How Often Are You Changing Diapers?

[Miss A]

When I worked in a center, the center's policy was to change a infant (0-12MOS) every hour, and to change a toddler (12-24MOS) every 2 hours. Many parents were upset because every hour was so excessive, and we went through so many diapers each day, especially if baby had a BM after a fresh diaper.

Now that I am on my own, I change all babies under 1 every 2 hours, five or take a few minutes. I have started to notice though that my 6+ month babies are still semi-dry at 2 hours, and was thinking of going to every 2.5 hours.

My over 1 crowd has me totally baffled though. I have no idea how often I should change them, because keeping them to the same diaper schedule as the babies is totally unreasonable, as they can easily go 3+ hours and only be barely wet. But, I feel like changing them every 3 hours will make parents wonder.

I have asked parents what they prefer, and all don't have any preference. So, now I am looking to my community for answers! How often are you changing diapers?

[Missjaime]

When they are wet. I started out changing on a schedule too, because that was what I was used to, but I quickly found that it was wasting diapers and time. Now I just check them every hour or so and, especially the older ones, am only changing three or so times a day. I provide diapers, so my families don't really care, as long as no one is going too long without a change.

[Blackcat31]

Every 2 hours. Regardless of whether they are wet/soiled or not. Changes also occur if anyone wets/soils their diaper in-between the 2 hour change schedule.

Infants, obviously are changed a bit more frequently.

[Crazy8]

well, dirty diapers are changed as soon as I smell them, ! For wet diapers I generally change them 3x a day - mid morning (9-10am depending on when they came in), before nap (12:30) and after nap (3ish). More often for infants if needed. I always want to lay them down in a dry diaper so if they nap 2x a day they get that extra diaper change.

[Mike]

Been a while since I changed diapers, but I always changed them when they got used. If I noticed a small, it was change time. If no smell, I checked once in a while, just in case. I didn't change clean diapers unless it was longer than usual since the last change, or they had a rash and needed the extra care.

[Play Care]

Every 2 hours. Regardless of whether they are wet/soiled or not. Changes also occur if anyone wets/soils their diaper in-between the 2 hour change schedule.

Infants, obviously are changed a bit more frequently.

This is what I do as well.
Sometimes I'm doing it more to give the skin a minute or so to breathe, as diapers can breeding grounds for bacteria and yeast even when they are clean.

I find if kids are staying mostly dry it can be a sign of potty training readiness. Otherwise maybe they need to be drinking more?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

4 diaper changes a day or more. If they aren't wet or soiled then they keep their diaper.
I'm legally required to change every time they wet or soil a diaper so I check often. I don't have many in diapers or pull-ups (2 or so each day) so it isn't terrible.

[MunchkinWrangler]

I do about every 2 hours and as needed. Once everyone has arrived, after outside play, before nap, after nap, and possibly once before they leave. This works out to about every couple hours. I change whether the diaper is full or not. I think it keeps them clean, gives them a chance to air out and be clean.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Wow, I change my kids a lot I change them when they are wet or soiled as soon as I notice it with a minimum of every two hours except during nap time and then if I smell them I change them but I don't wake to change a wet diaper. I don't judge how wet they are or how full the diaper is. So like my infant (4 mo) I may change when he wakes up, he takes a bottle and 15 minutes later pees, I change him. My one year old- I change after breakfast, usually 1/2 hr later, check him before we head outside, before I put him in the highchair for lunch, after lunch, up from nap, after snack, before he is to be picked up, plus any other time I notice he is wet or soiled. My kids usually get changed 7-10 times a day. If they are staying dry for long periods then yes, I start to potty train them.

[KiwiKids]

Every 2 hours or as frequently as needed.

[Nurse Jackie]

I change every 2 hours and immediately if they poop.

[e.j.]

I change infants pretty much every hour. Usually by the time they're 18 mo - 2 years, it's about every 2 hours. I change them sooner if I notice they need changing before that.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Wow, I change my kids a lot I change them when they are wet or soiled as soon as I notice it with a minimum of every two hours except during nap time and then if I smell them I change them but I don't wake to change a wet diaper. I don't judge how wet they are or how full the diaper is. So like my infant (4 mo) I may change when he wakes up, he takes a bottle and 15 minutes later pees, I change him. My one year old- I change after breakfast, usually 1/2 hr later, check him before we head outside, before I put him in the highchair for lunch, after lunch, up from nap, after snack, before he is to be picked up, plus any other time I notice he is wet or soiled. My kids usually get changed 7-10 times a day. If they are staying dry for long periods then yes, I start to potty train them.

Mine likely would too if they were under 2. I have no one under 2 here.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Mine likely would too if they were under 2. I have no one under 2 here.

over 2 they are using the potty

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

over 2 they are using the potty

The children who have stay-at-home-moms are potty trained around 2. The children who have parents who work (but still only attend here 2 days per week) tend to be potty trained around age 3. I have a 2yo, 3yo, and 4.5yo wearing diapers and pull-ups. I just created a new policy that they must be potty trained by 4.5 because of my current situation.