With the first baby, it might not even be so noticeable.
One diaper after another.
The diaper pail fills up, empties, and fills up again.
Then perhaps a second child comes along.
Later, a third.
And at some point, you ask yourself:
How many diapers has our family actually used in total?
The answer can be surprising.
Even with one child, several thousand disposable diapers accumulate over the diapering period.
With two or three children, this turns into a rather large mountain of diapers.
How many diapers does one child need?
For our model calculation, we assume a diapering period of about two and a half years and approximately:
3,800 disposable diapers per child
.
Of course, every child is different.
Some children need diapers for longer.
Others for shorter.
Newborns are changed more frequently than older children.
Therefore, the 3,800 diapers are not an exact number for every family, but a good estimate.
How many diapers is that for two children?
For two children, the calculation becomes:
2 × 3,800 = approximately 7,600 disposable diapers.
7,600 diapers.
7,600 times opening.
7,600 times changing.
And 7,600 products that end up in residual waste or refuse after use.
And for three children?
For three children, we arrive at approximately:
11,400 disposable diapers.
More than eleven thousand diapers within one family.
If you were to see them individually laid out before you, it would be an impressive mountain.
How much diaper waste is generated with two or three children?
A used diaper weighs significantly more than a new one because it contains urine and sometimes stool.
For one child, according to our previous model assumptions, over two and a half years, this results in an order of magnitude of approximately:
410 to 550 kilograms of used diapers.
With multiple children, this becomes:
| Children | Disposable diapers | Diaper waste including contents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | approx. 3,800 | approx. 410–550 kg |
| 2 children | approx. 7,600 | approx. 820–1,100 kg |
| 3 children | approx. 11,400 | approx. 1,230–1,650 kg |
So, with two children, we are already talking about approximately:
one ton of used diapers.
With three children, the amount can be significantly higher.
Important to note is:
A large part of this weight consists of the children's excretions.
The pee, of course, does not disappear when a baby is held over a toilet.
The difference is:
It then ends up, for example, in the toilet or potty – and not in residual waste along with a disposable diaper.
How much diaper waste does one baby really cause?
How much pure diaper material is consumed with multiple children?
Even without urine and stool, a lot accumulates.
If we calculate with approximately 36 grams for a dry disposable diaper as an example, over the entire diapering period this results in:
- 1 child: approx. 137 kilograms of diaper material
- 2 children: approx. 274 kilograms of diaper material
- 3 children: approx. 410 kilograms of diaper material
Depending on the diaper, this includes:
- cellulose
- superabsorbent polymers
- non-woven fabrics
- films
- adhesives
- elastic materials
All these materials are manufactured, transported, and disposed of after a comparatively short period of use.
What do disposable diapers cost for two or three children?
Financially, small amounts also add up surprisingly quickly.
Diapers vary greatly in price.
Therefore, an example calculation is more useful than an alleged average price.
Assuming 30 cents per diaper, it would be approximately:
- 1 child: 1,140 Euros
- 2 children: 2,280 Euros
- 3 children: 3,420 Euros
At 40 cents per diaper, for three children, it would already be around:
4,560 Euros.
In addition, waste fees may apply – depending on how residual waste is billed in your area of residence.
This is not meant to be a scare tactic.
Babies need care.
And diapers can be an incredibly practical part of that.
But it shows what an impact even small changes can have over several years.
What happens if a family needs only one diaper less per day?
This is where it gets particularly interesting.
Because one less diaper a day sounds like almost nothing at first.
Over two and a half years, however, it's approximately:
913 diapers per child.
For two children:
1,826 fewer diapers.
For three children:
2,739 fewer diapers.
Almost 2,800 diapers.
Not by complete renunciation.
Not by perfect elimination communication.
But, for example, through a single reliable potty-tunity moment per day.
Almost 1,000 fewer diapers: What one potty-tunity moment per day can achieve
And what if elimination communication only works sometimes?
It still counts.
Maybe elimination communication only works in the morning.
Or only for bowel movements.
Maybe it works wonderfully for three days – and then not at all for a week.
That's how family life is.
If only three disposable diapers per week are actually eliminated for one child, that's approximately 390 diapers over two and a half years.
For three children, it would be:
around 1,170 fewer diapers.
That's also far from nothing.
Part-time elimination communication: How much diaper waste you can really save
With multiple children, reusability becomes particularly exciting
A second or third child changes something else.
Many things don't need to be bought new.
A potty can be reused.
Washable inserts can be passed on.
High-quality wool clothing can be worn by sibling after sibling.
And precisely here lies one of the most beautiful differences to disposable products:
The longer a product is used, the more its manufacturing is distributed over many individual moments of use.
An elimination communication starter kit can accompany several children
If a family starts with elimination communication for the first child, a large part of the equipment can be reused later.
For example:
- Potty training toilet
- washable inserts
- elimination communication diapers
- elimination communication pants
- elimination communication clothing
Of course, every child eventually outgrows clothes.
But high-quality items can be passed on.
Especially with siblings, this makes a big difference.
Why elimination communication with multiple children must be as uncomplicated as possible
With one baby, you might still imagine opening all layers of clothing before every pee.
With a toddler next to you?
Perhaps a school child who needs something?
A washing machine that beeps?
And food on the stove?
The world quickly looks different then.
That's why, especially for families with multiple children, we find it important:
Elimination communication must not become an additional task.
It has to be quick.
A moment.
Open.
Potty-tunity.
Close again.
Exactly for this, there is Mata Origin's clothing
Normal baby clothes are often not designed for elimination communication.
Open the bodysuit.
Pull down the pants.
Maybe take off the tights.
Then the diaper.
With multiple children, there's simply not enough time for such procedures in everyday life.
Our elimination communication pants are therefore designed so that parents can quickly access the diaper area.
The baby doesn't have to be completely undressed every time.
And our elimination communication diapers provide security as a backup, but can be quickly opened when a suitable moment arises.
The fewer steps required, the easier elimination communication remains, even in the midst of real family life.
Elimination communication with the second child can feel completely different
Many things are no longer quite as unfamiliar with the second or third child.
You know babies.
You know that not every day goes the same way.
You know that plans are sometimes over before breakfast.
And perhaps this even leads to more serenity.
Elimination communication can then be exactly that:
not a program.
No training.
No new project.
But a small offering.
If it fits, elimination communication is done.
If not, the backup takes over.
What can families with multiple children realistically do?
You don't have to change your entire diapering routine.
Three small things are enough to start:
- Choose an easy moment. For example, right after waking up.
- Use a backup. No one has to sacrifice security.
- Make it quick. Clothing that can be opened quickly makes a big difference.
That's enough.
Is every saved pee automatically one less diaper?
No.
Here too, we want to make a clear distinction.
If the old diaper was already full anyway, the subsequent elimination communication does not automatically save another diaper.
A disposable diaper is actually avoided primarily if:
- the backup was clean before
- the baby eliminates outside the diaper
- the backup remains clean
- and can then continue to be worn
Therefore, all numbers in this article are model calculations.
They are intended to show what magnitude is possible.
Not what a family must achieve.
Frequent questions about diaper waste with multiple children
How many diapers do you need for two children?
Assuming a diapering period of two and a half years and around 3,800 disposable diapers per child, this results in approximately 7,600 diapers for two children.
How many diapers do three children use?
Under the same assumptions, approximately 11,400 disposable diapers accumulate for three children.
How much diaper waste is generated with two children?
Based on our model assumptions, approximately 820 to 1,100 kilograms of used disposable diapers, including excretions, can be generated with two children.
How much diaper waste is generated with three children?
For three children, the calculated order of magnitude is approximately 1,230 to 1,650 kilograms of used diapers including contents.
How much do diapers cost for three children?
This strongly depends on the price per diaper. At an example of 30 cents per diaper and 11,400 diapers, it would be around 3,420 Euros. At 40 cents, it would be about 4,560 Euros.
How many diapers can elimination communication save with multiple children?
If one disposable diaper is actually eliminated on average per day, it's around 913 diapers per child over two and a half years. For two children, that would be around 1,826, and for three children, about 2,739 diapers.
Do you have to completely forgo diapers for elimination communication?
No. The baby can still wear a backup at all times. Many families only practice elimination communication in specific situations.
Is reusable equipment particularly worthwhile for siblings?
Yes, durable products can often be used for additional children or passed on. This applies, for example, to potties, washable inserts, and many high-quality items of clothing.
Conclusion: Small diapers turn into a big mountain over the years
3,800 diapers for one child.
7,600 for two.
More than 11,000 for three.
When you read these numbers, it seems huge at first.
But this does not have to create new guilt.
Families need solutions that work.
Sometimes that's a disposable diaper.
Sometimes a washable insert.
And sometimes perhaps no new diaper at all.
Perhaps your baby wakes up tomorrow.
You open their elimination communication pants.
Hold them briefly over the sink or potty.
And the backup remains dry.
One less diaper.
For one child, that's a small moment.
For two or three children, many such small moments can eventually turn into quite large numbers.
But you don't have to count them.
It's enough if it makes your everyday life a little easier.
Read more
- How much diaper waste does one baby really cause?
- Almost 1,000 fewer diapers: What one potty-tunity moment per day can achieve
- Part-time elimination communication: How much diaper waste you can really save
- Elimination Communication Starter Set: What do I really need?
Do you want to integrate elimination communication into your family life as easily as possible?
Then don't start with the whole day.
Start with a moment.
Our free starter guide shows you how elimination communication can work in a relaxed way, even with a diaper as a backup.
Discover the free starter guide to elimination communication
And especially when there's little time in family life, elimination communication pants, elimination communication diapers, and elimination communication clothing from Mata Origin can make the difference: less undressing, faster potty-tunity, and then moving on.
