California is set to become the first state in the nation to provide free diapers to newborns before they leave the hospital, under a new program announced Friday by Governor Gavin Newsom. The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on families and ensure every baby gets a healthy start.
Program Details
In its first year, the program will be available at approximately 65 to 75 hospitals that handle about a quarter of births in the state, primarily serving low-income patients, according to Newsom's office. The initiative will later expand to more hospitals statewide, though the exact number remains unspecified.
The state allocated $7.4 million in last year's budget to launch the program, and this year's budget proposal includes an additional $12.5 million to fund it through the fiscal year ending June 2027. Each infant will receive 400 diapers in sizes for newborns and babies up to 14 pounds (6 kilograms) upon discharge, covering roughly a month's supply based on the average newborn's use of 8-10 diapers per day.
Partnership and Manufacturing
California is partnering with Baby2Baby, a nonprofit focused on providing essential items to children, to manufacture the diapers for participating hospitals, Newsom's office confirmed.
Context and Comparisons
The announcement comes two years after Tennessee and Delaware became the first US states to offer free diapers to families enrolled in their Medicaid programs. Tennessee allows families to pick up 100 diapers per month for children under two at pharmacies, while Delaware provides up to 80 diapers and one pack of baby wipes per week for the first 12 weeks of life.
California's Medicaid system does not currently cover diapers for newborns, though it does provide them for enrollees aged 5 and older with a medical need.
Financial Impact
Diapers are a significant ongoing expense for families, costing about $100 per month per child, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The cost burden can lead some parents to leave diapers on too long or reuse disposables, resulting in rashes and urinary tract infections.
California officials highlight the program as a way to reduce financial strain. "The first days at home with a newborn should be focused on the love, connection, and joy of an expanded family, not stress about affording diapers," said Kim Johnson, the state's health secretary. "This program helps ensure families can begin that journey with greater stability and peace of mind."
