How Many Burp Cloths Do I Need?

Spitting up, sticky fingers, and drool ‒ even tiny babies can make a big mess.

So how many burp cloths do I need?

Well, babies are messy.

It’s a fact.

When there’s burping, feeding, or drooling involved, you might be surprised by how much mess can come out of a tiny person.

What’s the best way to deal with it?

Look no further than the humble burp cloth.

If you’ve been shopping for your baby, you’ll already know that you have a lot of products to choose from.

Even something as simple as a square of fabric could have you asking yourself what kind of burp cloth is the best? or, how many burp cloths do I need again?

We’ve got you, mama.

In this article: 📝

What is a burp cloth?

Whenever you feed a young baby, whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle-feed, you’ll probably need to burp them.

They swallow air while they’re drinking.

Too much air in their tummy is uncomfortable, and they will let you know about it.

Burping babies during or after their feed lets them get rid of the gas, but it’s hard for them to bring up the air without also bringing up some of their milk.

By the way, spitting up is normal, temporary, and very rarely indicates that something is wrong.

When baby belches get wet and sticky, enter the burp cloth.

Consider it protective wear for you and your little one to keep the spit-up off everyone’s clothes, out of everyone’s hair, and as far away from your furniture as possible.

How many burp clothes should you have?

How many burp cloths you need depends on two things:

• How often your little one spits up
  
• How often you do laundry

Generally, though, you’ll need between 8 to 14 burp cloths so you don’t get caught short.

Lots of mamas like to have a clean burp cloth for every feed, and even a spare just in case.

Newborn babies usually feed between 8 and 12 times a day.

Even if they don’t spit up every time, that’s a lot of burp cloths.

How many burp cloths do I need for twins?

Generally, parents of multiples don’t find that they need double or triple the number of cloths because their children can share, but you’ll probably still want to add another pack or two to your baby registry.

If you still can’t believe how many burp cloths you’ll need, consider this: burp cloths are a super-versatile baby item to have on your parenting utility belt.

They’re great:

• To wipe the drool when your baby is teething
  
• To wipe their hands when they start eating solids
  
• As an emergency bib when you’re on the go
  
• As a thin summer blanket
  
• For games of peekaboo

So even if a dozen burp cloths seem like a lot now, you’ll probably find more uses for them than you think.

How many burp cloths do you go through a day?

So you’re pretty much knee-deep in newborn life and probably feeling like you’re constantly covered in spit-up.

Burp cloths just might be your daily savior.

But how many do you need each day?

Honestly, it really depends on your little one and their spitting-up game.

Some babies just have a little burp after each feeding, while others can projectile vomit like a frat boy after a night of partying.

On average, most of our Peanut moms tend to get through about 3-4 burp cloths a day.

But here’s the thing, when it comes to burp cloths, you can never have too many.

Seriously, they’re like socks in the laundry – they always seem to disappear.

So our advice is to stock up.

And don’t forget to have a few in your diaper bag too, because you never know when your little one is going to unleash a spit-up storm.

How many burp cloths do I need in a diaper bag?

We all know that spit-up can happen anytime, anywhere, right?

So we suggest packing at least 2-3 burp cloths in your diaper bag.

You want to have enough to handle any potential spit-up situations, but not so many that you’re lugging around a whole laundry basket.

But we’ve learned from our Peanut mamas that you can never be too prepared.

So, if you tend to over-pack, throw in an extra burp cloth or two for good measure ‒ even if it’s just to quiet that slightly panicked voice in your head.

And another mom hack from our Peanut mamas: don’t forget to pack a plastic bag to stash those dirty burp cloths in.

You don’t want them floating around in your diaper bag, getting everything else all messy.

You’re welcome!

How often should you change your burp cloth?

Everything that comes out of your baby’s stomach can stain a burp cloth.

So how often should you wash your burp cloths to keep them fresh and clean?

Basically, every time the cloths are used, they should be washed.

If you want to remove the stains, use a product on the dirty area and rub the stain before you wash them.

Then dry them outside or on a low heat in the dryer.

Remember that burp cloths will spend a lot of time in contact with your baby’s face.

Lots of parents prefer to use a mild detergent that’s suitable for baby’s sensitive skin.

What’s the best material for burp cloths?

Depending on the time of year your little one arrives, you might prefer to use burp cloths that are either thicker or more breathable.

Summer babies might find it less sweaty if you use terry and cotton knits, but flannel is a good option for the colder months.

But as long as the material is soft enough for your baby’s delicate skin and durable enough that you can keep using it throughout the first couple of years of their life, you should both be happy.

When it comes to burp cloths, it’s always better to have too many than not enough.

So it’s best to have at least 8-14 burp cloths on hand.

This will give you enough to use throughout the day and to have some extras for when the others are in the wash.

And don’t forget to pack a couple in your diaper bag, because you never know when your little one will… share their milk with you. In a gross way.

Plus, you’ll want to make sure you have some on hand for outings and visits with family and friends.

Happy burping!