1 in 3 American families struggle to provide diapers for their kids

It’s no secret that having children is expensive. We’re seeing more and more pricey, high-tech gadgets enter the market, but what’s important to remember is this: Far too many U.S. families don’t even have access to the basic necessities. Diaper need (which means a family is unable to change a baby’s wet or soiled diaper as often as necessary) is a very common issue.

According to a Huggies-sponsored 2017 survey from the National Diaper Bank Network, 1 in 3 families in the United States struggle to provide enough diapers for their children. That’s why Huggies and Walgreens teamed up with athlete David Ross to address this issue.

David Ross—best known as a World Series champ during his time playing for the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox, as well as a runner-up on Dancing With the Stars—recently appeared in Chicago to help donate 250,000 diapers to Cradles to Crayons, a charity benefiting families. It’s part of an ongoing effort for Huggies and Walgreens to donate 2 million diapers and 250,000 wipes to families facing diaper need as part of Huggies’ No Baby Unhugged program.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cradles to Crayons Chicago (@c2cchicago)

For David, who is a father of three, the decision to join this initiative was an easy one. “Reading all the information [about diaper need]—it just kind of hit home [for me as a father],” David tells Motherly. “I didn’t even know diaper banks existed. To feel like I was taking things for granted when there’s a huge need around our country…it was easy to jump on board.”

Diaper need can put a huge burden on families: It goes without saying that not having enough diapers can pose hygiene issues, but as David points out, families facing diaper need are affected in other ways as well.

“When you’re trying to provide for your kids and then you don’t have enough diapers to send them to daycare…and then [you] have to miss work and miss a paycheck…it’s a vicious cycle that never ends,” he tells us. “When you’re a new parent, you’re trying to figure out how to keep a kid happy. A clean diaper is part of that…That just seems like something we shouldn’t [have to] worry about as parents.”

As a famous (and beloved) figure, David has the power to bring a lot of awareness to this issue—but his involvement matters on a larger level as well. It’s 2019, and we’re finally seeing the idea that dads parent (and yes, change diapers) right alongside moms presented by brands. Huggies has done this in the past, and by partnering with a male athlete now, they’re showing us that we need fathers to be involved in all the issues new parents are facing.

The partnership affects how David parents his own children as well. “I didn’t come from a successful family. My kids have it a lot better than I did, but I want them to appreciate things…[this partnership] helps with everything I’m doing at home as well. It makes me a better dad, it makes me a better person…it helps me as much as it does the awareness for the cause,” David says.

“When you’re in a world like my kids are in, you try to do right by them, you try to teach them to be humble and appreciative. It’s only natural [that] when you have a little bit of money, you try to give them the best but [I hope to] still keep them appreciative and thankful,” he adds.

If you want to support the National Diaper Bank Network or need help getting diapers for your child, click here.

You might also like:

• These viral photos prove dads need changing tables, too
• Pampers is launching new ‘smart diapers’ that will tell you when the baby needs to be changed
• Legit ways to get free baby items—from diapers to formula