How Many Diapers to Ask for at a Baby Shower: Chart by Size 🍼

Chart of how many diapers to ask for in each size (NB, S, M, L, XL), how many a baby uses per day and how to split requests among guests.

A baby goes through 8 to 12 diapers a day in the first weeks and around 4,000 diapers by 18 months. The secret of a diaper shower is not asking for lots of diapers, it is asking for the right sizes: just a few newborn, just a few small, and the bulk in M and L, the sizes a baby wears the longest.

Quick summary:

• Ask for only a few newborn (NB) diapers: many babies outgrow the size in two or three weeks, and some are born too big for it.

• Focus the list on M and L, which together make up almost half the diapers of the first 18 months.

• Split requests among guests so everything doesn't arrive in the same size.

• Keep the receipt or agree on exchanges: unopened packs can usually be exchanged at most stores without a problem.

How many diapers does a baby use per day?

In the first month, a newborn needs a change at practically every feeding, which adds up to 8 to 12 changes a day. As the baby grows, the gap between changes gets longer: around six months the average drops to 6 to 8 a day, and after one year it sits between 5 and 6. Averaged across the first two years, that comes to about 220 diapers a month.

That means no diaper shower will cover everything, and that is fine. The goal is to give you a good head start for the first months, which are exactly the most exhausting and the most expensive.

Chart: how many diapers to ask for in each size

The breakdown below adds up to 4,070 diapers, enough for about a year and a half. It is the reference we use at BabyParty and works as a starting point for any shower. Weight ranges vary a little between brands, so check the package.

• Up to 4 kg (NB): 70 diapers, or 2 packs.

• Up to 5 kg (NB+): 200 diapers, or 5 to 6 packs.

• 3 to 6 kg (S): 400 diapers, or about 11 packs.

• 5 to 9 kg (M): 800 diapers, or about 23 packs.

• 8 to 12 kg (L): 950 diapers, or about 27 packs.

• Over 12 kg (XL): 1,000 diapers, or about 29 packs.

• Over 14 kg (XXL): 650 diapers, or about 19 packs.

Packs were calculated at 35 diapers each, a common size at the supermarket. Value packs hold 40 or more, and jumbo packs go over 60, so adjust the math to what your guests usually buy.

What if the shower is small?

With 15 or 20 guests bringing one pack each, you will collect between 500 and 700 diapers, roughly two or three months of use. In that case, skip XL and XXL and spread the requests across NB+, S, M and L, in that order of priority. The bigger sizes can wait until you know which brand works best for your baby.

Why ask for only a few newborn diapers?

It is the most common diaper shower mistake. Newborn diapers get too small very quickly, and a baby born over 3.5 kg may never wear them at all. The result is unopened packs gathering dust in the closet. Two packs are enough for the first weeks. If you run out, it is easy to buy more after the birth, when you already know the baby's weight.

The same logic applies to brands. Every baby does better with a certain type of diaper, and the only way to know is to try. If you have a favorite brand, say so in the invitation; if not, leave the choice open and treat the variety as a free trial.

How to split requests among guests

Without a split, almost everyone brings size S or M, because it feels like the safest bet. Three simple ways to balance it out:

1. By first letter of the name. Guests from A to F bring S, from G to M bring M, from N to Z bring L. It is the classic method and works without a spreadsheet.

2. By invitation. Each invitation already says which size that person or family should bring. It takes more work up front and avoids any confusion on the day.

3. With a claim list. An online list where each guest marks the size they will bring and it disappears for the next ones. It is the most precise way, because you watch the tally fill up in real time.

Whatever the method, make it clear in the invitation that diapers in any other size are welcome too. Nobody should skip the shower because they couldn't find size L at the store.

What else to ask for besides diapers

Many guests like to add a small extra to the pack. If you want to guide them, these are the most useful ideas:

• Unscented wipes, which run out almost as fast as diapers.

• Diaper rash cream, ideally the one your pediatrician recommends.

• Cloth diapers to use as burp cloths and bibs, since you can never have too many.

• Cotton balls and cotton swabs for cleaning around the umbilical cord in the first days.

For bigger gifts, the baby shower gifts guide has ideas by price range and shows how to avoid duplicates.

Where to store all those diapers

A successful diaper shower takes up space. Sort the packs by size right after the party and keep only the current size and the next one within reach. The rest goes on a high closet shelf or under the bed, always somewhere dry and out of the sun, which dries out the elastic over time. Write down how many packs you have of each size so you don't buy what you already have.

How to run your diaper shower on BabyParty

On BabyParty, the diaper goal is part of the shower. You pick the pack type and the total goal (from 1,500 to 6,000 diapers), and guests donate packs by paying online right there. Each donation shows up on an animated pile that fills toward the goal, with a ranking of the top donors. Guests who prefer to bring a pack in person can do that too, and you log the donation in the panel so it counts toward the total.

If the shower has teams, donations can also pull the rope in the tug of war between Girls and Boys, which usually sparks a lively contest at the end of the party. Creating your shower is free: the platform keeps a small percentage of each gift and diaper donation made through it.

Frequently asked questions

How many diapers should each guest bring?

One pack per guest or per couple is the most common arrangement. If close family wants to help more, one pack plus a small extra, like wipes, works well.

Can I ask for money instead of diapers?

Yes, as long as you offer both options and say it lightly. Many guests would rather send the cost of a pack than go to the store. Explain in the invitation that the donation turns into diapers and keep the process simple.

Can leftover or outgrown diapers be exchanged?

At most stores, yes, as long as the pack is unopened. Ask guests to tuck the gift receipt inside the pack or arrange the exchange with you. Unused newborn packs also make a great donation to maternity wards.

What's the difference between a baby shower and a diaper shower?

At a baby shower, guests give a variety of gifts to get the baby's things ready. At a diaper shower, the gift is diapers, sometimes with a small extra. Today many people combine the two: each guest brings a pack of diapers and anyone who wants to picks an item from the registry.

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