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Diaper need (or diaper insecurity) is the condition of not being able to afford a sufficient supply of clean diapers to keep your baby or toddler clean, dry and healthy. Pediatricians note that diaper need can adversely affect the health and well-being of children and their families.
We might presume that in the United States only a fraction of Americans faces this issue. Well, then you also might be surprised to learn that nearly one in two families struggles with diaper need, according to the National Diaper Bank Network’s “Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families.” Many factors can contribute:
- Five million babies and toddlers under the age of 3 live in poor and low-income families in the United States. In Oklahoma, 23% of children under the age of 3 live in families earning less than 100% of the federal poverty level, according to the National Diaper Bank Network.
- An average monthly supply of diapers costs $80 to more than $100. That’s a heavy lift for most families, however, for low-wage earners, it’s an even more significant portion of their post-tax income.
- Federal nutritional programs do not cover diapers.
Diaper need takes an emotional toll on caregivers. In a recent survey, 79% of mothers with diaper insecurity feel stressed or anxious when they are unable to afford enough diapers for their children, according to the National Diaper Bank Network’s “Diaper Check 2024: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families.”
For 41 years, Infant Crisis Servies has stood in the gap for families facing diaper need. We are one of three National Diaper Bank Network members in Oklahoma that helps to assist a combined 60,000 infants and toddlers annually in our state. Every day, I see how we provide practical, real-time solutions for working families, and rescue babies and toddlers in crisis due to diaper need.
We observe National Diaper Need Awareness Week, Sept. 15-21. Infant Crisis Services will host a week of activities, diaper drives and virtual campaigns to raise awareness of this sometimes-hidden issue.
We applaud legislative efforts on national and state levels to end diaper need. It’s now time for the measures to be enacted. We are grateful and encouraged, as well, that our community recognizes that diaper need is a public health issue, and that addressing diaper need can lead to economic opportunity for the state’s families and communities, and improved health for children.
Please remember: Fighting diaper need today lays the foundation for brighter, healthy outcomes for children tomorrow.
Miki Farris is founder and executive director of Infant Crisis Services.
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