How Many Burp Cloths Do I Need? For New Moms on a Budget

How many burp cloths do I need? Well if you’re a new mom, you’ll want to get and budget for everything right. Burp clothes are important because you will need them to wipe your baby spit up or when they drool.

If you think that you won’t need burp cloths simply because your child wont spit up when you feed them, the odds are likely to turn against you. According to research, up to 50% of infants spit up more frequently.

The remaining 50% spit up occasionally and while it’s not frequently, you might never know when it’s going to happen.

When infants feed a lot, it’s important to release pressure that builds up in their delicate digestive tracts. The best way to deal with the pressure is through burping, but in most cases more than just air comes up during burping.

You shouldn’t worry if your baby is spitting up frequently. If your child is happy, the spit up isn’t too much, and he’s gaining weight, there’s nothing to worry about (Source). But if your little one seems irritated or the pediatrician is worried about weight gain, you should mention this to your doctor. (Also read my guide on A-Z baby products)

How Many Burp Cloths and Bibs Do I Need

Because I was once a mom like you, I remember that I had a lot of burp cloths since I used them for spit ups, and I could use them to wipe my son’s mouth. I also used them when he started to drool at around 3 months after he was born.

As soon as my baby started eating baby food, I sort of transitioned from burp clothes to bibs as I found myself using more bibs. Typically you will need around 8 burp clothes and 14 bibs and they should be more than enough. I did laundry three times a week.

If you travel frequently like I did back in the days before my other three boys were born, here’s a technique that might save you some headache.

You can always purchase some additional burp cloths and bibs and keep them in your diaper backpack at all times. A couple of times you’ll find yourself in a hurry going out and end up forgetting to pack them in the bag and that would make an awful trip especially when your baby messes up.

Which Burp Cloths Are Best My Recommended Picks

Burp clothes will be an important “tool” when it comes to feeding your child. It’s unfortunate that not every burp cloth will clean the mess the right way. As a mother I’ve had experience using different burp clothes and out of the many I’ve tried, I can only recommend five. Let’s have a look at them below.

1. Green Sprouts Muslin

If your biggest worry is the kind of material or chemical you’ll be putting close to your little one’s face, then you should consider going organic.

Organic burp cloths won’t break the bank compared to other regular cloths. The Green Sprouts are made of organic cotton and are available in a set of three. They are long enough to protect a large portion of your child’s clothing and they measure 11 by 22 inches long.

They are hypoallergenic making them great for babies with sensitive skin and are made of four layers which make them great for absorbing your child’s spit up.

2. Brooklyn Bamboo Hypoallergenic Baby Burp Cloths

While plain cloths aren’t as fancier like their colored counterparts, they have their own unique elegance and get the job done like the colored ones.

The best part with these cloths is that you never have to have about it matching your other baby gear. These Brooklyn burp cloths are made of organic bamboo, they are hypoallergenic and hence making them great for babies with sensitive skin and allergies.

They are perfect for infants who suffer from eczema. Additionally, they are soft and will feel comfortable against your little one’s skin and because they are white, they will work fine for either gender.

One package consists of 3 cloths measuring 11.2 by 23.6 inches which is sizeable enough to protect your child’s shirt.

3. Gerber Baby Girls’

For moms who fancy colored baby gear for their little ones, Gerber Baby is the perfect choice.

These cloths are large enough to cover your shoulder so that none of your little one spit up penetrates to your clothing. The package consists of four pieces and is perfect for moms on a budget.

The best thing about them is the variety of colors and patterns one can choose from, including polka dots, flowers, charming little elephants, hearts and stripes.

They are made of 100% cotton which means that your little one won’t have skin irritation from using them. The edges are neatly done so they won’t fray even after many washings. The only downside I discovered is that they tend fade after repeated washes and are thinner on the side but have high absorbent.

4. Gerber Prefold Diaper Burp Cloth

Cloth diapers that can be folded flat are multipurpose. Besides diapering, you can use them as burp cloths, you can also use them when nursing or as a light blanket for your little one to snuggle on a hot day.

Besides being good burp cloths and diapers, you can also use these as cleaning rugs when your child outgrows diapers or to protect your laps against leaks. A pack of these contains five pieces and measures 11.5 by 16 inches.

On the downside, they are a little rougher than cloths in my review and shrink with repeated washings. On the other hand they are large in size than other brands on the market and the fabric won’t pill up as seen most other brands. Read my guide on my recommended detergents for cloth diapers.

5. Milkbarn Bamboo Cotton Burp

Bamboo is one of the most underrated fabrics. Some of its benefits being that its environmentally friendly, antibacterial, and hypoallergenic. This means that bamboo won’t only be soft but will also absorb moisture and help cut down on odors.

If you love beautiful old school burp cloths yosu will love these Milkbarn burp cloths. They are made of 70% bamboo and 30% cotton. At a glance, you’ll notice they look like cloths handed down from great-grandma and they stay strong even after several washes.

How To Make Custom Burp Cloths

Even for those who aren’t handy with the most basic DIY skills using a sewing machine, making custom burp cloths is very simple. You can recycle any piece of cloth in your house to make these small but useful fabric squares. Below is a video explainer on the complete process on how to make custom burp cloths at home.

Final thoughts on how many burp cloth do I need

If you’d ask, I would highly recommend the Gerber Baby Girls and Green Sprouts Muslin as the best burp cloths. They are large in size and are available in different colors and patterns and are made of materials that won’t irritate your little one. In addition, they are absorbent enough to handle a lot of spit up.

Lastly, remember that you will need approximately 8 burp cloths and 12 bibs. Once your little one is on solids, you might need more bits and less burp cloths.

Always remember to keep some cloths in your diaper bag to prevent spit up messes when travelling with your baby. Interested in more of my articles? Read my guides on how long a baby formula lasts  and detailed comparison between Huggies Snug and Dry versus Huggies Snugglers.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *