SWADDLE
366,899 DIAPERS COLLECTED SINCE FEB 2014
Southwest Area Diaper Depository for Little Ends
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What is the Diaper Gap?
The lack of a sufficient supply of disposable diapers to remain clean, dry and healthy.
America’s babies are being shortchanged
-
With 5.9 million babies in the U.S. aged three or younger living in poor or low-income families …
-
And disposable diapers costing up to $150 per month per baby with no government assistance …
​​
It’s easy to understand why our country is conflicted with the serious problem of how to get millions of babies into the diapers they need.
-
Without transportation, buying diapers at a convenience store rather than a large discount store can double or triple the monthly cost.
-
For sanitary reasons, coin-operated laundromats often don’t allow customers to wash cloth diapers.
-
Infants require up to 12 diapers per day, toddlers about eight.
-
You can buy candy with food stamps — but, diapers are classified with cigarettes, alcohol and pet food as disallowed purchases.
The consequences of diaper need are astonishing
-
Babies born into poor or low-income families can spend a day or longer in one diaper, leading to potential health risks.
-
Most childcare centers, even free & subsidized facilities, will turn away a child who arrives without a day’s supply of disposable diapers.
-
Cloth diapers are not accepted at the vast majority of childcare centers.
-
Many parents can not go to work or school if they can’t leave their babies at childcare. Hence, babies live in home environments with more tension, less nurturing and possible abuse. Their chance to develop cognitive abilities and language skills normally is in jeopardy, and frankly, the uncomfortable baby will cry — a lot.