Tell the General Assembly to Prioritize Diaper Affordability in 2024
Caregivers in poverty are faced with many difficult decisions to provide for their family. How to pay for diapers is yet another difficult choice. According to a recent survey published by the National Diaper Bank Network, one in two U.S. families lack enough diapers to keep their children clean and dry. Families reported cutting back on other expenses like food, rent, and utilities, or taking on an extra job just to afford this basic need. This is all while diaper prices continue to rise rapidly. In the past four years, the cost of diapers increased by over thirty percent. Diapers are priced as a luxury, despite being a necessity for families.
The emotional and financial strain of not being able to meet the most basic of needs of their children causes significant stress for caregivers. According to a recent survey, 44 percent of families lacking clean diapers reported feeling alone, 53 percent felt judged, 68 percent felt helpless, and 70 percent felt stressed or anxious. Many families struggling to afford diapers can tell you the exact date and time their supply of diapers will run out. If something unexpected happens, they must scramble to pay for additional diapers or create makeshift diapers from household supplies. Studies found the inability to afford diapers was a predictor of postpartum depression symptoms and this mental “diaper math” is a significant burden on caregivers.
It is up to our legislators to make this basic need affordable. Learn more about why diaper affordability is an important issue to families on our website, and then tell your state legislators to make access to affordable diapers a priority this session by filling out the form to the right.
Tell the General Assembly to Prioritize Diaper Affordability in 2024
Caregivers in poverty are faced with many difficult decisions to provide for their family. How to pay for diapers is yet another difficult choice. According to a recent survey published by the National Diaper Bank Network, one in two U.S. families lack enough diapers to keep their children clean and dry. Families reported cutting back on other expenses like food, rent, and utilities, or taking on an extra job just to afford this basic need. This is all while diaper prices continue to rise rapidly. In the past four years, the cost of diapers increased by over thirty percent. Diapers are priced as a luxury, despite being a necessity for families.
The emotional and financial strain of not being able to meet the most basic of needs of their children causes significant stress for caregivers. According to a recent survey, 44 percent of families lacking clean diapers reported feeling alone, 53 percent felt judged, 68 percent felt helpless, and 70 percent felt stressed or anxious. Many families struggling to afford diapers can tell you the exact date and time their supply of diapers will run out. If something unexpected happens, they must scramble to pay for additional diapers or create makeshift diapers from household supplies. Studies found the inability to afford diapers was a predictor of postpartum depression symptoms and this mental “diaper math” is a significant burden on caregivers.
It is up to our legislators to make this basic need affordable. Learn more about why diaper affordability is an important issue to families on our website, and then tell your state legislators to make access to affordable diapers a priority this session by filling out the form to the right.