If you wonder how many wet diapers a newborn should have everyday, the number varies from babies to babies. However, the general rule is that they need 1-2 diapers in the first 24 hours, and gradually the number increases, leading to 6-10 diapers per day in the first month. The number decreases for over 1 month babies and they will daily need 4-6 diapers on average.
Tracking your baby’s wet diapers is one of the most effective ways to observe their health and hydration. If you notice your newborn’s diaper count is too low or too high than usual, they may not get an adequate milk supply or have any other health concerns. So, consulting a doctor immediately is the best solution.
In This Article
Learning how many wet diapers newborn produces per day is a crucial aspect of baby care, both for new parents and caregivers. The frequency of changing those wet nappies for your little one holds a lot of secrets and information about the baby’s health, hydration, and nutrition.
As a new parent, you may be always wondering, is my baby getting enough milk? Am I feeding them well? How many times should they pee/poop a day? Do they have any health concerns? And the answer to all those questions lies in the number of wet diapers your baby produces each day.
However, each baby is unique, and so is their diaper habit. Therefore, the diaper count for babies varies within a range.
Normally, newborns produce at least one wet diaper within their first 24 hours. But what about the next day? The first week? The next week? And how many diapers a day is normal for newborns in their very first month?
The following guide should answer all these queries by dissecting newborns’ diaper habits in detail.
Why Are Wet Diapers Important for Babies?
Wet diapers for newborns are an indication that they are eating well, delivering a sense of satisfaction for new parents. Babies have tiny stomachs and bladders compared to adults, which is why they need to be fed more often, resulting in frequent urination. An adequate number of wet diapers can ensure the following-
- The baby is getting enough food and hydration
- Their kidneys are functioning well (as the primary job of kidneys is urine production)
- Your newborn is happy and healthy without any major bladder/bowel concerns (as their diaper count is normal like any other newborn)
- Peace of mind for parents/caregivers, as their babies are following the usual pattern of urination
Thus, babies’ wet diapers have a language of their own. The number of wet little nappies works as a secret code for parents to monitor their newborn’s overall well-being.
How Many Wet Diapers Should a Newborn Have Per Day?
Are you a breastfeeding mom who is concerned about the breast milk supply? Understandable. What if your baby’s not getting what they need? For bottle-fed babies, it’s visible how much they are eating.
On the other hand, it’s difficult to track for breastfed babies, especially in the first few days when the mother’s breast milk supply isn’t stable yet (gradually increasing). No wonder diaper habits differ between babies based on how they are fed.
Breastfed Babies
For the first few days, as long as there’s no sufficient milk supply, the baby doesn’t intake much fluid. As a result, there are fewer number of wet diapers. Here’s the diaper count for breastfed babies in the first week-
Day 1: A newborn will produce at least one wet diaper within the first 24 hours
Day 2: Look for at least 2 wet diapers for exclusively breastfed babies
Day 3: The number will increase to 3-4 wet diapers
Day 4-5: By this time, the breast will be filled with milk, increasing your baby’s milk intake and urinating. You can expect around 6 heavy wet diapers for newborns in this phase
Day 6 and Beyond: Your little one will be making 6-8 diapers wet within 24 hours
Formula-Fed Babies
For formula or bottle-fed babies, the scenario isn’t much different in the first two days. They cannot take in much fluid right after birth. Gradually, you will see them urinate more often making more diapers wet, as they start taking more milk. The number of diapers for newborns who live on formula is as follows in the first week:
Day 1: Newborn will urinate at least once within the first 24 hours
Day 2: The number of wet diapers will be at least 2
Day 3-5: As they start eating more, they will produce around 3-6 wet diapers, based on how great eater they are
Day 6 and Onward: The number varies based on your baby’s eating and sleeping habits. If they are less interested in eating and more into sleeping, the diaper count will be lesser, whereas more wet diapers for more active babies who take in formula more frequently.
However, 6+ wet diapers are normal for bottle-fed newborns in their first week. And it might be up to 10.
Note: Don’t fret if the newborn doesn’t urinate within the first 12 hours of their birth. There are 12 more hours to go.
Baby’s Diaper Diary by Age Group
Newborns: The baby’s newborn phase lasts from 0-2 months (0-3 months arguably). In this stage, they should have at least 6 wet diapers and 3-4 poopy diapers everyday (especially in the first week).
Infants: Infants are babies within the 3-12 months age range. At this stage, they should make 5-6 diapers wet per day while the pooping habits may widely differ.
Toddlers: Toddlers are kids who are 1-3 years old. Having a bladder capacity bigger than infants, they produce a lesser number of wet diapers, around 4-6 everyday. Meanwhile, some toddlers poop once a day and some poop once every other day.
So, the number of dirty diapers varies.
The following chart sums up your little one’s diaper needs by age group:
| Age Group | Wet Diapers Each Day | Dirty Diapers Each Day |
| Newborns (0-3 months) | Minimum 6 | 3-4 in the first week, 1-4 latter |
| Infants (3-12 months) | Minimum 5 | 1 each day or 1 in a few days |
| Toddlers (1-3 years) | 4-6 | 1 everyday or 1 in 2 days |
How Often Should a Newborn Pee?
This common question by new parents has no particular answer, to be honest. The time is different for every baby as it’s directly related to how often they are fed and how much fluid they intake.
However, newborns will pee at least once within their first 24 hours. Later, they can pee more frequently, every 1-3 hours, for example. And sometimes, newborns form urinating habits every time they are fed.
How Often Should a Newborn Baby Poop?
Bowel habits for newborns strongly depend on how they are fed. How many times your newly born will poop a day is different for breastfed and formula-fed ones.
- Breastfed Babies: In the first 24 hours, a newborn should poop at least once. The first stool is called meconium, a black and tar-like substance. When the stool gradually becomes regular, the baby might poop 3-4 times a day in the first week. And the frequency decreases after their sixth week when they might pass stool once every few days.
Note: If the stool is soft, you need not worry about why they don’t produce dirty diapers everyday.
- Formula-fed Babies: For those living on formula, the pooping frequency is slightly less. Formula-fed babies produce poopy diapers 2-5 times a day until six weeks, though the number greatly varies for different babies. After six weeks, they may pass stool once everyday, once every other day, or even once a week.
Warning: Consult your pediatrician if the baby passes one week or more without passing stool.
What Happens When Diaper Count Is Too High/Low
How many wet diapers are too many for newborns? And what number is considered too less?
In the first month of your baby’s birth, 6-8 and sometimes 10 wet diapers are normal a day. The number might notably go up if the baby consumes a lot of fluids.
But if they are peeing more frequently, more than once every hour, for example, that’s definitely not normal.
In that case, look for other symptoms, like irritation or crying while urinating, and consult your child’s healthcare provider to find out if they have any other issues. It might be a sign of a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), which is a serious health concern for both babies and adults.
On the other hand, if your little born is producing less than 6 wet diapers a day in the first month, and less than 4 after the first month, it could be a reminder of the following:
- Your baby is dehydrated
- They have a fever
- The weather is hotter than usual
In hotter climates, a newborn’s urine output could be dropped by half. But they should return to the regular peeing routine as soon as the weather cools.
A healthy baby must pee within a 6-8 hour span if they have no major signs of illness.
How Often Should You Change a Baby’s Diaper?
Newborns go through a lot of wet diapers each day. You should change those little nappies every 2-3 hours so as to prevent rashes, infection, and discomfort for babies.
If you find the diaper already soiled (even within one hour of wearing a dry one), change it as soon as you notice to protect your baby’s delicate skin.
Frequent diaper changes lessen the risks of skin infection by preventing bacterial growth.
The following signs should notify parents that it’s time for a diaper change even if they forget:
- Noticeably wet nappies
- Redness, fussiness, strong odor
- Cranky and irritated babies even after feeding
Pro Tips: Some parents follow a steady diaper change routine right before/after feeding the baby. For the nighttime schedule, it’s recommended that babies wear dry diapers for a good night’s sleep. So, change the nappies every time they are fed at night (before or after that you can decide).
Newborn’s Diaper Needs by Size
Diaper sizes increase as newborns grow older and gain weight. Conversely, the number of diapers used daily decreases with age.
Baby under 6 pounds, right after birth, needs a preemie-size diaper. If the weight ranges up to 10 lbs, you should look for the newborn size.
Here’s a size guide for your little pumpkin’s diaper by their weight:
| Weight Range | Diaper Size |
| Up to 6 lbs | P |
| Up to 10 lbs | N |
| 8-14 lbs | Size 1 |
| 12-18 lbs | Size 2 |
| 16-28 lbs | Size 3 |
| 22-37 lbs | Size 4 |
| 27-35 lbs | Size 5 |
| Over 35 lbs | Size 6 |
| Over 41 lbs (older toddlers) | Size 7 |
Wondering how the same weight range overlaps between two different diaper sizes? Well, it depends on the baby’s body type. For leaner and thinner babies, the smaller size would suffice. And for healthier ones, go with the larger size to stay on the safer side.
Reminder: Choosing ill-fitted diapers often leads to messy leakage, rashes, and discomfort; which is why picking diapers in the right size is recommended.
How Do You Know If a Baby Is Dehydrated?
Dehydration for newborns is a serious concern, however, you need to track the dehydration by checking their diapers, as newborns cannot express their discomfort through words. Here are the signs your little star lacks adequate hydration:
- Fewer number of wet diapers than usual– the primary sign your child isn’t getting enough milk
- Fewer bowel movements- if the baby is suffering from fluid loss, they will produce less dirty diapers due to fewer bowel movements
- Cool, dry skin with cracked lips– lack of hydration leads your kids to loose skin elasticity, causing extreme dryness on skin and lips
- Dark yellow urine- the urine color should be pale to light yellow when babies are well-hydrated
- Dry mouth and tongue– check for dryness inside the mouth and tongue if you feel like your newborn is dehydrated
- Extreme sleepiness, fussiness, and lethargy– a dehydrated newborn will be extremely sleepy and fussy as if they have no energy left
- Sunken fontanel– if the soft spot on your baby’s head is low or sunken, it’s a strong indication that the newly born is dehydrated
- No tears while crying– in extreme cases, your child will have little to no tears while crying
How to Monitor Diaper Output for Newborn
Observing how many diapers their newborn is wetting is recommended for new parents, at least for the first two weeks, to ensure they are getting enough hydration and nutrition they need. However, tracking a newborn’s diaper output doesn’t have to be complicated with the following guidelines:
- Create a diaper log: You can use a notepad or any tracking app to keep a simple diaper log for babies. This daily log shows how many wet and dirty diapers newborns are producing everyday, notifying how healthy and hydrated they are.
- Monitor the color and consistency: Aside from diaper count, the color of the urine and the consistency of their stool also matter in tracking the overall development of newborns. The lighter the urine color, the better it is. And for healthy babies, the stool should be soft and seedy in the first week of their life.
Note: A breastfed baby stool differs in consistency (softer and runnier) from that of formula-fed ones.
- Check the urine smell: Newborn pee can smell strong and there’s nothing to worry about. But if the smell is particularly foul for a prolonged period, you should check for UTI symptoms.
- Track consistently: Keep tracking your little one’s pee and poop count consistently, at least for two weeks in a row. This will let you figure out what is their normal diaper output. Consult a doctor immediately if you notice any sudden changes in the usual diaper schedule.
How to Tell If a Diaper Is Wet?
Here are some tried and tested ways to check baby diapers for wetness:
Check the absorbent layer: When you take the diaper out, check the underlayer where the urine is absorbed. It will feel moist if your baby has urinated.
Consider the weight: Wet diapers feel a bit heavier (not too heavy though, as newborns produce a small amount of urine). So, you have to be really meticulous when checking diaper weight. Newborns produce around one ounce of urine in each diaper, and the amount goes higher, up to two ounces when they grow older.
Pro Tip: Pour 1 or 2 ounces of water on a dry diaper. It will give you a clearer picture of how wet a diaper looks and feels once your newborn wets it.
Place a tissue: Place one dry tissue on the diaper which makes it easier to see if the baby has passed urine or not.
Check the wetness indicator: Some latest diapers (disposable ones) come with a wetness indicator (a line/design that changes color when gets wet).
Which Factors May Affect Baby’s Diaper Output?
While diaper count is different for every baby due to their varying growth and body types, the following factors significantly affect the number and frequency of diaper output:
Feeding process and frequency: Diaper habits may differ due to the feeding method. Breastfed babies tend to produce slightly more wet diapers than formula-fed newborns. Also, some infants tend to consume milk more frequently, leading them to pass urine more often a day.
Age: As you already know, a newborn’s tiny bladder gets bigger with age. So, they will have more control over the bladder and bowel as they grow up, leading to a reduced number of diaper outputs.
Temperature: In hotter days, babies usually lose more fluid through sweating, which is why they produce less wet diapers than usual.
Special conditions: If newborns are on medication or go through any medical condition, it notably affects their bladder and bowel movement, causing unusual diaper outputs.
How Long Do Babies Use Diapers?
After changing diapers religiously over a few months, the frustration with those wet nappies is real, and parents eagerly wait for their children to be potty trained.
So, how long do babies use diapers before they are finally ready for potty training? Honestly speaking, the duration varies based on how fast your little one can master the skill.
Usually, babies become ready for potty training between 18-24 months. With proper guidance and a lot of patience, they get fully toilet trained by the age of 3-4 years.
Newborn Urine Color: What Color Should It Be?
The color of newborn urine may vary, indicating different health conditions as follows:
Pale/Light yellow: The usual urine color for babies who consume adequate fluid and are well-hydrated.
Dark Yellow: If you notice concentrated urine in the dark yellow shade even after the first 3-5 days, your little born probably lacks hydration, and thereby, should intake more liquid (breastmilk or formula).
Brick Dust: In severe cases, a newborn can produce a powdery stain on the diaper similar to brick dust. If the stain persists by the fifth/sixth day of your little one’s birth, you should consult a pediatrician asap.
Tips to Manage Wet Diapers
First thing first, parents should stock up on enough diapers for babies so that they don’t run out of nappies when needed. Aside from that, the following steps should help in diaper management:
- Unfasten the wet diaper, take it out of your child, and clean the baby’s diaper area with wet wipes.
- Throw the wet/soiled diaper and used wipes in the trash can.
- Let your child’s bottom be dry before you wear them a new diaper.
- You can apply diaper cream in every change (especially made for babies) to prevent rash.
- Fasten the fresh diaper and dress your child.
- Wash both your and your baby’s hands with soap and water.
Diaper Selection for Newborn Safety
With a new child born, we get new parents as well. Here are the safety tips every parent should be aware of while selecting diapers for their precious one:
Size and fit: Diapers for little ones should fit snugly, therefore, choose nappies just in the right size, neither too big nor too small, so as to prevent leakage, discomfort, and irritation.
Material: Soft and breathable baby diapers are essential to keep their delicate skin protected from rashes and allergic reactions. Moreover, picking baby-safe materials is recommended (diapers without fragrance/dyes, for instance).
Quantity: Stock a sufficient amount of little nappies whether you are at home or outside of home, so that your precious one doesn’t have to be in the same diaper for too long. For babies, frequent diaper change is suggested to avoid bacterial growth or infection.
Blood in Newborn Diaper: When to Call a Doctor
Little blood spots on newborns’ diapers are normal for the following reasons:
Pseudo-Menstrual Spot: For newborn girls, you may see blood-tinged discharge for the first few days on their diapers, known as false menstruation, due to the delivering parent’s hormones.
Uric Acid Crystals: Very concentrated urine usually contains urate crystals, leaving pink, red, or orange-tinged marks behind, more like blood stains (until the breast milk flows smoothly)
Both conditions above should not last after the first 2-3 days, and definitely not after the fourth day in any case. If you still see blood stains after this period, or the baby passes blood while urinating, seek medical support right away. Besides, any sign of discomfort, struggle, or pain while peeing should be addressed by a healthcare professional as early as possible.
Related: Importance Of Soft Clothes For Your Kids: Parents’ Guide
FAQs
Is it safe to use diapers for babies at night?
Yes, it is totally safe and practical for babies to use diapers overnight. However, parents should choose nappies wisely for overnight use. They should be specially designed with higher absorbency to keep their little ones dry and comfortable for the whole night.
What if my baby has no wet diapers?
It’s alarming if babies don’t produce any wet diapers even 24 hours after they are born. It’s a major red flag for medical concerns like dehydration or kidney dysfunction, and seeking professional help is the only solution here.
How many wet diapers are too many?
More than 20 diapers a day is usually considered too many for newborns. If you face a similar situation, check if your little one has any other symptoms of illness.
Do newborns cry when the diaper is wet?
Yes, it’s usual for babies to cry when they have soiled or wet their diapers, as they feel uncomfortable. That’s why parents should check on baby diapers frequently, especially before and after they are fed.
Diapers for babies are more than just nappies, they are the medium of communication between newborns and their parents. Your little one cannot be vocal about their needs in the first few months, but their diapers can show how they are feeling.
That’s where the question arises, how many wet diapers for newborn babies are considered normal? Well, it’s at least 1 in the first 24 hours, and a minimum of 6 after the first week. Keep track of your child’s diaper output from the very beginning and consult a childcare specialist in case of frequent exceptions.
Hopefully, the guide above will make your parenting journey a little easier as you stay informed about a newborn’s usual diaper habits. Happy parenting!
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