Low-income families spend an average of $936 on diapers per child per year, which can amount to roughly 14% of their yearly income. That price is much more than what wealthier families pay, because Internet access and more disposable allow those families to buy diapers in bulk, reducing cost.
And for low-income families, this is more than a money issue.
Many daycare establishments require a stock of diapers for each child. If parents can't afford to supply diapers in advance, they have to spend more time taking care of their children during the day instead of looking for employment.
Parents trying to save some cash often try to wash diapers, or simply allow their kids to sit in an unclean diaper for longer than they normally would, which can lead to urinary tract infections.
A Pediatrics study published in 2013 showed that not being able to afford diapers can also be a great source of anxiety for new mothers.
With no federal programs that assist families with buying diapers, low-income families can be left without many options.
The White House is trying to expand those options by partnering with several organizations including Covenant House, a youth homeless shelter, to make diapers more available and affordable to families who need them. Covenant House will now be able to resupply its diaper stock in two days instead of a week, and they can buy double the amount of diapers for the same amount of money, lowering the cost for families in the process.
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