Parents struggle to afford basic baby needs as diaper prices continue to rise

foxbusiness.com:

Since the pandemic, the price of diapers has been shooting up, and it’s been especially tough for low-income families.

As many parents know, babies can go through upward of a dozen diapers per day. Since the pandemic, the price of diapers has been shooting up, making the purchase of basic needs incredibly tough for low-income families.

The average price for a package of disposable diapers was $16.54 in 2019, according to NIQ data on U.S. sales of disposable diapers. Now, the average price is $21.90.

The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) is a nonprofit that helps groups collect and give out free diapers to those in need. The organization, which works with hundreds of diaper banks coast to coast, reports that 47% of American families are struggling to afford diapers in 2023.

«Goods are really expensive,» said Joanne Samuel Goldblum, CEO and founder of NDBN. «We saw the increase of SNAP and WIC during COVID, and that’s going away. I think that’s a huge factor in this.»

INFLATION COMPLICATIONS: PARENTS STRUGGLE TO AFFORD BABY SUPPLIES, NONPROFITS STEPPING UP TO HELP

The National Diaper Bank Network discovered nearly 47% of American families struggle to afford diapers in 2023. (Madison Scarpino / Fox News)

Julie McAfee, program director at Hilltop Child and Family Development Center in St. Louis, said the center offers free on-site behavioral health services, parenting services and early childhood education.

The center partners with the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank and offers free diapers for the 112 children in the program.

«Our main goal at Hilltop is to break down as many financial barriers as possible. … Kids have to have diapers. There’s no current program that helps parents afford that cost, and we all know that’s