Health of Mom & Baby
Diapers are essential and help improve the health and wellbeing of both a mom and her baby
Babies’ overall health improves when families receive diapers.
By providing families with a supplemental supply of diapers, we can reduce the incidence of preventable diseases such as diaper dermatitis, which can lead to more serious bacterial infections including Herpes and Staphylococci; and prevent urinary tract infections leading to jaundice, fever, vomiting and renal failure.
In According to study a 2013 study by Dr. Megan Smith in the Journal of Pediatrics,
“the incidences of diaper rash declined 33 percent among children whose families received supplies of clean diapers, plus babies experienced 77 percent fewer days of diaper rash.”
Source: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics:
“Diaper Needs and Its Impact on Child Health,” July 29, 2013
Access to diapers supports a mom’s mental health. Being unable to buy clean diapers adversely affects a mother’s feelings of self-worth and can negatively impact the mother-child bond. A 2013 study by Dr. Megan Smith in the Journal of Pediatrics found that diaper need is one of the primary stressors for mothers, and an adequate supply of diapers may prove to be a simple way of reducing stress, a critical factor influencing child health and development.
“This study calls attention to the fact that an insufficient supply of diapers is not only a risk factor for poor infant and child health but also for maternal mental health, potentially diminishing maternal sense of competence and increasing maternal stress, which ultimately leads to potential negative impacts on child health and development. For families who are financially struggling, health care professionals and researchers should recognize not only food and housing but also diapers as basic needs.”
Source: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics: “Diaper Needs and Its Impact on Child Health” – July 29, 2013
Clean diapers help families save money in the long run. Providing diapers to families also helps to eliminate $4.3 million in medical costs by reducing both incidences and days of diaper rash.
“Clean diapers from The Diaper Bank of Connecticut helped prevent diaper rash and speed recovery of existing diaper rash and related ailments, thereby lowering medical costs through fewer visits to pediatricians and fewer purchases of over-the-counter and prescription drugs and treatments.”
Source: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics: “Diaper Needs and Its Impact on Child Health,” July 29, 2013
A clean supply of diapers can reduce the risk of child abuse. Running out of diapers can also be a catalyst for child abuse. A baby’s constant crying can drain a parent, mentally and emotionally. Stress can lead to a lapse in judgment and result in physical abuse.
Results from a Health Equity study establishes,
“diaper need as a form of material hardship among low-income women and as a potential risk factor for moderate to high maternal depressive symptoms. Importantly, diaper need is malleable and amenable to both public health and public policy interventions. Inclusion of diapers in interventions designed to address maternal mental health may be a way to mitigate the negative emotional consequences of diaper need and promote equity in mental health outcomes among low-income women.”
Source: Health Equity, Volume 1.1, 2017, “Examining Material Hardship in Mothers: Associations of Diaper Need and Food Insufficiency with Maternal Depressive Symptoms”
“Low-income families of young children face many obstacles and, at the same time, want to be good parents. Something as basic as a diaper should not be a need that is unmet in a state like ours, in a country like ours. At the very minimum, we should ensure that families have what they need to care for our most vulnerable citizens.”
– Janet Stolfi Alfano, Executive Director
Clean diapers are an essential basic need.
By helping provide families access to diapers, The Diaper Bank of CT is helping build stronger families and reduce adverse early experiences for Connecticut’s babies.
Research Report Links
Smith Report
Health Equity/Smith
Messengale Report
Carstensen report
Sadler Report
Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved and support our work and mission of helping families in need.
Quality Early Education
Diapers increase access to early childhood education opportunities
Family Economic
Security and Success
Having an adequate supply of diapers allows parents to go to work and school.