A parent of twins will change more than 5,000 diapers in the first year alone! 1 That number increases exponentially for parents of triplets, quadruplets or more. And diapers don't disappear after the first year. Parents should be prepared for twins to begin toilet training at different times.
If you can expect up to ten diapers a day, that's about 280 diapers per month. But remember how often you'll need to change newborn diapers each day (and month) varies from baby to baby and will change as babies grow and mature.
The average size of twins is 5lbs and typically newborn size diapers go up to 10 lbs. So you could expect your twins to be in newborn-size diapers for a few weeks.
In the first month of life, newborns average up to 8 to 10 diaper changes per day. And over the first three months (the newborn stage), babies go through about 700 diapers.
Newborn – Small/average newborns. Size 1 – Larger newborns, up to 3 months old. Size 2 – 2 to 6 months old. Size 3 – 5 months to 2 years old.
Buy diapers in bulk.
Your cost per diaper is cheaper when you buy in bulk. And you'll go through them so quickly the first year, it will also save you time and gas money when you don't have to keep running to the store because you're out of diapers.
You ideally want to plan for your twin baby shower near the end of the second trimester; maybe somewhere around 26 to 28 weeks. You definitely want to have it by 30 to 31 weeks at the latest, because you want to get that baby shower out of the way before Mom's on bed rest, before the twins arrive early.
Diapers: Diapers also vary in cost, but experts advise that you should budget at least $1000 for diapers and $450 for wipes for the first year alone. That's approximately $120 a month.
The average baby goes through eight to 12 diapers a day, which, according to the National Diaper Bank Network, can set you back $70 to $80 per month, or about $900 a year. If you choose not to breastfeed, formula can cost up to $150 per month, or about $1,800 a year.
If you need to go to the hospital with your little one after giving birth, then packing 12 newborn nappies will be enough for an overnight stay. However, it's always best to prepare for complications which is why it's recommended that you do pack a few more.
A little more than half of twin pregnancies end in preterm delivery (before 37 weeks). While 40 weeks is the full gestation period of the average pregnancy, most twin pregnancies are delivered at approximately 36 weeks (range 32-38 weeks depending on the type of twin pregnancy).
Are twins harder to potty train? Twins aren't necessarily harder to potty train as individuals. The challenge, like with most things twin, comes from the fact that there are two to potty train at the same time. You have two individuals to teach and to watch as they go through the process.
Likelihood of Vanishing Twin Syndrome
According to one study, about 36% of twin pregnancies experience vanishing twin syndrome. It also occurs in around half of multiple pregnancies, or pregnancies where a woman carries more than one baby.
This is called co-bedding and is perfectly safe. In fact, putting twins in the same cot can help them regulate their body temperatures and sleep cycles, and can soothe them and their twin. If you put your twins in the same cot, follow the same safe sleeping advice as for a single baby.
This means that each twin won't obstruct the other's breathing. Have your babies sleeping in the same room as you until they are at least six months old, particularly if they were premature or born with a low birth weight.
Newborns (first month with twins): 10 diapers per baby per day = 20 diapers for the newborn twins per day = 140 diapers per week. 2-3 months: 8 diapers per baby per day = 16 diapers for infant twins per day = 112 diapers per week.
"We estimate that the average twin family will spend $7800 on diapers through the age of 4, and that's not even using top-shelf diapers," Diaz says. Costs of diapering vary widely, so it's important for parents to research all of their options.
Do I get more maternity leave since I'm having multiples? It certainly doesn't hurt to ask. In many cases, your employer may be willing to give you a little extra time for you to adjust to your growing family, and in some states employers are required to provide extra unpaid leave for women with multiples.
Avoid the Dreaded Diaper Blowout
In many cases blowouts happen because of the wrong size diaper or diapers that aren't fully snug on the baby. It can be hard to ensure a good diaper fit when changing a wriggly baby! Diaper blowouts will happen, so always carry a spare change of clothes for your baby.
It should not require too much pulling or adjusting to secure the tabs. On the contrary, if the tabs overlap toward the center of the waist, you need to go down a size.
First things first: Diapers are sized by weight and not by age. Most babies will start in the Newborn size (which also has a cut-out in the front for the umbilical cord) then ultimately spend the majority of their diapering days in size 4, the most popular size on the market.