Diaper Disparity Impacts the Whole Family

Do you know that 1 in 3 families experience diaper need? What exactly does that mean? It means these families lack the financial resources to provide sufficient supply of diapers to keep their baby or toddler clean, dry, and healthy.

A healthy supply of diapers for one child costs roughly $100 per month, and government programs like WIC and food stamps do not allow their resources to be used to purchase diapers. This often leaves parents to choose between purchasing food, paying bills, or buying diapers for their child. Can you imagine being faced with such a decision?

Our families are very stressed about how they are going to provide diapers for their babies. Chronic stress is a critical contributor to pre-term births—the number one cause of infant mortality. In addition, many daycare centers require a week’s supply of diapers before mothers can enroll their children. Without the required diaper stash, women can’t drop their kids off and look for work. An adequate supply of diapers may prove to be a tangible way of reducing parenting stress and increasing parenting sense of competency, enabling parents to be more sensitive with their children, and thereby improving parenting quality and overall child outcomes. 

At Healthier Moms & Babies, we are dedicated to bettering our community’s future by promoting the health and safety of today’s – and tomorrow’s—moms, babies, and families. And you can help!  Our third annual Community-wide Diaper Drive begins Monday, June 5! We are excited to have over 30 public drop sites this year. Last year, our community gathered over 100,000 diapers, wipes, and baby items for our families. You can find our drop site map and more on our website.

You can learn more here: healthiermomsandbabies.org/diaper-drive