Best diaper for each babyhood stage

One thing that’s constant when you’ve got a baby in the house: nothing stays the same for very long! That’s a good thing because it means that your child is constantly growing, changing, learning new things and revealing more and more of her personality.

New moms and dads know that diapers are a huge part of the experience. Just as your child will learn new things (like rolling over and sitting up on her own) and reach new milestones (such as trying solid food and saying her first words), her diaper needs change as she grows. Fortunately, Huggies has a broad range of diapers and wipes designed to fit her and meet her needs, no matter what stage she’s in.

From the newborn (or even preemie!) stage to potty training, here are some things to keep in mind as you select the right diaper for your growing child.

Preemies & Newborns

There’s so much to treasure in those precious first weeks home with your baby. Starting good sleep habits will be a top priority (some parents swear by sleep training ), as will establishing positive relationships with others in the family. One way to do this is to have some dedicated skin-to-skin contact time each day. Studies show that when a newborn has skin-to-skin contact (typically defined by the baby, clad only in a diaper, lays on mom or dad’s chest with a loose blanket over her back) with her parents, she gets all sorts of benefits, including bonding, body temperature regulation and much more. During these first weeks at home, you’ll want to establish a routine of diaper changes. Start with diapers appropriately sized for your baby, such as Huggies® Little Snugglers®, which come in sizes starting at preemie (for babies less than 6 lbs.) and go up to size 7 (for babies over 41 lbs.). They’re made with fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, super-soft materials for your newborn’s delicate skin. It’s also a good idea to stock up on wipes, such as Huggies® Natural Care® Wipes, which are pH balanced and designed to help keep your baby clean and comfortable. During this phase, you’ll learn how to best care for your baby’s sensitive skin, including creating a bathing schedule, using the appropriate diaper cream to prevent diaper rash and more.

Infants

You’ll have noticed lots of changes in your child from the first few days you had her home. She’s grown stronger and her development likely includes holding her head up, smoother movements with more muscle control and dexterity; starting to sit up on her own and rolling over. You’ve grown too; you probably can tell the difference between a wet or dirty diaper cry and an “I’m hungry!” cry. You and your little one already have lots of sweet memories to share and remember. Now that your baby is more mobile, you may want to consider moving her into other Huggies diapers that are designed with this new stage in mind. For example, Huggies® Little Movers® Diapers have a contoured shape and are designed to eliminate gaps around the legs and waist, so that even as your baby moves, wiggles, crawls and walks, she’s protected from leaks. And, for a little extra protection for sleeping, you’ll want to pick up Huggies® Overnites Diapers, which are designed to provide leakage protection for up to 12 hours and come with special Double Grip Strips for a secure fit as your little one sleeps.

Toddlers

By this stage, your child’s personality is probably coming out in full force. It’s so much fun to see how she approaches the world! She’s probably curious about just about everything (bring on the baby-proofing to keep her safe at home) and starting to talk and babble, asking questions and sharing what she needs or wants. It’s an exciting time for both you and your child, and there’s no doubt that you’ll make a ton of memories during this precious time. Now that she’s mastered crawling and likely walking (perhaps even running!), she might start showing signs that she’s ready to begin the potty training process. If you notice that she’s waking up dry from naps, asking questions about sitting on the “big” potty or telling you before she’s about to “go,” she might be ready. While there are a ton of tips and tricks (check out this thorough article about potty training we’ve put together), one of the most important tools to set yourself up for success is having the right diapers to make the transition. Pull-Ups Training Pants come designed specially for boys and girls to offer reliable protection while your child learns to use the potty. They are durable to be pulled up and down (just like “big kid” underwear), while providing the wetness protection your child needs while they learn to use the toilet. Even after your child is potty trained, in case of some regression, you may want to use Goodnites Disposable Bed Mats for extra protection in case of accidental bed wetting. Regardless of your child’s age and stage of development, we’ve got you covered!