Women in Poverty - Tales from the Recession's Front Lines

Submitted by user42501 (2 years ago)

I added up the cost of disposables when I discovered that I was pregnant. So I got several yards of extra wide cotton flannel from the remnants bins & made 2-ply ones myself(rough hourglass shape), about 3+ dozen (about 3/yd of material) & used them for home & night use...so I saved the expensive disposables for daycare where there was no alternative.

They lasted much better than the commercial cloth ones, so that I used most of them for my second child as well, then passed them on to friends...

Submitted by thediaperdrive (2 years ago)

As the Executive Director of a new diaper bank in Minnesota, I want to comment on the cloth vs. disposable diaper debate. Starting a diaper bank is NOT a political or social statement of any sort. It in no way expresses a disapproval of cloth. In fact, I am very PRO-cloth. By starting a diaper bank, my husband and I are on a mission to HELP some people who otherwise would be going without. Doing cloth diapers has a steep learning curve to it, and takes time and energy that many of these struggling families do not have. To top it off, laundry facilities are sometimes a busline away or not available at all, and leaks are much more prevailant.

Please do not criticize a movement that is simply to provide for babies and families in need. It is easy to judge unless you've been there.

Submitted by 530192 (not verified) (2 years ago)

In Sarasota, FL, where I live, there is a chapter of Baby Basics, a nationwide organization that provides free diapers to needy parents of children up to the age of three. Our nearby community of Bradenton, FL, does not, however, have a similar chapter. I don’t know how many there are in the US.

Baby Basics has a website.

Best,

Sonia Pressman Fuentes

Submitted by Swenson (2 years ago)

People on food stamps can get help with non-food hygienic items. Food stamps customers are to be treated just like regular paying customers, so stores that have "rewards" programs that give back $$ off coupons can be used to buy those items. For example, if a store has a promotion to buy $12 in Coke products and get back $4 to use off your next order, you can use the $4 toward diapers. Pair that with a manufacturer's coupon and diapers can be gotten for $4 or less. Sometimes you even get rewards for buying the diapers as well, and can use those to purchase other items. CVS, RiteAid, and Walgreens are among those stores that have such reward programs. Combining coupons with these offers results in the best deals. Coupons can also be used to stretch the food stamp money used for groceries as well.

Submitted by WomenOnGuard (2 years ago)

When I saw the header, I automatically thought of cloth diapers. As I read through, you explained about women not having washing machines and costs with laundromats being too expensive... I understand these issues, but where do we draw the line? Where there's a will there's a way. Even if it means wahing diapers by hand! We already are burdened with high taxes. This will just add to it. Also, unfortunately, many people take advantage of food stamps for buying junk food, alcohol, and cigarettes! Too many women AND girls have babies, that shouldn't! Women should realize that we aren't animals and we are not men, we can get pregnant and should watch our sexual practices.