New Born Nappies

Hi -

I am a first time mum to be (my first new thread as well!) and was just wondering how much people stock up on new born nappies (ie how many boxes) I've been told the cheapest I will find nappies is about $28 - $29 per box from the supermarket when on special but just have no idea on how many boxes to get!! I'm quite small about 5'3 and DH is quite short as well (not sure if this is relevant!) - any thoughts on whether to get 5,10 or 20 boxes!!! I know I know I'm a bit of an eager beaver considering my due date - just like to be very organised!
Thanks :)

I had one box of NB huggies with DD1. I used a few packets as well, so I'd say 2 maybe 3 boxes. They grow so fast & are in the infant sized ones before you know it.
DD2 was only in NB's for a few weeks. DS for about 2 1/2 months. They were both big bubs though. DD1 was 7lb 5oz & was in them longest.

Welcome to BB by the way! & congrats to you on your pg.

The trick with buying NB nappies is too keep recipts! Also, not sure of your area but do you hvae a toys r us? They are often pretty cheap (still about $29) but if you keep reciepts for your boxes & obviously don't open untill needed you can return them for larger sizes if your bub out grows them.

Or you could look into cloth ;)

Well I had a 10 pound 6 baby and the newborn nappies were too small for him so he went into infant which they dont make in the big boxes. So in my case 1 box was too much!! We had 3 boxes originally and ended up giving them to a friend who was pregnant! I wouldnt go too overboard. The nappies come on special fairly often.

DD was in huggies newborn for about 2 months. She was 5lb13oz.
So we used about 4 boxes of them
Also even if you dont have a reciept woolies (safeway) will let you swap them over if unopened!)

I only used 1 large box of newborn sized nappies for my average sized babies. However i combined them with cloth. Once you realise how much money you'll be spending if you only use disposable nappies then you might start to consider cloth nappies. There's some great cloth nappy threads here if you are interested.

Best not to go overboard on one brand either, as it might not suit your bub. This time around I have tried 3 brands. Also check out some of the local discount chemists, sometimes they will sell the name brands cheaper. My local one sells them for over $2 less than the supermarket next door for the convience packs. So it pays to get to know your nappy prices.

We used about 2.5 boxes of the newborn size (Huggies) before needing to go up to Infant. Keeping the receipts if you get them from coles/woollies/safeway is a good idea. I knew it was time to upsize when we regularly had leakage...

I have also used Aldi nappies, and they've worked well for my DS.

Astrid is right: different brands seem to suit different babies. I've stuck with Huggies for my two sons (my daughter was in 100% cloth) however even though Huggies were the most absorbent I found that they kind of pinched the skin around my newborns legs. My babies all had skinny little legs so i would dread to think how they would pinch chubbier babies legs. This is another reason why I liked to give my newborns a "break" by alternating with cloth (flannel flats). After wearing a cloth for a while the pinching creases on the skin went. Oh and I also agree with Jan: Aldi make great nappies too... I use them for my toddler.

Another cloth user here ;) But for the rare occasions we use disposables I find Aldi nappies to be excellent. Huggies are good too, but I agree with Bath that they pinch their little legs. And my tiny bub (5lbs1oz) had very skinny legs! Hmmmm, come to think of it, I'm not sure if Aldi make nb nappies?

So if you're planning on using all disposables, I would buy two boxes of newborn at the most. You can always get more if you need them, they won't be going anywhere ;) :D

I wouldn't buy more than 2 boxes of Huggies to start off with. You don't know how big your baby will be or how much they will poo! A breastfed baby can poo several times a day or not poo at all for a week or longer.

My DS was a champion pooer and we went through nearly a whole box of Huggies in just one week, same again for week 2. Towards the end of week 3 we went and bought another 2 boxes of Huggies newborn size but by week 4 he needed to move up a size.

It happened quite quickly - when all of a sudden the nappies start leaking more often than not (rather than just the occasional blow out) then you know it's time to move up to the next size.

As for the leftovers, we just stashed them in the cupboard, ready for the next bub! We have quite a supply of nappies in various sizes now, ready for Number Two.

Never buy the bulk boxes at the supermarket - biggest rip off of all ($42). Keep your eyes peeled for the $29.95 specials and stock up big then. In between times, Toys R Us and Big W tend to have them a bit cheaper. You should never ever pay more than $36 and only then if you are desperate! (This will be when you start experimenting with other brands and working out which brands suit your baby's shape).

ETA: I do love Huggies and they are my number one choice, have not ever had problems with them pinching DS' skinny legs. They are the only ones I trust to hold it all in without fail. Other brands that aren't as fitted around the legs always leak for DS. However I know other mums with chunkier babies who are just the opposite to me and like all the brands I hate. Don't worry too much about this though, this won't be a factor until your baby is a bit older.

Yeah I don't think Aldi made NB size nappies come to think of it...

Ahhh... if I had my time over again (starting off with my first baby) I would be buying up big on cloth ;) My flannel flats are almost threadbare but they have serviced 3 babies. A pretty good use of the $40 or so I spent on them back in 1994. yeah, you have to buy pins/snibs/pilchers/liners... but still a cheap way to keep 3 bubbas butts clean.

Ah mate - get some prefolds and some covers...cost you about $100 all up to start with and your on your way to a brand new addiction...Modern cloth nappies. Total cost is about $500 for a good stash were it will cost you anywere between $2000 - $3000 until your baby is toilet trained to be out of disposables.

BUT

if sposies are our path then yes Aldi nappies are great...they are simular to huggies but without the pricetag

ETA no darn it they dont have NB but the new coles eco babies are great but $$$$$$$$

:

---

You don't know how big your baby will be or how much they will poo! A breastfed baby can poo several times a day or not poo at all for a week or longer.

---

I'm sorry to go OT (hope you don't mind Curly :)), but I just have to point out that a breastfed newborn should poo at least once every day, usually numerous times a day. It's later on, after a couple of months that it is more common for BF babies to go a long stretch, ie. a week, without pooing. Sorry to split hairs, but when I was pg I heard so many people at pains to point out that it was normal for BF babies to go awhile without pooing, that when my own little DS was only pooing once a week as a nb I thought it was normal! It wasn't until Barb found out and explained it to me that I realised it was a very good indicator that he wasn't getting enough BM (which was backed up in other ways).

:

---

ETA no darn it they dont have NB but the new coles eco babies are great but $$$$$$$$

---

They do, its the yellow bag, only prob is they are about the same size as the huggies infant not NB nappies.

Thanks so much for all your input guys that was a HUGE help! - I'm so glad I didn't go out and buy 20 boxes of NB nappies when they were on special! - To be honest I hadn't even really considered cloth nappies (I know not very enviromentally friendly of me) - but just thought the washing and cleaning of them would be to huge a task when I'd have other things to worry about - is it not as bad as I've always thought?.....

justine - washing cloth gives me a little break and time out when needed. I have 2 in cloth, we use them out, away at home EVERYWERE! We're going away next week for 3 - 4 days and im taking cloth then too so nah its not as hard as some people make out.

I would plan to buy atleast 2 boxes of NB. They go through atleast 10+ a day. If you run out or need more you can always get them, maybe if you wanna buy more (espeacially when they are on special for $29 a box) buy the infant size or next size up and check with the shop u buy them from and ask if you could change them if they were too big or too small (as long as u dont open the box). Some shops are good like that and some are not.

Justine: I used "flats", cloth nappies old-fashioned-style: large squares that you fold and secure with a nappy pin. I used them from day 1 with my first baby. My husband was very supportive as we didn't have much money at that stage. We were also living in an apartment without a tumble drier and I had to trek down a flight of stairs to hang them out to dry. BUT it wasn't so bad. Even if I had had the money to buy disposables I would have still used cloth. I actually found that folding them became part of my routine. I found it strangely therapeutic :redface: My mother posted down a whole heap of cloth nappy paraphrenalia: nylon triangle liners, pins, pilchers and later on when they got a bit thin she made terry towelling booster inserts. So for 2 years virtually all my daughters nappy requirements cost us the grand total of $40 (in 1994 this was the cost of a packet of about 30 flannel square nappies). Of course you need to add the cost of washing them.... but it would have come to nowhere near the $5000 you could be looking at for using disposables for 2 years. Over the years my mother has knitted me wool "soakers" etc and extra towelling nappies. She worked in a fabric store for a while and got materials and fabric cheap.

Anyhow, what I'm trying to say is that you might find the whole process easier than you think. Checkout the cloth nappy threads. I personally am a fan of flats as the baby doesn't grow out of them... but it's always convenient to have a few sizes of the modern pre-folded nappies, I had a few that I would take with me on outings so that changing the nappy away from home was as easy as using a disposable.

With a newborn baby, especially if they are breastfed, they can poo very very regularly. Given that some disposable nappies can cost 50c a pop imagine putting on a fresh nappy only to have your baby poo in it about 2 minutes later.... on goes another 50c.... and you can easily go through 10-12 over a 24hour period. You do the maths ;) At least when they poo 2 minutes later in a fabric nappy you don't cringe at the cost so much... 'cos you know you can just use it again.... and again... and again...

Is there anywhere on this website that discusses the benefits of cloth over disposable or vice versa, I'm with Justine in that I though cloth would be too much hassle, but I keep hearing recommendations to go that way as it's easier on the hip pocket and better for bubs...but I still have no idea!! I've got awhile to go, but would love to read up on it to make an educated decision ;D

Once you get into the swing of cloth, it's easy as :D And of course, if you're having a bad day (or week ;)) there's nothing to say that you can't use sposies for a few days to make things easier if you feel the need. But I honestly find cloth easier as we get so many more leaks (and therefore clothes and linen changes) with disposables. Once you know how to use cloth properly it is much more reliable.

I use a combo of MCN (modern cloth nappies) and terry towelling flats (old fashioned squares). I really like the MCN for when we go out. I haven't use a sposie for ages, I have about two left in the house, it's almost like a point of pride not to have to buy anymore!

If you google the 'Modern Cloth Nappies' website and then go to facts and figures you will find some interesting info ;)

Good luck, and please feel free to join us in the cloth nappy threads for any questions you have. https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ilet-training/ We were all new to cloth at some point, I promise we'll be friendly, so drop into the cloth nappy discussion thread!

Oliver fit into Huggies Newborn for 5 weeks, then Infant for 8 weeks after that (to 13 weeks).

I used cloth from day 2 and didn't find it difficult at all, however I only had 12 fitted NB nappies which wasn't nearly enough so also used disposables. He was going through minimum 12 nappies a day total in the early weeks, and like previous posters have said, for the first couple of weeks he pooed every feed. He has gone totally the opposite now and only poos once every 10-12 days, but still goes through 7-8 nappies a day (1-2 disposables for at night/when out, the rest cloth). We used Huggies to start as thats what I was given at my baby shower, then changed to the Aldi Mammia nappies when the Aldi within walking distance opened. The Aldi nappies do feel cheaper but work just as well on Oliver - no leaking - so thats good enough for us. I currently go through about one packet of Aldi nappies a month.

Yes - girls get your bum's over into the nappy thread and we'll help you out.
I must warn you...it is very scarey at first but once you know all the jargan involved...you'll get hooked

Noticed today that Aldi did have small nappies 3-6kg, so they should be ok to fit a newborn, they might be a bit roomy to start with. I suppose though like with all nappies you wont know what brand and what size will fit till you try them.

Thanks for that Astrid!

I found the NB aldi nappies where similar in size to the Infant sized huggies.

:

---

I found the NB aldi nappies where similar in size to the Infant sized huggies.

---

They are very much like the Woolworths Select Infant nappies, they also fit 3-6kg. The main difference between them (other than the picture) is that the Aldi nappy has thinner tabs, otherwise they are almot identical.

Hi, just adding to the cloth vs dispoable debate - we've been in cloth since birth and havn't found it difficult at all. in fact, i'm in love with our nappies! but, for the past 2 weeks we've been using disposables as our washing nachine broke down (and looking like it'll be another 2 weeks to be fixed!) and can't believe how expensive it is buying nappies & disposable wipes. they're also much smellier and don't contain leaks as well.
just my 2c worth ;)
wish we had aldi over here

Go with cloth!!! :D
Waaaay better for bub's butt and the environment.... and washing them will be easy as! It's not hard at all, you just need to do your research and find out what MCN (modern cloth nappy) suits you and your bub the best.....

I was turned off disposables months ago when i read about the effects they have on our environment..... takes at least 100yrs to break down one single disposable nappy in landfill :( now thats bad!! BUT i don't judge anyone who uses them because we are all different and some people simply don't have the time to use cloth. Plus at times convenience is important.....

I've just invested in some Baby Beehinds (only a few) and quite a few of the "Peapods" you can google these names and find their websites and read about the nappies and how to use them and wash them....
thats how i started just reading websites and all about them.

We are only going to buy 1 pack of NB disposables as a 'back up' only and keep the receipt ;)

This is our first bub.

another thing to remember when using sposies is that buy law its illegal to put human waste in the bin, therefore you are ment to flush the poo down the toilet, so is you do taht you might as well use cloth!!

good point AJP. So most people using disposables break the law everyday because i'll be damned if anyone can work out how to flush newborn poo down the toilet when it soaks into the nappy the way it does! Even with my 2yo he has the odd runny poo that no-way-known can be "flushed" away from the nappy... it just seeps in too much. It's very scary how much human waste is going to be filtering into our water table under the ground!!!!

dont worry bath ive often wondered the same!! the water table is aconcern!!

Don't forget that people may give you nappies.

We only bought 1 packet of Aldi newborn nappies prior to the birth. We then got given a box of Huggies and some Safeway ones. They are all different sizes. The Huggies were the smallest so we used them first. The Safeway ones are a little bigger and Aldi ones are even bigger therefore we will be able to use them a bit longer. They've all been really good. The Safeway ones are great cos you can tell without opening the nappy if bubs has wee'd - I could never tell with the Huggies until I opened it.

My baby was 7lb 13 at birth and at 3 weeks the Huggies ones were a tad on the small side so I wouldn't buy too many of them if I were you.

I'd recommend stocking up on wipes though, they are not cheap and you can go through heaps of them if bubs does a messy nappy and then sits in it for a while. I recommend Pigeon ones - they are available at independent grocery stores.

I've got a box and the large bag of huggies newborn then I bought a box of boys infant as we know what we're having, I figure I can buy another box after he's born if we need it!
Best of luck with your baby shopping.
Snoopea

We used 4 boxes with Lachlan but most supermarkets etc will let you exchange them for a bigger size if they are unopened. Don't worry, I was equally organised. I'll be buying my first box this fortnight too.

Justine mate, if it's money saving you're after, go the cloth. In the last 18months I've spent MAYBE $300 on nappies....imagine that'd be like 12-14weeks in sposies.....
and how much does an extra load of washing every couple of days cost really?