Diaper need is the inability of a family to provide a sufficient supply of diapers to keep a child clean, dry, and healthy.
Diapers are expensive, costing over $1,000 each year.
Government assistance programs, like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid, do not include support for diapers.
Diaper need affects nearly 1 in 2 families (47%) in the United States.
What is diaper need?
What is the fallout of diaper need?
Physical
When families struggle to afford diapers, they report re-using soiled diapers or keeping a baby in a dirty diaper too long. This can lead to persistent diaper rash, UTIs, and staph infections, as well as the associated medical costs.
Food Insecurity
28% of parents who report experiencing diaper need say that they skip their own meals in order to afford diapers.
Well-being of the family
When families struggle to afford diapers, they must decide between buying diapers or other basic needs like food and rent.
Economic
Without a supply of clean diapers, families can't send their babies to daycare. Without daycare, families can't go to work or school.
Mental and Emotional
Parents experiencing diaper need say they feel stressed or anxious about their responsibilities as a parent, and that they feel judged negatively because they could not afford diapers.
Social
​Without clean diapers, babies are not able to participate in early childhood education and social opportunities.
Diaper need affects Georgia families.
50%
Nearly 50% of Georgia’s children 0-3 years old live in families earning less than 200% FPL
74%
74% of families receiving diapers from Georgia diaper banks are working and still are unable to afford an adequate supply of diapers
5.1
25% of parents experiencing diaper need had to miss work because they did not have enough diapers for daycare. These parents missed an average 5.1 days of work because they didn’t have enough diapers.
$80
The sales tax on diapers can total approximately $80/year for a family.
Data sources:
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Diaper Check 2023. The National Diaper Bank Network. https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/the-ndbn-diaper-check/
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GA Diaper Facts. The National Diaper Bank Network. https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Georgia.pdf
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National Economic Impact Study. The National Diaper Bank Network, in press.
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Porter and Steefel. Diaper Need: A Change for Better Health. Pediatric Nursing. 2015.
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Smith et al. Diaper Need and Its Impact on Child Health. Pediatrics. 2013.