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National Diaper Drive to Collect 100,000 Diapers to Help Families in Need

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Donations can be made online at www.diaperdrive.org. Every $1 donated will buy six diapers at wholesale to support these families.

In the United States, there is a growing problem associated with diaper need, the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers for a baby to remain clean, dry and healthy. A recent study shows one in three families struggle with this issue. This means 5.3 million children (or about half the U.S. population ages 0-3 years) do not have the diapers they need and are therefore at risk for infection, rash and other health issues.  During the month of September, when the greatest number of babies are born in the U.S., the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is partnering with Kimberly-Clark and the National Diaper Bank Network on the Healthy Mom&Baby Wipe Out Diaper Need campaign to collect diapers for families in need.

On average, infants and toddlers require between eight to twelve diapers a day, at a cost of $70-80 per month.  With caregivers changing 3,000-5,000 diapers before potty training begins, it can become an insurmountable expense. As a result, parents may re-diaper less frequently leaving baby in a soiled diaper exposing them to increased health risks. At times, parents are left with no option but to dry out soiled diapers for reuse.

The economic impact is another issue. Most daycare providers and laundromats do not accept cloth diapers.  Without a sufficient supply of disposable diapers, children are not able to enter child care and parents may not be able to return to work or school.

“Unfortunately, safety net programs that provide assistance to low-income families (like SNAP and WIC) do not cover the purchase of diapers, despite this growing need,” said Joanne Goldblum, Executive Director of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN).  “More than 250 local NDBN-member diaper banks nationwide collect and distribute diapers to families in need. The National Diaper Bank Network distributes bulk donations of diapers, and supports the development and expansion of diaper banks in communities throughout the country.”

The Healthy Mom&Baby Wipe Out Diaper Need campaign goal is to donate 100,000 diapers to families in need.  Donations can be made online at www.diaperdrive.org. Every $1 donated will buy six diapers at wholesale to support these families.  The campaign culminates with “Diaper Need Awareness Week,” September 28 to October 4, to raise awareness about this important infant and child health issue.

“Diaper need is a growing concern for the health of millions of babies nationwide, and we’re proud that nurses across the country are joining forces to collect and distribute diapers for their youngest, most vulnerable patients,” said AWHONN CEO, Lynn Erdman, MN, RN, FAAN.  “Every diaper donated helps Wipe Out Diaper Need.”

SOURCE: Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)

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