Diaper Stockpile?

[billig]

Most recent update to recommendations was on 7/27/2010, in post #378.

All references to "packs" mean the standard Jumbo sized packs of diapers.

For calculating purposes, Mega packs are 1.5 times the size of a Jumbo, and Super Mega packs are 2 times the size.

My friend is pregnant and she doesn't have a lot of money, so I'd like to take advantage of these diaper deals here and there....and give them that for gifts.
But, I don't know how many of a small size is ok to get. First off, I don't know, but if she were to have a big baby, does that mean they won't need the smallest size diaper? Or does the difference between a 6 or a 11 lb baby just not matter?
How long does a normal size baby need to wear the smallest size? What do they go through, about 10 diapers per day?
I'd like to just get her all different sizes, but they have a small apartment, and it'd just be silly to give her huge boxes of diapers they'd have to look at for a year and a half.
Thanks for anyones advice.

[ladywaterwind]

I wouldn't even worry about getting her a newborn size unless the baby is a preemie. Mine wore like a package and a half, if that, of size N. The 1s she was in for maybe a month, the 2s a month, and been in 3s since early November (was born in September). If I were you I would focus more on the 1s and 2s.

[TheWoman]

I wouldn't buy tons of them--sometimes space is more important than saving money. Also, more sales will come along, so unless this is one of those once in a lifetime deals you can probably get another deal later.

[MrsPinecone]

We used newborn diapers for one week after he came home from the hospital, and that was pushing it. (Then again, he did weigh around 10 lbs.) When I was building my stockpile, I completely skipped the newborns-- you get plenty of them from the hospital.

I got 10 packs of Size 1, and at 6 weeks he's got 2 1/2 packs of those left. I had planned for those 10 packs to last the first 2 months, and it looks like that's close to where we'll be. At 11.5 lbs, the 1s are starting to look a little tight, even though they say the weight limit is 14 lbs. He's tall, and the diapers are getting too short. We'll be moving to Size 2s soon.

I have the pack sizes and weight limits in the Diapers & Wipes 101 thread.

As TheWoman said, there will always be another deal on diapers. If she doesn't have a ton of room, I'd either store them at your house or wait.

[scscbc]

My sister's 5 month old is in Size 4 already!! She weighs 18 lbs! There is no rhyme of reason to how fast these kids will grow.
Keep some of your receipts, so you can exchange sizes if needed, or you can always give as a shower gift.

[pedspeech]

Originally Posted by scscbc My sister's 5 month old is in Size 4 already!! She weighs 18 lbs! There is no rhyme of reason to how fast these kids will grow. Keep some of your receipts, so you can exchange sizes if needed, or you can always give as a shower gift.

There really is no way to tell beforehand- her five month old is in size four and I have a fifteen month old that is doing fine in the size threes (yes, he is small, but healthy!).

I have exchanged them without receipts at stores where the cashiers know me, just by going in and saying "I bought too many of the wrong size, can I do an even exchange?" As long as the product is still in the same packaging I don't see why they wouldn't trade it out for you. However, I agree that I wouldn't buy loads of them right now, just a few when the deals come available.

[Macaela25]

Size 4?? Wow! My nine month old is 22 lbs and still in size 3's...I think they are good up to 28 lbs. I hope so, since we have at least 8 more packs. And my guy probably weighed close to 18 lbs at 5 months...he was 11 lbs at birth, and they tend to chub out around 4-6 months. My OB said that newborns are getting bigger and bigger, but mommies aren't, unfortunately (hello c-section!!). Better nutrition, I guess. Mine was probably all the Dr. Pepper, steak, cheese, and mushroom subs and all you can eat salads that DS and I shared during my pregnancy.

[TheWoman]

Keep some of your receipts, so you can exchange sizes if needed, or you can always give as a shower gift.

I think most stores would allow an even exchange even without a receipt.

[KimJSTL21]

My DD is almost 17 months and is wearing size 4's, but my lil brother is 7 months is also wearing size 4's. My DD has always been on the small side though... We used Newborn sizes for at least 1 1/2 months. DD was 6lbs 12 oz when she was born. I would say to go for more size 1, 2's, & 3's... but maybe if space is a big issue, then maybe getting giftcards for diapers would be better for them. Also, keep the reciepts incase the need to be exchanged.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

They say the average newborn is 7 lbs. Now mind you some babies are smaller and some are bigger. The newborn diapers are based on the 7lb baby and plan to be a little big on a 6 lb baby and room to grow for a 10 lb baby.

But each diaper fits different babies differently. I think a gift of diapers is a nice practical gift because it saves mom and dad (OK Dad) the midnight trips to Walmart for a pack of diapers. I would say get 3 packs of size 1's, and if your going to get more get more size 2's and 3's as most kids are in them the longest.

I would also recomend either saving receipts for the parents to be so they can return any diapers that are in the wrong size or tell them where you bought them so they can exchange them. I dont think I have ever had a problem with any stores here doing an exchange without a receipt.

Now my last babies were small and I had stockpiled the newborn and high sizes and needed to get preemie diapers for thier first 2 months. And they are both on the small size still at 26 months and they are JUST now getting to the size 4's.