Standards for diapers for newborns: sizes and materials

Not long ago, generally accepted rules for caring for newborns began to change. In connection with this, the question began to arise in every family: “To swaddle or not?” Modern parents face an even more difficult task when it comes to choosing diapers. Today, manufacturers produce them in a variety of shapes, sizes, purposes and functionality.

Products with colorful designs

Why do newborns need diapers?

Children, being in their mother's belly for 9 months, get used to cramped conditions. After birth, they are no longer constrained by anything. During sleep, the muscles of the arms and legs can twitch, which is why the child, starting in his sleep, wakes himself up. This is the main reason why mothers agree with the benefits of swaddling. In the first month of life, children really sleep more comfortably this way.

The advantage of swaddling is its low cost. Rompers and baby vests are much more expensive, and besides, there should be several sets of such clothes in the house so that there is something to dress the newborn in while the soiled items are washed and dried.

Important! The opinion of the older generation that tight swaddling can be used to straighten a baby’s legs has been refuted by medicine. Just like the fact that tight swaddling negatively affects the development of the child’s personality and self-sufficiency.

To swaddle or not to swaddle, the mother herself decides, relying on her own skills, preferences and financial capabilities. Even in a family where children are not swaddled, there is still a sufficient number of diapers that are actively used when caring for a newborn:

• they are placed under the baby when they are placed somewhere other than his crib (on a sofa, in a cradle, on a hammock for swimming);
• they cover the child during a walk in the summer, when he is wearing nothing but a diaper;
• absorbent models are placed under the baby when he takes air baths without a diaper;
• insulated models provide shelter in cool weather;
• absorbent diapers are used to wet the baby's skin after bathing;
• During games on a developmental mat or floor with toys, a diaper is also placed under the baby.

The complete absence of diapers in the house will not be a tragedy, but it will significantly increase the volume of daily laundry, because in this case the baby will dirty the sheets and duvet covers.

What swaddling material is the most comfortable for your baby?

There is no specific answer to this question. Each type of fabric is intended for use in certain conditions. In addition, in this case, such concepts as personal preferences of parents and living conditions are important.

If the house is warm, or the baby was born in the hot season, you can focus on calico or cotton diapers, diluting the purchased products with a couple of large flannel or flannel counterparts for the cold season.

If the child was born on the cold days of autumn or winter, diapers should be chosen in a 50/50 ratio. Some products are useful for outdoor walks, others for staying at home.

Types of diapers and their variety

Music for newborns

Modern diapers can be found in a variety of types, materials and purposes. If you learn how to use at least some of them, caring for your child will be much easier.

Warm diapers

Insulated cotton-based fabric allows you to use such diapers as a lightweight blanket that retains heat. Some models are double-sided, with one side made of flannelette and the other made of fleece.

Thin diapers

Standard size cotton thin diapers for newborns are suitable for swaddling up to two months. They are often used to cover the surface on which the baby will be laid.

Modern absorbent models

This type is loved by mothers for its undeniable functionality. On the bottom side they are waterproof, on a polyethylene base. The top layer consists of a thin synthetic fiber mixed with cotton, under which the absorbent layer is evenly distributed; in the most inexpensive options it resembles cotton wool. Such diapers allow you to leave your baby without diapers without worrying about the cleanliness of the bed. Although these models are more convenient for girls than for boys, they are still actively used by mothers of children of both sexes.

Disposable absorbent models

Interesting. The advantage of using absorbent diapers for girls lies in the difference in the structure of the genital organs: boys, due to their physiology, lying on their backs without a diaper, are able to wet everything around them, but not the diaper under them.

Hooded diaper after bathing

Typically, such products are mistaken for insulated items, but the height and stiffness of the pile make it clear that the main function of such a model is moisture absorption. Unlike modern multi-layer diapers with an absorbent layer, these are reusable, like other cloth ones.

Velcro cocoon diaper

Velcro diapers are a real godsend for those who find it difficult to learn how to swaddle, but the process itself is actively practiced. There is no need to think about how to correctly place the corner of the fabric under the handle and behind the back of the newborn. Thanks to the special pattern, it is enough to place the baby in the center of the product, and then secure the free edges with Velcro on the chest. Most of these diapers are made of knitwear, so they fit snugly to the body, but do not hinder movement.

Flannel

Practical housewives choose them because this fabric is especially wear-resistant. Its second useful property is the ability to absorb liquid and retain heat. Many mothers use flannel diapers along with thin cotton ones as an additional layer of insulation.

Calico

Newborn diapers, the size of which reaches one and a half meters in length, are usually sewn from chintz. This type of product is used both as a bedding for a stroller or a carrycot, and as a canopy that provides protection from the sun's rays in hot weather. An undeniable advantage of this material is its ability to dry quickly.

Standards Overview

Why is it so difficult to choose the size of a diaper for a newborn? The fact is that today, in addition to standards, there are exclusive models that do not meet any standards.

On the one hand, this is good, because there is plenty to choose from. On the other hand, it is difficult to figure out what exactly is right for your baby. We offer the most common parameters that can be found in any store.

• 60×60 / 70×50 (in cm)

The smallest existing diaper size, which is recommended for low birth weight newborns. Microfiber is usually used for their production.

• 80×95 / 80×120

This is the standard size of diapers for a newborn, which is considered the most comfortable in the first month of life. Then they can serve as a towel or bedding.

• 95×100 / 95×120

At 2-3 months, the baby begins to behave more actively, trying to break out of the shackles. And he himself is already stronger and has grown a little, so it’s worth changing the size of the diaper so that you can wrap him twice.

• 100×100 / 110×110 / 100×120

You can immediately purchase these square diapers to wrap your newborn warmer and more securely from the first days. This is especially true in winter. But in practice they are recommended mainly for the age of 3-4 months.

• 120×120 / 150×120

This is the largest diaper size and the most expensive. It is usually used by mothers who prefer to swaddle their child for as long as possible or who are growing up a real hero who does not fit into the standard parameters for his age.

• 120×75 (80, 90, 95, 105) / 130×90 / 150×90

Cloths of this non-standard size are used for foot swaddling at night after 3 months.

Using these data, it is easy to determine which diaper size is most comfortable for newborns in your case. Consider the age of the baby and its weight, as well as what kind of material you prefer. These factors will play an important role in choosing the options you need.

Origin of name. The word “pelenka” is ancient Proto-Slavic; it originally meant “cover, veil.”

Optimal size for a newborn

Child's clothing size

Standards for the size of a baby diaper for newborns no longer depend on the weight and height of the child, but on what fabric the product is made of. According to GOST, finished diapers can have 4 sizes for each type of fabric.

Standard

The standards allow the following sizes of diapers for newborns; the table includes indicators for flannelette and cotton products.

Sizes of finished diapers

If you do not want to swaddle your baby, you can opt for the largest size, as it is convenient for them to cover the changing table, scales and other surfaces.

Useful tips

To choose the right diaper size for swaddling a newborn, follow a few useful tips:

1. The size will largely depend on the method of swaddling: for full swaddling, larger ones are required, if up to the armpits - smaller ones; for leg swaddling, the smallest in length will do, but their width should be sufficient.
2. Before giving birth, purchase 7-8 cotton and the same number of flannel diapers of different sizes: 80×90 and 95×100.
3. You can immediately buy large canvases. Yes, they will take more time (they take longer to dry, longer to iron) and money, but they will also last a long time.

With the size of a diaper for a newborn, it is difficult not to guess. But it’s better to take a larger canvas, because the small ones will be tight, and the baby will feel awkward and uncomfortable in them.

Well, if the standards do not suit you, you can always sew this thing with your own hands at home. To do this, you don’t need to be a first-class seamstress or complete sewing and cutting courses.

This is interesting. In Rus', a child was swaddled with the words: “Endure cold, need, all kinds of bad weather and adversity - be a man.”

What size should diapers be?

For ease of swaddling, manufacturers make products according to a single size chart, according to which you can choose the right option from birth to one year.

Size chart by age

How to teach a child to drink from a mug independently

Sizes according to age

Interesting . Hyperactive babies are swaddled even at the threshold of one year of age. This allows you to increase the duration of sleep.

Swaddling babies up to one year old

Required number of diapers

Preparing for the arrival of a newborn, every parent couple thinks about what exactly needs to be bought for the baby and in what quantity.

To the maternity hospital

Today, state maternity hospitals provide a woman who has given birth with the required number of diapers completely free of charge, taking away soiled ones for washing every day, and in return providing clean, ironed ones.

For home

It is worth purchasing the required minimum of 5 pieces of flannel and 5 pieces of calico for home. During operation, it will become clear how much and what material still needs to be purchased, or whether the available quantity is quite enough.

Rules for caring for diapers

It is recommended to have a separate basket for children's things. Wash diapers only with special baby products. Ironing on both sides will be an additional heat treatment that disinfects the fabric after contamination with biological waste products of the baby.

Velcro cocoon

Each mother decides for herself what and how to dress her baby. Don't be nervous about not being able to turn your baby into a beautiful cocoon. If you want to swaddle your baby, you can always use Velcro models, otherwise it would not be a mistake to give preference to baby undershirts and forget about the problem of swaddling.

Material

Children's stores offer a wide range of diapers of various colors and densities. Buy several types for any time of year. Remember: flannel fabric will be needed not only in winter, but also in summer, in cool weather.

Difference in material name:

• calico. Suitable for summer, for swaddling in winter (on the body - a calico diaper, on top - a flannel one). In the warm season, cover the baby with chintz while sleeping, put a thin linen in the stroller;
• flannel diapers for newborns. Suitable for swaddling, often used during bathing (in the bath and as a towel if the baby’s skin is easily irritated);
• disposable diapers for newborns. They are sold in pharmacies, are quite expensive, and have similar properties to diapers. Buy several disposable diapers for a visit to the pediatrician or for a walk. Not suitable for daily use: it produces a diaper effect;
• muslin diapers for newborns. Ideal for summer. Soft, light, almost airy, diapers provide maximum comfort for a newborn. The elite fabric explains the high price of the diapers - a set of three products costs about 2,000 rubles, but the quality deserves it. The baby is not hot, there is less irritation, tenderness and softness for the little body;
• knitted The new product was quickly appreciated by modern mothers. Soft, high-quality knitwear is highly breathable, suitable for swaddling in summer and as an inner layer under a flannel diaper in winter. A knitted cocoon is an original product for the comfort of baby and mother.