are just that; a guideline only. Your child’s build best determines what size diaper he should wear.
- While weight is a factor to consider, you also want to see if your baby has chubby legs. A lanky baby at 3kg may wear the same size diapers as a shorter, chubby baby at 5kg. It’s important to check that the fit around the legs is good. Pampers Cruisers has a double row of elastic around the legs for more active babies.
- Get diapers with velcro adjustment and check that the diapers are not too tight at the waist (e.g. red marks)
- If you intend to breastfeed, know that the baby will poop more frequently. Sometimes 5 to even 10 times a day. If you are feeding formula, the baby may only poop 2 to 4 times a day.
In general, Pampers is the recognized and preferred brand for diapers. In Singapore, other popular brands include MammyPoko and Huggies. Drypers is supposed to be a definite no-no based on feedback from mommies who have tried the brand. Of course, Pampers ($7.50 for a pack of 24 NB) are also the most expensive so some parents save by using Pampers at night and MammyPoko (price unknown) or Huggies ($6.50 for a pack of 24 NB) during the day.
Some points to note:
- The Huggies brand has a smaller fit (Newborn size is only up to 4kg) compared to Pampers (Newborn size is up to 5kg).
- Sizes vary across brands (as illustrated above) so don’t just look at the size. Consider the weight guidelines.
- If your baby is on the higher end of the weight recommended, you may want to buy that size and one size up to check the fit.