Size 0 diapers: how long for premature babies?

Was your baby born prematurely? He'll need a special diaper size, adapted to his premature baby morphology. In fact, standard sizes for newborns correspond to a weight of 3kg and a height of around 50 cm. Still too big for your little one. Fortunately, there are other diaper choices for premature babies.

Everything you need to know about size 0 diapers

Size 0 diapers are designed for newborns weighing between 1 and 2.5 kg. This diaper size is suitable for several weeks in the case of moderate prematurity, and several months in the case of extreme prematurity.

Average prematurity is defined as a birth taking place between the 33rd and 36th week of amenorrhea (corresponding to 7-8 months of pregnancy). Extreme prematurity is defined as a birth taking place before the 28th week of pregnancy, i.e. before 6 months.

The vast majority of babies born prematurely therefore wear size 0 diapers for around a month.

When is it necessary to buy size 0 diapers?

Babies born prematurely are often placed in neonatal intensive care or incubators, depending on the degree of prematurity. During their stay in hospital, the nursing staff are there to help you and provide you with size 0 diapers specially designed for premature babies. You'll then need to buy size 0 diapers for the trip home only.

Your baby can then be discharged from hospital as soon as he or she is able to breathe and digest independently. You'll need to buy diapers for when your child returns home.

Few brands offer size 0 diapers. The skin of babies born prematurely is much more fragile than that of other babies.

So it's even more important to ensure that diapers don't contain harmful substances or endocrine disruptors that could cause irritation or allergies. We recommend disposable, ecological or organic diapers.

How many size 0 diapers should I buy for my baby?

The number of size 0 diapers you'll need depends on your baby, his level of prematurity and thenumber of months/weeks he'll spend in hospital before coming home.

In general, it's estimated that you'll need 2 or 3 size 0 packs by the time your baby reaches a weight of 2.5 kg. Don't forget that it's essential to change your baby's diapers regularly: to avoid redness, irritation and diaper rash which develop when skin comes into prolonged contact with urine/faeces. You should change your baby's diaper every time he feeds or drinks, and as soon as he has a bowel movement.

When should I change my baby's size 1 diaper?

There are several signs that may indicate it's time to move up to the next size:

• Regular leaks
• If youcan no longer close the diaper properly because the fasteners have become too small.
• Red marks on your baby's skin when you change him or her.

All these signs should indicate that you need to switch to a size 1 diaper.