Diaper sizing

[u/delemie]

My daughter is 8 months old and wearing size 5 diapers. She's a bit above average for weight and height so not a super big girl, but her legs and bum are massive. She hasn't fit properly into the weight categories on the diaper boxes since she was 4 months wearing size 4 diapers.

Every time she starts regularly peeing through her diapers every 4 hours overnight, peeing up the back, and having poop leak out of the legs and back, I know it's time to size up since that's what has worked to fix the leaks before. The brand she wears is one she's been wearing for most of her life, and when we're not having blowouts I really like how they fit her.

The past couple days, she has had multiple blow outs and back leaks and we have had to wash a ton of bedding, sometimes in the middle of the night. This would normally indicate that I should be sizing up soon, however it's hard for me not to second guess that my 19 pound 8 month old should be going up to size 6 diapers, especially since we just went into size 5 a month ago.

I know that it's possible that her body shape may not be fitting in these diapers as well anymore and that I should maybe try other kinds again, but I hate buying diapers that may or may not work and having an open box with only a few diapers used.

Are there any diaper brands that I should try that work well for babies with large legs/bums and small waists? Diapers that are mostly non toxic with no fragrance would also be a plus. Or is it not totally crazy that my baby needs to be in size 6 soon?

[u/Recent-Click-9954]

Just starting with the obvious - are the ruffles out? Their job is to keep blowouts in. Are the blowouts up the back because it’s too loose at the waist? Are her pajama bottoms too tight? That’s where I would start troubleshooting before buying something bigger tbh

[u/delemie → u/Recent-Click-9954]

Yep ruffles are out and waist is as tight as I can make it! She sleeps in a one piece sleeper which she's still growing into so don't think it's tight bottoms.

[u/Inevitable-Major2020]

I had the same experience, and one day me and my husband accidentally bought one size up. To my surprise, no more intense leaks. So yeah just try sizing up

[u/delemie → u/Inevitable-Major2020]

Thanks, it seems so large but I know it may end up being what we need to do!

[u/DanciePants12]

Any chance the leaking is because it’s too roomy as opposed to too tight? If she’s really active, like maybe an early walker, is there any chance that she’s actually slimming down a bit and a size 4 will contain it more? 

Otherwise, I would try Huggies because they are longer. Pampers and other brands are too short for my baby and she’d poop up the back every time.

[u/kikoazul]

What brand are you using? My 6mo old boy is about 19lbs and wearing size 7 Huggies little movers so you may just need to size up! We’ve found the size recs are pretty off.

[u/delemie → u/kikoazul]

Oh wow size 7!! We use Everylife which fit very similar to Pampers Swaddlers in my experience, we've gone back and forth between the two and when it's been a size issue, both of them leak until we size up.

[u/stitchplacingmama]

Are you using diapers like huggies that have the elastic back? I have found that the stretchy back fits kids with butts and thighs better than ones that don't. I know pampers is generally cut the narrowest, huggies is the widest, and luvs is in-between. My second was larger and was wearing a size 5 in Luvs and a 3 in huggies. Right now my 18 month old with chunky thighs is wearing members mark size 4 which have a stretchy back.

[u/delemie → u/stitchplacingmama]

Yep they have a very stretchy back which is super helpful! We've tried diapers that don't have a stretchy back and it's not been as good.

[u/jrenredi → u/delemie]

Yeah I would recommend huggies 360 instead of the tab kind

[u/East-Maize-5287]

My girl is 99% in weight and Huggies seem to fit her best… Pampers fit fine, but huggies are a bit roomier

[u/tinyhumanteacher14]

You can ask for diapers on Facebook. I’m sure there’s mom groups or a buy nothing group near you. You could even try the page Nextdoor and see if anyone can give you some diapers on the size you need that way you can try different brands without spending anything. I would probably try sizing up if I were in your position tho.

[u/Lilmissodd → u/tinyhumanteacher14]

I was going to recommend asking on FB or somewhere else as well

[u/Lilmissodd]

I haven’t had these issues but definitely ask for different brand diapers on the free groups online or Nextdoor before you buy all new diapers. Or, buy the smallest pack available. Have you tried Parasol diapers? I feel like they are roomier.

[u/kewpieho]

I like pampers amore, they hold a lot.

[u/lost_nurse602]

Diaper sizing is so weird because every kids body is different. My daughter is very petite. She’s been under the 10th percentile for height and weight most of her life. She’s been wearing size 5 diapers since she was like 11 months old. She’s 26 months old and size 5 still fits her perfectly.

Try sizing up the diaper. Once baby gets a lot more mobile, they might slim down and go back to a smaller size. My middle son did.