The National Diaper Bank Network and founding partner Huggies announced a study, Diaper Need and Its Impact on U.S. Families, revealing that one-in-three U.S. families (36%) continue to be in diaper need, or struggle to provide enough diapers to keep a baby or toddler clean, dry and healthy. As a follow-up to a pioneering study completed by Huggies in 2010, this new report provides an updated and comprehensive portrait of families in diaper need and its effect on the well-being of children and families. The release of the study coincides with the kickoff of Diaper Need Awareness Week (Sept. 25 - Oct. 1, 2017), a signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network, which aims to generate attention, discussion, and action to help those in diaper need. 

"Increased awareness of diaper need in the past seven years has prompted tremendous growth of the diaper bank community, with more individuals, communities and organizations creating and sustaining diaper banks with donations, dollars and time," says Eleonora Daireaux, general manager for Huggies. "However, this new study also emphasizes the need to continue to support families in diaper need, which we are very committed to doing in partnership with National Diaper Bank Network."

The in-depth survey also illuminates the barriers and tradeoffs that families experiencing diaper need face daily. New research includes:

• 65% percent of families are unaware that diaper banks offer diaper assistance in their respective community, even though the number of diaper banks has grown to more than 300 from 40 in recent years.
• Of families in diaper need, three-in-four also identify as experiencing economic hardship. In this study, economic hardship was defined as the inability to pay reasonable and necessary living expenses including rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare, and basic needs products such as soap, shampoo, diapers and feminine hygiene.
• Of families in diaper need, three-in-five parents (57%) miss work or school due to a lack of sufficient diapers required by childcare, day care or early education programs to care for a baby or toddler. As a result, parents experiencing diaper need missed an average of four days of work or school in the past month.
• 73% percent of all families feel they're not being good parents when their children are left too long in dirty diapers, while one-in-three households in need experience feeling stressed or overwhelmed by diapering always or often.

"Diaper Need and Its Impact on U.S. Families reveals that the effects of diaper need cannot be narrowly defined. It impacts a wide range of families representing diverse economic situations, education levels and employment statuses, and the study reveals the breadth of challenges associated with diaper need," says Joanne Samuel Goldblum, CEO of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). "The National Diaper Bank Network and Huggies share the same mission of raising awareness for diaper need, supporting the growth and sustainability of community diaper banks and generating donations to help all babies thrive. Together, we will continue to explore avenues to help those in need."

Diaper banks help address diaper need by collecting, storing and distributing diapers to families experiencing financial hardship. While they range in size and scope, local diaper bank programs obtain diapers through local diaper drives, in-kind donations, and purchases of diapers with donated funds. As the founding sponsor of the National Diaper Bank Network, Huggies has provided ongoing support for the organization and has donated more than 200 million diapers and baby wipes, including critical donations during times of crisis.

The National Diaper Bank Network has diaper banks in 47 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.