Millions of US families with young children struggle to afford one of the most basic necessities: diapers. This fact sheet sheds light on the widespread and often hidden crisis of diaper insecurity, its impact on family well-being, and the systemic gaps in public support. As the cost of living rises, many caregivers face impossible choices between diapers, food, housing, and work. This publication presents new data on the scale of diaper insecurity, its consequences, and what can be done to address it—offering critical insights for policymakers, advocates, and community leaders.

Why This Matters

Diaper insecurity is more than a household budget issue—it’s a public health and economic justice challenge. Without enough diapers, children are at risk of serious health problems like rashes and infections, and parents may miss work or school, undermining family stability and economic mobility. Federal programs that help families purchase food and nutrition supports and provide cash assistance in times of need, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), do not cover diapers, requiring parents to pay high out-of-pocket prices. This research highlights the urgent need for policy change and expanded support, especially for low-income families, caregivers, and postpartum individuals who are disproportionately affected.

Key Findings

Our analysis reveals that diaper insecurity affects nearly half of families with children 3 and younger nationwide. The consequences, which include the following, are severe and far-reaching:

• It will take an average of 4.8 billion diapers each year to fill the gap faced by US households with children 3 and younger and below 300 percent of the federal poverty level, ranging from 4,852,800 diapers for 38 percent of children in Vermont to 546,060,700 diapers for 59 percent of children in Texas.
• About one in four parents and caregivers who did not have enough diapers for their children reported missing work or school because they could not leave their children at child care. They miss an average of 5.1 workdays a month.
• The average cost of diapering one child is about $100 a month, but families report only being able to pay a median of $65.
• We find that basic needs banks in the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) member network offering diapers serve about 50 percent of US counties. Fewer counties (38 percent) are served by basic needs banks that provide period products.
• Federal programs that help families purchase food and nutrition supports and provide cash assistance in times of need, like SNAP, WIC, and TANF, do not cover diapers or period products.

How We Did It

We analyzed data from NDBN on its member network of basic needs banks and the NDBN Diaper Check 2024, a nationally representative household survey of families with children 3 and younger. Using these data and more than a dozen other data sources, we created the “Mapping Diaper Insecurity in the US” data dashboard, an interactive tool displaying key metrics at the national, state, and county levels.