https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 11:10:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-1071390 Sat, 07 Sep 2013 07:52:55 +0000 mrs.cookie 1071390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for posting this! I found out our local charity organizations accept diapers for food baskets for underprivileged families. Planning to donate a few boxes... But I agree with some of the pps that the real answer lies in supporting women to earn more to be able to provide for their families. I am a professional well established in my career, but I'd struggle to provide for my family on my own income alone. I can't imagine the stress and shame moms must feel at not being able to provide a simple need like enough clean diapers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-1071383 Sat, 07 Sep 2013 07:37:27 +0000 Dandelion 1071383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I saw this and found a bank in my area. One point it made was that a lot of laundromats don't allow cloth diapers to be washed in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-1071337 Sat, 07 Sep 2013 06:21:14 +0000 jedeve 1071337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't forget you are lugging the cloth diapers and baby to the laundromat at 5am before your 7-3 and 3-10 shifts start...</p> <p>The issue isn't cloth. The issue is that women are paid less than men for the same work. That women bear the brunt of childcare costs and responsibilities in single parent families. The largest poverty demographic is female headed households. We offer very little in support for these families. </p> <p>My husband works at a good job, so we aren't poor, but if he were suddenly to leave us, almost half of my salary goes to childcare. (I work part time and my work doesn't have the option to hire me full time). We wouldnt have enough left over for the mortgage or even our previous rent. Plus we wouldn't even qualify for medicaid. There are real barriers for women today. Female headed households are often ignored in our media because of the 90s (racist) depiction of "welfare queens" but it is a big issue. We need to equalize pay for women and use programs that make work pay enough to get by. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977628 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:48:37 +0000 PrincessBaby 977628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This article made me feel guilty...We have too many diapers right now bc I forgot to push our Honest shipment back...So we're pretty much inundated with cute printed dipes. And as I changed my LO into an ice cream/candy print dipe, I felt guilty that I pay for cute dipes when other people are scraping contents out of diapers and reusing:(. Sads:( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977593 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:36:16 +0000 travellingbee 977593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I completely agree. Well said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977580 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:31:21 +0000 yoursilverlining 977580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think cloth diapers are an across-the-board answer. Many daycares don't take cloth, many women at the poverty line are single parents already working full time or multiple jobs, and frankly; their time is money, too and they don't have much of either. </p> <p>If you buy disposables in bulk, they are not that expensive. We spend less than $50/month on diapers buying through Amazon (it's more like $37/mo. now). But that requires a bank account, a debit or credit card, a computer (or access to a computer) and internet access. It also requires that someone be web-savvy enough to be able to research prices online and shop online.</p> <p>If we bought diapers through a lot of the options that low income women have - like buying small packages at higher priced shops like Walgreens/Rite-Aid/corner stores because you can only shell out $10 or so at a time, the price goes up dramatically. </p> <p>It's the same way with formula, and most everything else. If you end up buying "for convenience" as your main means of acquiring items, you're paying a premium. </p> <p>Education seems more the answer to me, and making resources available; rather than cloth vs. non-cloth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977563 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:27:48 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 977563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: I would feel like a failure if I couldn't dress my baby in a clean diaper (cloth or sposie) or provide him with BM or Formula that hasn't been diluted with water to make it last longer. </p> <p>While we chip in to help these mothers and babies at diaper banks, let's also figure out a way for them to earn more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977535 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:19:13 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 977535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And I think that all goes back to shore up opportunities for low income women. A huge piece of that is putting in place high quality affordable daycare so that women can work without worrying for the safety of their children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977476 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:00:04 +0000 BlueWolverine 977476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: @Bookworm: Agreed. Rather than a cloth/disposable debate, I think the article is asking us to consider why women can't afford diapers - of either type. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977454 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:55:02 +0000 looch 977454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, if we go back to the original point of the article, how is it that we as a society are supposed to make disposables more affordable for low income women? I mean we all know that if you want to find the best price, you have to do some research. </p> <p>I just don't think the best and only answer is continuing to give low income women disposable diapers. It's not going to change anything...unless we're okay with things staying the way they are? I don't know, I haven't been there as a mom either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977452 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:54:31 +0000 Boheme 977452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Agree. I am a social worker for a program that serves pregnant women in poverty. I have given cloth diapers to some of them before, and it just didn't work out. CD laundry is hard to do when you are sleeping on someone's couch or have to walk to a laundromat with children in tow and spend more $.</p> <p>I'm all about cloth diapers but they aren't right for everyone due to circumstances. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977437 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:48:17 +0000 runsyellowlites 977437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read this on Monday... it's really quite sad, but so true, we likely couldn't afford to diaper P in sposies without strain or stress (they're so stinking expensive). </p> <p>FWIW I know moms that don't use washer &amp; dryers to wash their dipes.... so even for those that don't have a washer &amp; dryer it <i>could</i> still be a viable option. Also, not all the moms in the study necessarily are without this amenity. They surveyed moms both under &amp; over the poverty line (which really we're under the poverty line but still have always had a washer &amp; dryer).</p> <p>I think a program like WIC could be an awesome avenue to pioneer getting information out there, not just about them being more economical but generally healthier as well. They've done a wonderful job of helping moms be more informed about breastfeeding &amp; having the support to successfully do so, why couldn't they include a class on cloth diapering &amp; maybe give a pre-fold &amp; nb cover in their "new mom" bag. And then what about information also on things like "diaper free baby" and early potty training?</p> <p>I think these two things have become quite popular as mainstream "crunchy" but could really benefit alot (not necessarily all) that could use them for their economical benefits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977405 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:38:22 +0000 T.H.O.U. 977405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here is a list of a few cloth diaper banks: </p> <p><a href="http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/cloth-diaper-banks-helping-families-in-need/" rel="nofollow">http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/cloth-diaper-banks-helping-families-in-need/</a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/blog/what-to-do-with-your-cloth-diapers-when-you-do-not-need-them-anymore/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/blog/what-to-do-with-your-cloth-diapers-when-you-do-not-need-them-anymore/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977388 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:32:30 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 977388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I just can't imagine hauling two laundry carts down three flights of stairs holding one baby with a toddler in tow all to walk the three blocks to the laundry mat while keeping track o the dive dollars in quarters to get the loads done. I haven't been there as a mom, but there were times that I was poor enough that I could only afford to do laundry every 2-3 weeks.</p> <p>Edited to add: $5 every three days is roughly $50/ month. Way more than disposable I you are using a laundrymat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977384 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:32:05 +0000 Bookish 977384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the takeaway from this should be that a large portion of women in this country are not as lucky as the vast majority of us on HB. Maybe rather than focusing on a cloth vs. disposable argument (which, while important to many of us, is not what this article was trying to stir up discussion about), think about how it would feel to not be able to provide basic needs for your baby. Just my two cents :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977374 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:28:47 +0000 looch 977374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I can see that, but honestly, we have to start somewhere. I think at least cloth should be an option that is offered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977360 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:25:45 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 977360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: many of these women don't have reliable access to a washer and dryer. They would have to haul the diapers down to the laundrymat with their kids and all their other dirty laundry and come up with the money to wash and dry and extra load. It's just not a good option for most low income women.</p> <p>This article highlights to me the importance of re-focusing on the war on poverty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977356 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:24:56 +0000 looch 977356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: why not? </p> <p>I didn't have a washing machine in my apartment until I moved abroad in 2008. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977350 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:23:30 +0000 T.H.O.U. 977350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get that the daycare reason might be valid for needing to use disposables, but then again, most daycares have LAWS that they change so often (once every two hours) and the daycare isn't going to scrap off poo and put it back on the child. To me, the situations described in the article are around a SAHM. IMO, they should have time to use/wash cloth diapers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977344 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:22:10 +0000 T.H.O.U. 977344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Agreed, but cloth diapers can be washed by hand if needed. Most are recommended to be air dried on a line. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977341 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:20:58 +0000 jedeve 977341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't forget, many low income people don't have laundry machines either. Cloth diapers in a laundromat? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977319 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:11:40 +0000 looch 977319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think anything new has a learning curve. I use gdiapers, and they take a few tries to get right. I don't see what the opposition is to using cloth, honestly. As things become more mainstream, the prices come down.</p> <p>If it is that the center has to separate the poop out, well, in truth, they should be doing that for disposables. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977312 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:10:11 +0000 regberadaisy 977312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: interesting. thanks for looking that up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977307 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:06:28 +0000 T.H.O.U. 977307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: From my experience, most of the centers we visited are not willing to do the cheap cloth diapers. Meaning the flat piece of cloth that you have to fold and pin and then put a cover on. Ours was willing assuming we had the nicer pocket/all in one diapers. These are more expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977305 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:05:40 +0000 travellingbee 977305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: the NBC article I added above says: For the study, Smith and her colleagues interviewed 877 pregnant and parenting women of various income levels in New Haven, Conn </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977304 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:04:59 +0000 T.H.O.U. 977304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is really sad but very true with how expensive diapers are. </p> <p>I know there are a lot of places that accept cloth diapers for donation. They are much cheaper (especially if you are getting them free) and you can hand wash as needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977297 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:03:08 +0000 LuLu Mom 977297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It makes me sad to think of people doing this, I know diapers get expensive, I complain as I put them in the cart, but I guess from now one I need to look at it as we are blessed to be able to afford diapers! </p> <p>A local radio show holds a diaper drive every year around Christmas, I think I'm going to get all my family and friends together to donate to it so it helps out local mothers in need. NO child should have to risk a diaper rash, infection, ect. due to lack of money :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977289 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 07:59:26 +0000 MrsTiz 977289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I know a lot of areas aren't cloth diaper friendly. Most of the mothers using diaper banks are probably having to work full time, which means their kids are in daycare.. in my area if you get pregnancy medicaid they will give you daycare for free (or close to it) if you have to go to work/school full time. Most daycares in my country don't do cloth diapers, so they kinda have to use disposables. It's a crappy situation for them :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977286 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 07:58:49 +0000 mamimami 977286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it is a need that exists but I agree the population surveyed was probably not representative (it never claims to be -- it just says they were "interviewed" for something so I'm guessing they are low income to start with. And I also agree with @looch that cloth diapering should be the answer....</p> <p>Anyway, it's sad. Really, very sad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-study-shows-30-of-women-cant-afford-diapers#post-977283 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 07:58:12 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 977283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I'm thinking the same way. Cloth diapers are more affordable than disposable. </p> <p>I wonder if daycares in low income areas are open to cloth diapering. That may be one reason for CDs not to be option. </p>