If you have tried reading the size instructions on the side of the diaper box, you must have realized how tricky diaper sizing can be.
Even for newborns, many parents find it challenging to figure out the right fit for their infants. The newborn-size diapers may not fit all newborn babies as all babies are not the same.
You may feel the newborn-size diaper is too tight for your little one and it is common problem. So, you want to know “can a newborn’s diaper be too tight?”
Here is everything you need to know about newborn diapers and how to know if it is tight for your newborn.
Table of Contents
Can a newborn’s diaper be too tight?
The newborn-size diaper can be too tight for your little one if your baby is healthy and weighs more than 10 lbs. in general. It is because diapers are sized based on the weight of a baby and not age. If newborn diapers are tight on your baby, you should go for size 1 diapers. If you see any marks around the waist and legs of your baby, it means the diaper is too tight. Wearing the right-sized diaper that will fit well will be more comfortable for your little one and can help prevent blowouts and leaks from happening. You should not tie a tight diaper to your baby, move to the next size if it feels tight.
Can you use size 1 diapers on a newborn?
It depends on the weight of your baby at birth. Diapers are sized according to the weight of your baby and not age.
Thus, if your newborn baby weighs more than 10 pounds, a size 1 diaper designed for babies weighing 8 to 12 pounds is the right fit.
How to know if your baby’s diaper is too tight
It is important to make sure that the diapers are comfortable for your baby, and it can be only achieved if it is the right fit. Here is how should a diaper fit:
A diaper must fit snugly but not too tight. It needs to be tight enough to keep the diaper straight but not too tight to give a muffin-top look on the thighs.
A well-fitted diaper should not leave any red marks on the legs and waist of the baby. If it leaves red marks, it means the diaper is too tight.
The diaper should completely cover the baby’s bottom. If your baby’s bottom is exposed on the sides, it means the diaper is small for your baby and is not the right size.
For newborn babies, the diapers must fit under the umbilical stump. If the diaper brand you are using doesn’t have the dip on the umbilical cord area, you should fold it and be very careful when putting on and removing the diaper until the cord is fully healed.
What will happen if your baby wears tight diapers
If the diaper is too tight and small, it can leak as there is not enough capacity for absorbing the volume of baby pee and poop. The diaper will not perform its job well and moisture can irritate the skin of your little one. If the leg cuffs don’t properly fit, pee can leak out the sides.
By choosing the right diaper size, you can help your baby stay dry, clean, healthy, and comfortable.
Conclusion
Can a newborn’s diaper be too tight? Your newborn’s diaper should not be too tight as it can lead to various issues. If the newborn-size diaper is tight for your little one, you should go for the size 1 instead of putting on the tight diapers for your baby.
All babies are different and have different body weights at birth, so diapers may fit differently for each baby. If your baby is healthier and weighs more than 10 lbs., there are chances that newborn-size diapers will be tight for your baby.
You can also try different diaper brands as there will be differences in terms of size and fit differently to the baby.