When it comes to burp cloths, the limit for how many you need feels as if it doesn’t exist. Enough is never enough. As an expecting or new mom, you’re probably trying to do your best to prepare. So, how many burp cloths should you have on hand? Burp cloths serve a variety of purposes and are part of iconic mom style. In almost every movie, tv show, or real life experience with a new mom, she’s got a burp cloth tossed over her shoulder. That’s because spit happens, a lot.
Keep reading to learn more about burp cloths including how many you may actually need, and how long you can expect them to be an accessory to your outfits.
How many burp cloths are needed for a newborn?
As you work on building your baby registry, you might come across a cute 3 pack of burp cloths that match your theme and think, “this is good enough.” We hate to break it to you but, you will need many more - unless you want to be doing laundry every day, which is pretty unrealistic with a newborn.
Newborns can easily go through 3-5 or more burp cloths in a day, so if you multiply that by how often you expect to be doing laundry, that’s how many burp cloths you should have on hand for your newborn. Plus, a couple extra for the diaper bag(s). Whether your newborn will be breast or bottle fed, they will need you to help them burp. You can do this by gently patting their back as they are leaned over your shoulder. With those forced burps though, often comes spit up. This is why you’ll want to be rocking that classic burp-cloth-over-the-shoulder look for the first few months. However, not all babies spit up with each burp. While some may projectile, others may just have a cute little milk mustache at the end of a feed.
How many burp cloths do you go through a day?
The number of burp cloths that you will go through a day will depend on which side of the spit-up spectrum your baby falls on. As your baby begins to outgrow their newborn stage, you may find that the number of burp cloths that you use per day begins to decline. Those burp cloths will still serve a purpose far beyond their spit-up catching days. As your baby begins to eat solids, you can use those same burp rags to wipe up your baby’s messy little face as well as their highchair. You can expect to need around 3 burp cloths per day during this phase, or enough for one per meal.
How often do you change your burp cloth?
How often you change your burp cloth should depend on how dirty it gets. If you’ve ever experienced the smell of spoiled milk, you already know that it’s not appetizing. Once your baby has spit-up on a burp cloth or it has been used to clean up another mess, it’s best to grab a new one. It may help to set up your “postpartum area” with a three-tiered cart or other storage solution so that you have ample space right next to your rocking chair, couch, or other comfy spot for a hefty supply of burp cloths, diapers, wipes, and whatever else you may need. This way, you don’t have to get up as soon as your baby has fallen asleep on you to grab a new burp cloth.
How long do you need burp cloths?
Once your baby has outgrown the fourth trimester, or three-four months, you may not need burp cloths as much, if at all. Many moms whose children have far outgrown the baby stages still have burp cloths hanging around the house, though. Once they have been retired as a “baby clean up” tool, burp cloths can make great house rags. Those soft and absorbent pieces of fabric won’t ever be a waste, even if you buy more than you need.
Do you really need burp cloths?
Most veteran moms will say that burp cloths are definitely a necessity. What is not necessary though, is to buy the cutest or most expensive burp cloths. They will mostly be for cleaning up bodily fluids, after all. Many parents opt for the big generic pack of plain white burp cloths, as this is usually the best bang for your buck.
Should you pack burp cloths in a hospital bag?
Those same generic white burp cloths are usually the ones that will be provided during your hospital stay following your sweet baby’s arrival. Of course, if you prefer something nicer or in a specific print, you could pack those burp cloths in your hospital bag, but it truly isn’t necessary. It may be nice to take advantage of using as many of the hospital’s burp cloths as you need, without having to worry about doing the laundry.
Conclusion
Between all the baby gear, products, and items you’ll have to consider before your little one arrives, it’s difficult to determine which items are a must. Products that aid in the necessities such as eating, sleeping, and cleaning will likely rank at the top of your list. At Dreamland, we specialize in weighted sleep products that help your baby fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. While we’re excited to expand our offerings, we are best known for our weighted sleep sacks, swaddles, blankets, and more.
Our Dreamland Weighted Baby Sleep Sacks are perfect for that sweet newborn phase. Featuring our exclusive CoverCalm® Technology, our sleep sack evenly distributes the weight from your baby's shoulders to toes to naturally reduce stress and increase relaxation. Plus, the built-in swaddle band makes swaddling a breeze for you and your baby.
Best of all, the Dream Weighted Sleep Sack can be worn three ways: both arms in, one arm in, or both arms out. The Dream Weighted Sleep Sack effortlessly adapts to your baby's changing sleep needs and provides them with the security and comfort that they deserve.
When your baby gets better sleep, so do you. Which means, you’ll have the energy to keep up with all that extra laundry.
