How Many Burp Cloths Do I Need?

How Many Burp Cloths do I Need

So, there’s a lot of preparations going on for the soon-to-be-born baby, and you’re checking everything off the list one by one. And then comes a time when you pause for a moment and wonder, how many burp cloths do I need for my baby? Well, it’s time you got your answer. I had four kids so I bet I went through a few thousand of these during my heyday!

You need about 8 to 10 burp cloths for your baby to avoid excessive laundry sessions. Doing laundry three days a week will do fine if you own enough burp cloths.  At  first I would use a burp cloth for each wipe, but then I realized kids will be spitting up all the damn time!

Let’s help you get a more straightforward understanding of how many burp cloths you need and why you should have plenty ready to use.

Table of Contents

What Are Burp Cloths?

Burp cloths are small pieces of fabric made of soft and absorbent materials. The purpose of a burp cloth is to soak a baby’s spit when it’s burping on its mother’s shoulder. Another side benefit you can get from a burp cloth is to cover your baby when you’re breastfeeding in public.

Burp cloths also come in very handy for wiping the baby’s mouth.   

How Many Burp Cloths Do I Need For My Baby?

As I said before, it’s wise to keep at least 8 to 10 burp cloths near at hand. Many moms keep fewer burp cloths and end up doing laundry every day. You’ll find it very difficult to do laundry every day when you have a newborn in the house. 

Let’s assume you own eight pieces of burping cloths. Divide them in half and keep them separated. Use on half while keeping the other half clean. This way, when you wash the used ones, you’ll always have new ones ready at hand. 

Burp cloths are particularly essential until your baby can consume solid food. While he/she is still breastfeeding, spitting and vomiting frequently is a very regular occurrence. Besides, it’s essential to burp your baby each time you feed him/her. 

Note that your baby won’t necessarily spit out every time you burp him/her. Using a burp cloth makes sure you don’t stain your or your baby’s dress. It also helps the baby stay clean. 

How many burp cloths do you think you need if you have twins? Well, isn’t it obvious? You’ll have to double the number. 

Let me give you a little tip. It’s always wise to keep extra burp cloths in your baby’s diaper bag. Forgetting to pack burp cloths when transporting is very common among new mothers. If you prepare beforehand, you won’t have to be in any messy situations. 

What’s The Best Material For Burp Cloths?

Burping cloths must have high absorbent power to soak the liquid without staining your dress. It has to be thick enough so that the baby’s spit doesn’t reach your shoulder. The material also needs to be soft so that it doesn’t cause any irritation to your baby.   

Most of the time, cotton and terry make the best burp cloths. They’re breathable and easy to clean. Besides, the baby doesn’t feel too hot with these materials. However, they’re more appropriate for summer weather. 

For chilly weather, flannel is comparatively suitable as burp cloth material. All the fabrics I’ve mentioned are hypoallergenic. They won’t cause skin irritation to your baby. 

Make sure the fabric quality isn’t compromised when buying burping cloths. Where your baby is concerned, there should be no place for doubt. 

Burp Cloth Size

Cloths made for burping are usually rectangular. The optimal length for a burp cloth is 10 to 15 inches, and the optimal width is 15 to 22 inches. This measurement is considered optimal based on few aspects. 

Short cloths won’t cover you adequately and fall off from the shoulder. If the fabric is too long, it can get tangled and cause trouble while you’re nursing your baby. Burp cloths should be long enough to adequately cover your shoulder and back and be short enough to avoid getting tangled. 

One thing I should tell you is that the length depends a lot on your comfort. Some moms may feel more comfortable if the burp rag is shorter than usual. Some may want to use the cloth for breastfeeding the baby in public discreetly.

So, the perfect size usually differs from mom to mom. 

Cleaning Burp Cloths 

Washing any of your baby cloths will be different from washing other fabrics. You have to make sure that the material doesn’t get rough during the cleaning process. But, you’ll also have to make sure that the stains come off of the cloth. 

  • Throwing a burp cloth directly into the washing machine won’t remove the stains from it. Go for a stain remover specifically made for baby items. 
  • Spray some of it on stain spots. Then, rub the area using a back and forth motion till the stain gets removed. 
  • When the stain is gone, let the fabric sit for about ten minutes. 
  • Wash the cloth using your washing machine. Use warm water and set it to a delicate cycle. Add some mild detergent suitable for baby clothes. 
  • Once it’s clean, hang it somewhere to dry it. If you use your machine to dry the cloth, make sure you’ve set the heat to low. High heat will shrink the fabric. 
  • Once dry, store the burp cloth where you keep your baby’s clean cloths

For Moms On Budget 

If you’re tight on budget and trying to save money or you love doing DIY, you can make burp rags for your baby all by yourself. You can buy some new fabric that meets the criteria of a burp cloth. Or you can utilize old clothes lying around the house. 

Old towels, receiving blankets, fabric diapers, etc., can make a good burp rag due to their thickness. You only have to cut the cloth according to adequate size and sew the edges. Even if you’re not an expert in using a sewing machine, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you. 

If you decide to buy burping clothes instead of making them, I suggest not going for low-quality materials to save money. You may think you’re cutting costs, but it’ll end up costing you more. 

You’ll have to wash your burping clothes frequently. Going for low-quality material won’t allow you too many washes. Soon, you’ll be spending money on repurchasing new burp cloths. 

Besides, newborn babies have sensitive skin. Some materials may not be suitable for them. So, be cautious while shopping for burping clothes. 

One thing you can do to cut costs is to reduce the number of burping cloths. Buy fewer than you need to. You’ll have to do laundry more often, but you’ll be saving money. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What features should a burp rag fabric have?

Your baby’s burp rag should be highly absorbent, long enough to cover your shoulder, soft and delicate enough to avoid irritation, and breathable enough. These fabrics should also be easy to clean. Materials that stay in place without falling off are also a criterion for burp rags. 

How long will I need to use burp cloths?

Burp cloths are particularly essential for your baby’s first year. Or at least until he/she starts eating solid foods. Once you start solid foods, you’ll have to switch from burp cloths to bibs.  

Why are burp cloths necessary?

Your baby will spit, that’s for sure. You’ll need something to clean that up or prevent your baby from spitting on your shoulder when burping. That indicates the necessity of a burp cloth. 

If you’re wondering why you can’t go with any random fabric, let me tell you something. Not all fabrics come with a highly absorbent feature. Besides, some materials will irritate your baby’s skin. That is why you must stick to clothing made explicitly for burping. 

When will I need to start using a burp cloth?

All babies are different. Some may start spitting up the day they were born. Some may not do it for several weeks. What I’m saying is, you should prepare everything before giving birth to your newborn. 

Can I use a receiving blanket as a burp cloth?

Reciever cloths are for wrapping newborn babies. However, you can also use a receiving blanket as a burping cloth because the fabric is usually suitable with adequate thickness. You can also use towels or fabric diapers to make a burping cloth yourself. 

Final Words

Being a mother can be overwhelming. You want everything ready at your disposal for your newborn. It’s a stressful and delightful phase at the same time.

Remember that when it comes to baby items like burping cloths and bib, the rule will always be the more, the merrier. However, if you’re tight on budget and want to keep the cost to the minimum, keep at least 8 to 10 burp cloths ready. 

If you travel a lot, I would recommend purchasing extra burping rugs and keep them stored. These will be only for when you’re traveling with your baby to avoid messy situations. 

Sharon Dunn