Diaper Need

Five Years. $4 Million. One Mission: Ending Diaper Need.

For five years, Cradles to Crayons has partnered with Cuties^® by First Quality to help end diaper need for families across Massachusetts, Greater Philadelphia, and Chicagoland. Together, we’ve turned a shared commitment into real, measurable impact — delivering the diapers, wipes, and basic necessities every child deserves to stay clean, dry, and healthy.

Diaper Need: Why It Matters and What We’re Doing

The National Diaper Bank Network defines diaper need as “the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant or child clean, dry, and healthy.” Diapers are one of a baby’s most essential needs, yet nearly 1 in 2 U.S. families struggle to afford them.

• The average infant needs up to 12 diapers a day—about 360 a month, and roughly 4,320 a year for just one child. At an average of 22 cents per diaper, that’s a monthly cost of $50–$120.
• 9 out of 10 households with diaper need have experienced financial stress in the past year.
• 34% of households with diaper need have had to skip meals to afford diapers.
• Diapers cannot be purchased with SNAP or WIC benefits.

Cradles to Crayons participated in a recent diaper distribution research pilot, finding that families receiving diapers and other essentials experienced measurable improvements, including a 10% increase in employment, a 9% increase in financial stability, and a 31% decrease in caregiver stress. These findings reinforce that diapers are more than an essential item, and that reliable access has greater effects.

Check out our Diaper Need Fact Sheet to learn more.

A Partnership Built for Year-Round Impact

Diaper need doesn’t take a break — and neither does our work with Cuties. Since 2021, Cuties by First Quality has stood alongside Cradles to Crayons as a committed partner in the fight to end diaper need, providing consistent, reliable support that helps us plan ahead, respond to community needs, and reach more families every month of the year.

This isn’t a seasonal campaign. It’s a sustained commitment that has helped Cradles to Crayons become a trusted, proud member of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN), which connects and supports community-based diaper banks serving nearly 320,000 children nationwide each month.

Our 5-year partnership with Cuties has resulted in:
• $4 million in financial support
• Over 37 million diapers and over 17 million baby wipes distributed, as well as year-round support across our service areas (Massachusetts, Greater Philadelphia, and Chicagoland)