I happen to have a source of information who volunteers at a local charity whose mission is to support mothers.
If you feel inclined to donate to that kind of charity, diapers in sizes 4, 5 and 6 are typically in lowest supply.
That is partially due to the number of diapers in a typical package. For example, at the $55 price point you can purchase:
- 186 Size 2 Huggies Little Snugglers (12-18 pounds)
- 150 Size 4 (23-37 pounds)
- 108 Size 6 (+35 pounds)
Another factor is that children's growth-rate slows as they age and they will be wearing size 4 and 5 diapers for more months than the smaller sizes. According to the CDC growth charts, a 50th percentile boy will hit 12 pounds at two months and 18 pounds at six months. That means that (on-paper) they can fit into Size 2 for four months.
That same 50th percentile boy will hit 23 pounds at twelve months and 32 pounds at thirty-six months which is twenty-four months or SIX TIMES LONGER than they would be wearing Size 2 diapers. Consequently, the number of Size 4 diapers is six times greater than for Size 2...and the packages hold 20% fewer.
Another high-demand item are wet-wipes. People who donate don't think about them. The up-side is that they are compact and take up far less room than packages of diapers. "Flushable" wet-wipes are preferred but any disposable wet-wipes are better than no wet-wipes.
Back , way back, when I was a kid most houses had clothes lines out back. And probably 2/3rds of those clothes lines had cloth diapers hanging on them most days. And on really cold days the diapers were hanging inside in the laundry room. Even 51 years ago when my kid was a baby there were cloth diapers hanging on our and the neighbor's clothes line and disposable diapers were for when we went somewhere. ---ken
ReplyDeleteThey beat disposables any time-but of course they involve a bit of work.
DeleteAll 3 of my kids... same set of diapers, too. Wash, dry, repeat.
DeleteAs a mom who used cloth diapers just 20+ years ago - diapers are not inexpensive anymore. And it's best to have a soaking bucket to hold the used diapers until a washing machine load is accumulated. If a parent doesn't have space for that, or a home washing machine, difficulties begin to pile up. If the family uses a laundromat, they have to have a sufficient inventory of cloth diapers to make it between visits. A family that is already stressed to the point of needing support may not be able to afford sufficient cloth diapers, or the means to make sure they're sanitary. Sometimes, we have to help people do the best they can.
ReplyDeleteHat tip to Ken and Anon. And the reason disposable diapers came along is they are less work! Regards disposable wipes, that does not mean they are flushable regardless what the package says, Stories some time ago from England mentioned what a disaster they are in sewage pipelines, talk about terrible problems. Thanks about the information regarding didi donations. Never thought of that! Always something to learn here.
ReplyDeleteI have had multiple plumbers tell me that the term "flushable wipe" is a big lie. None of them are flushable without causing plumbing problems. They do not break down fast enough to not present a blockage hazard while traveling through your pipes out to the sewer main. I would suspect that they would also not be a good thing for your septic tank/system if not on a sewer system.
ReplyDeleteMaybe donate a diaper service?
ReplyDeletesam
18th century technology, inexpensive women cotton and aggressive chemicals. I am not relinquishing gor-tex coats or neoprene boots. BTDT re cloth/disposables.
ReplyDeleteHappy baby, less frazzled momma wins.
I'll help with that,
A little East of Paris
WOVEN!
DeleteFriend came for a visit. Brought her own flushable wipes. She left but about 2/3 months later started having plumbing problems. Plumber traced blockage to a junction and had to dig up half the yard said don't use flusable. When I called my friend she admitted she had been the one to use them, apologized but didn't offer to pay for my $400 bill.
ReplyDelete