Preschool is a new chapter. New friends, new routines and new people changing your child's diaper. It can feel like a big step. But with the right diaper in the bag and a simple routine at home, most of it gets calmer. Here we walk through everything from how many diapers to pack to why pant diapers are often the favourite at preschool.
How many diapers should go to preschool?
Simple answer: more than you think. Count how many diaper changes your child usually has over the same number of hours at home, and add a couple extra. Play, water, sand and an unexpected tummy day can quickly eat up the margin. No preschool teacher wants to be stood there with a wet baby and an empty box.
If your preschool asks you to bring your own diapers, it's usually easiest to leave a whole pack on the shelf instead of topping up every day. That way you know there's always a diaper when it's needed. And you skip that morning feeling when you realise the bag is empty.
Open diapers or pant diapers at preschool?
Both work. But once your child starts standing, climbing and protesting against the changing table, pant diapers are often the easiest choice. They pull on like a pair of underpants, with no tape tabs, and work just as well on a child who's standing up. It's quicker, and quicker diaper changes are exactly what a preschool teacher with six kids in the hallway needs.
Our pant diapers have a soft elastic waistband and soft leg cuffs that move with the play. The inside is 100% bamboo against the skin, and the diaper stays dry for up to 12 hours. That's plenty for a long day out in the yard, even though changes should of course happen regularly.
- Pant diapers suit children who move a lot and don't like lying still. You'll find pant diapers on subscription here.
- Open diapers suit younger children and anyone who wants to adjust the fit with the tape fastening. Open diapers come in sizes from The Mini to The Explorer.
Many families actually use both: pant diapers at preschool where changes happen standing up, and open diapers at home in the evening. That's totally fine. The diaper should fit your everyday life, not the other way around.
The right diaper size makes changing easier
Leaks at preschool are usually down to size or fit, not your child peeing more than usual. Start from your child's weight when choosing a diaper size:
- The Toddler 8 to 14 kg
- The Kiddo 10 to 16 kg
- The Explorer 14 to 20 kg
The weight range is a guide. Children are built differently around the tummy, thighs and back. If your child falls between two sizes, we recommend the smaller size in pant diapers and the larger in open diapers. Our diapers also run slightly larger than many other brands, so keep that in mind when switching from another brand.
Quick fit check
- You should be able to fit about two fingers in the waist. Then the diaper sits snug without gaping.
- Fluff out the leak barriers around the legs so the elastic isn't folded inwards.
- Pull the diaper up a little extra high at the back.
- Leaking at the back, between the legs, or filling up fast? Then it's often time to go up a size.
Feel free to share these little tricks with the preschool. A properly fluffed-out leg cuff makes more difference to leaks than you'd think.
Packing the preschool bag: checklist
Keep it simple. This is usually enough for the diaper part:
- One pack of diapers in the right size, labeled with your child's name.
- Wipes. Our The Bamboo Water Wipe is free from perfume and soft on skin, just like the diaper.
- A change of clothes with pants, a bodysuit and socks. Diapers leak sometimes, whatever the brand.
- A plastic bag or wet bag for wet clothes.
Feel free to add a little note with the size your child uses and whether you usually go for pant diapers or open diapers. It saves the teachers a moment of guesswork when things are hectic.
Sensitive skin and long days in a diaper
At daycare, the diaper often stays on longer between changes than at home. That's why the material matters. In our diapers, the layer closest to your child's skin is 100% bamboo, a soft material that breathes. The diapers contain no lotions, perfumes or chlorine bleach, and they've been rated Excellent by Dermatest. On top of that, they're made with significantly less plastic than conventional diapers.
When a red bum just won't settle down, it's usually the combination of moisture, friction and time that causes the trouble. Bamboo fibers wick moisture away fast, so skin stays dry longer. Soft for baby. Easier for daycare.
Diaper subscription: one less thing in the morning
Keeping track of diapers at home and diapers at daycare is a small but nagging task. With a diaper subscription, a full month's delivery arrives at your door, with free shipping and no lock-in period. You can switch sizes as your child grows, pause before vacation or cancel once potty training is done. All from your account.
Want to try before you decide? Start with a sample kit of pant diapers and send a couple along to daycare. If the fit works there, it usually works everywhere.
Less diaper stress. More time to talk about what happened in the sandbox.
