Newborn Burp Cloths: How Many Do You Actually Need?

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Newborn burp cloths were one of those baby items that somehow completely escaped my attention when I was making my registry.

I didn’t register for any. I didn’t receive any at my baby shower. And then shortly before my son was born, I realized: wait… I should probably have something for all that newborn spit-up.

So I bought some burp cloths and even sewed a few myself.

I started with around 10, which seemed like plenty at the time.

It wasn’t.

Ten was close to being an okay starting amount, but I felt like I was constantly washing them. And when there wasn’t a clean burp cloth nearby? I grabbed a baby blanket, towel, or whatever else happened to be within reach.

If I were preparing for a newborn again, I’d start with more.

Quick Answer: How Many Newborn Burp Cloths Do You Need?

For a newborn, I’d start with around 15–20 burp cloths. I had about 10 at first, and while we made it work, I felt like I was constantly doing laundry. Having 15–20 gives you enough to keep a few around the house and in the diaper bag while still having clean ones between washes.

How Many Burp Cloths Did I Actually Use?

I started with around 10 burp cloths when my son was born. I bought Comfy Cubs muslin burp cloths and KeaBabies burp cloths, and I also sewed a few myself.

And honestly? I wished I had a few more.

Newborn feeding can be messy.

Sometimes there was a little milk dribbling during a feeding. Sometimes he spit up while I was burping him. Sometimes I’d think we were completely done with the feeding and burping process… and then more milk would come back up.

Spit-up is very common during the newborn stage, and even after burping your baby, you may still find yourself reaching for something to clean up milk.

With only around 10 burp cloths, clean ones disappeared quickly.

I ended up using his baby blankets or towels when I didn’t have a burp cloth nearby. It worked perfectly fine, but it also made me realize that having a few more actual burp cloths would have been convenient.

If I were doing it again, 15–20 would be my sweet spot.

Newborn resting on mom’s shoulder with a muslin newborn burp cloths after feeding — *Keeping burp cloths within reach makes newborn feeding messes much easier.*

Why You May Go Through More Burp Cloths Than You Expect

You may not use a fresh burp cloth for every single feeding.

But some days you’ll go through several.

A burp cloth might get soaked after one particularly messy spit-up. Another might only catch a tiny bit of milk and stay usable for a while.

And some babies simply spit up more than others.

That’s why I wouldn’t get too attached to an exact calculation like “X feedings per day means X burp cloths.”

Your baby will have their own habits.

The bigger factor for me was simply having enough clean ones available without constantly thinking about laundry.

My Best Tip: Keep Burp Cloths Everywhere

This was much more useful to me than having one perfectly organized stack of burp cloths in the nursery.

Put them where you actually spend time with your baby.

I tried to keep burp cloths:

beside my bed
near the couch
by the rocking chair
in the diaper bag

Basically, anywhere I was likely to feed or hold my son.

Because when your newborn suddenly spits up all over your shoulder, the burp cloth sitting beautifully folded in the nursery drawer isn’t particularly helpful.

You want one within arm’s reach.

Is 10 Burp Cloths Enough?

I think 10 burp cloths is a reasonable minimum, especially if you do laundry frequently.

That’s approximately what I started with, and we made it work.

But I wouldn’t personally stop at 10 if I were buying them again.

I was washing ours constantly, and I regularly grabbed blankets or towels when I didn’t have a clean burp cloth nearby.

If you want a little more breathing room between laundry loads, I’d go closer to 15 or more.

And if your baby rarely spits up? You may discover that 10 is plenty.

You won’t really know until your baby arrives.

Burp cloths kept beside a rocking chair for easy access during newborn feedings — *I found it more useful to keep burp cloths around the house than all in one drawer.*

How Many Burp Cloths Should You Put on Your Baby Registry?

I’d put 15–20 burp cloths on a baby registry.

They don’t all need to be the same style or brand, either. You could register for a couple of smaller packs and see what you end up liking.

I completely overlooked burp cloths when I made my own registry, and in hindsight, they’re exactly the kind of inexpensive, practical baby item that would have been useful to receive.

Unlike newborn-size diapers or newborn clothes, there isn’t much concern about your baby suddenly outgrowing them.

And newborn burp cloths can continue being useful beyond the earliest newborn stage for drool, feeding messes, wiping little faces, and all the other mysterious messes that seem to follow babies around.

If you’re still building your registry, my Baby Registry Must Haves and Baby Registry Checklist for First-Time Moms can help with the other easy-to-forget essentials too.

What Kind of Burp Cloths Do You Need?

You don’t need anything particularly complicated.

I bought both larger muslin-style burp cloths and smaller, thicker cloths, and I also made a few myself.

What matters most is having something soft, absorbent, washable, and easy to grab.

Different shapes and fabrics have their pros and cons, so rather than turning this article into another giant burp cloth comparison, I put all of that in my Best Burp Cloths for Newborns guide.

That article goes into the actual burp cloth options in more detail if you’re deciding which ones to buy.

Can You Use Something Else Instead of Burp Cloths?

Definitely.

I did this all the time.

If there wasn’t a burp cloth nearby, I might grab a baby blanket or a clean towel instead.

You don’t need a special piece of fabric labeled “burp cloth” to clean up spit-up.

That said, I still liked having dedicated burp cloths because they’re small, easy to wash, and easy to stash around the house.

Think of them as a convenience rather than something you absolutely couldn’t care for a baby without.

So, How Many Burp Cloths Do You Actually Need?

If you’re preparing for your first baby, I’d start with around 15–20 newborn burp cloths.

Ten can absolutely work, particularly if you do laundry frequently or your baby doesn’t spit up very much.

I started with around 10 and felt like I was constantly washing them. We made up the difference with blankets, towels, and whatever else happened to be nearby.

The other thing I’d do again is spread them around the house.

Keep a few near your bed. A few where you normally feed your baby. A couple in the diaper bag.

You don’t need a giant pile.

You just want enough that when your newborn spits up, there’s hopefully something absorbent within arm’s reach.

Final Thoughts

Burp cloths aren’t one of the exciting baby registry purchases, which is probably why I barely thought about them before my son was born.

Then suddenly I was using them every day.

If you’re trying to keep your newborn supplies fairly minimal, I think 15–20 is a practical starting point without going overboard.

And if you start with 10 and realize you need more?

You can always order another pack.

Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Burp Cloths

How many burp cloths does a newborn need?

I’d start with around 15–20 burp cloths. Ten can work if you wash frequently, while having closer to 15–20 gives you more flexibility between laundry loads and lets you keep them in several places around the house.

Is 10 burp cloths enough?

It can be. I started with around 10 and made it work, but I felt like I was washing them almost every day. If I were preparing for a newborn again, I’d buy a few more.

Is 20 burp cloths too many?

I don’t think so. You may not need all 20 every day, but having extras means you can keep some near your usual feeding spots and in the diaper bag while others are being washed.

How many burp cloths should I put in my diaper bag?

I’d keep around two in the diaper bag to start. If your baby spits up frequently or you’re going to be away from home for a while, packing another one or two doesn’t hurt.

Can I use receiving blankets instead of burp cloths?

Yes. I sometimes used baby blankets or towels when a burp cloth wasn’t nearby. Dedicated burp cloths are convenient because they’re smaller and easy to wash, but you don’t need to use one specifically.

If you’re getting your newborn feeding supplies and registry ready, you may also find these helpful: