"Diaper need" is a lack of sufficient supply of diapers to keep babies clean and dry.
Diapers cost over $1,000 every year, a cost that nearly 1 in 2 families struggle with in our country (1).
Government assistance programs, like food stamps, Medicaid, and WIC, do NOT cover diapers.
Government assistance programs, like food stamps, Medicaid, and WIC, do NOT cover diapers.
Diaper need affects our community!
There are over 8,000 children at risk of diaper need in the Athens, GA community (6).
What is the fall-out 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.
GENERAL WELL-BEING: When families struggle to afford diapers, they must decide between buying diapers or other basic needs like food and rent (2).
FOOD INSECURITY: 28% of parents who report experiencing diaper need say that they skip their own meals in order to afford diapers (3).
MENTAL: 70% of parents who report experiencing diaper need say they feel stressed or anxious about their responsibilities as a parent. 53% say they feel judged negatively because they could not afford diapers (3).
EMOTIONAL: Diaper need is correlated with maternal stress and mental health need (4).
SOCIAL: Without clean diapers, babies are not able to participate in early childhood education and social opportunities.
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. By the numbers: 25% of parents experiencing diaper need have missed an average of 5.1 days of work each month because they didn’t have enough diapers (3).
GENERAL WELL-BEING: When families struggle to afford diapers, they must decide between buying diapers or other basic needs like food and rent (2).
FOOD INSECURITY: 28% of parents who report experiencing diaper need say that they skip their own meals in order to afford diapers (3).
MENTAL: 70% of parents who report experiencing diaper need say they feel stressed or anxious about their responsibilities as a parent. 53% say they feel judged negatively because they could not afford diapers (3).
EMOTIONAL: Diaper need is correlated with maternal stress and mental health need (4).
SOCIAL: Without clean diapers, babies are not able to participate in early childhood education and social opportunities.
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. By the numbers: 25% of parents experiencing diaper need have missed an average of 5.1 days of work each month because they didn’t have enough diapers (3).
diaper banks in Georgia are working hard
Georgia’s 5 diaper banks provide nearly 1.4 million diapers annually, helping over 2,300 children monthly (1).
diaper need is an economic issue for Georgia
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Additional information and stats can be found at the National Diaper Bank Network.
SOURCES:
SOURCES:
- GA Diaper Facts - provided by National Diaper Bank Network.
- Porter and Steefel. Diaper Need: A Change for Better Health. Pediatric Nursing. 2015.
- Diaper Check 2023. The National Diaper Bank Network. https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/the-ndbn-diaper-check/
- Smith et al. Diaper Need and Its Impact on Child Health. Pediatrics. 2013.
- National Economic Impact Study - by National Diaper Bank Network (in press)
- Massengale et al. Diaper Need Met Among Low-Income US Children Younger Than 4 Years in 2016. American Journal of Public Health. 2020.
- Carstensen and Gunther. The Social and Economic Impacts of the Diaper Bank of Connecticut. 2018.
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