Diaper Need Awareness Week (Sept. 8 though 14) calls attention to a disturbing statistic: Nearly 30 percent of low-income families cannot afford enough diapers to keep their babies clean, dry and healthy.
That was the finding of research newly published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The study also found that mothers who cannot afford diapers exhibit more symptoms of depression and other mental health problems. Research shows that a mother's mental health can have a profound effect on a child's development.
Twelve states have issued a proclamation or taken some other action declaring Diaper Need Awareness Week: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island and Tennessee. Many cities and counties have done the same.
"Diaper need is a huge issue that affects children's health and parents' ability to earn," according to Joanne Goldblum, executive director of the National Diaper Bank Network. "We started Diaper Need Awareness Week in 2012 to call attention to this silent crisis, because we've seen that once people know about the problem, they are eager to help."
About 180 diaper banks, which operate much like food banks, have opened around the country to help babies stay clean, dry and healthy. People can mark Diaper Need Awareness Week by hosting a diaper drive for their local diaper bank or by getting involved with the National Diaper Bank Network, which supports these community based efforts and raises awareness about diaper need.
To learn more, visit the National Diaper Bank Network at www.diaperbanknetwork.org.
Contact Colleen Shaddox [email protected]
Study finds connection between air pollution and childhood peanut allergies