5 Ways to Help Babies in Your Community

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by AWHONN as part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network to help babies in need. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

With our second baby due at the end of this month, I’ve been busy enjoying nesting mode. From scrubbing floorboards to cleaning out cabinets to washing baby clothes, the mama bear has been coming out in full force as we prepare for our bundle of cuteness. One of the items that I recently set out in the nursery were diapers. I held up the newborn size diapers and couldn’t believe how tiny they were, especially compared to the diaper that my three-year-old wears. It’s amazing how quickly a baby grows and it’s even more amazing how quickly a baby can go through diapers in a given day, week, month, and year.

For many moms across the country, the struggle to provide something as basic as diapers can make them feel helpless, like a failure. In fact, 1 in 3 families in the United States experience diaper need: not having enough diapers to keep a baby clean, dry, and healthy.

Babies risk severe diaper rash and infection from wearing soiled diapers for extended periods of time and when parents dry and reuse dirty diapers. Not having enough diapers to maintain a “supply” at childcare means an infant can’t attend day care. As a result, mom or dad might be forced to abandon work—and a paycheck—to care for baby. It’s an unfortunate cycle that harms a family’s health and well-being.

Did you know that moms told researchers from Yale University that not having enough diapers was more stressful to them than not having a place to live or enough food? The study, published in Pediatrics, highlights what you already know: Moms just want to do right by their kids and will do anything to keep them happy and healthy.

I will never forget the moment the doctor placed my son in my arms. I’m counting down the days until I get to experience that special bond with our second baby. The bond between mother and baby is inexplicable: Once you hold that tiny bundle in your arms, you know you would do anything to keep him or her safe.

AWHONN’s Healthy Mom&Baby, Huggies®, and the National Diaper Bank Network are working to close the diaper gap so that families don’t have to choose between food, work, childcare, and diapering their infants. Their goal this year is to collect more than 250,000 diapers—and they need your help.

5 Ways to Help Babies in Your Community

1.) Donate Diapers to Your Local Diaper Bank

The next time you’re at the grocery store, go down the diaper aisle and throw a package or two of diapers into your cart. Then, stop by your local diaper bank on your way home to drop off the diapers you bought at the store. Be sure to visit DiaperDrive.org and tell AWHONN where you donated in order to help them reach their goal. Click here to find your local diaper bank.

2.) Make an Online Donation

Visit DiaperDrive.org and make a donation … even if you can only donate a small amount. A little bit goes a long way to help those 1 in 3 families in your community who don’t have all of the diapers they need to send their children to day care or preschool.

3.) Host a Diaper Drive With Friends

Meet up with some of your friends for coffee or hot chocolate at your local coffee shop. Grab some pastries and then head out to your local diaper bank to drop off the diapers that everyone brought. The diaper drive doesn’t have to be a big production. Remember, the goal of the event is to collect diapers and donate them to help babies who are in need. Click here to find your local diaper bank.

4.) Host a Holiday Dinner Party

So, how does a holiday dinner party help babies in need? Ask the partygoers to bring a package of diapers with them when they attend your holiday dinner party. People love to give back during the holiday season. A holiday dinner party can combine fun times and great donations.

5.) Celebrate #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Be sure to donate via DiaperDrive.org and then send out a few Facebook updates and/or tweets to help spread the word about the issue of diaper need.

Here are some examples of what you can send out to your friends, family members, and followers:

Facebook:

• 5.3 million babies in America are affected by diaper need. Help end this now by donating at bit.ly/2016diaperdrive.
• 5.3 million babies don’t have enough diapers to stay clean, dry & healthy. Join Healthy Mom&Baby to end diaper need at bit.ly/2016diaperdrive.
• 1/3 of American families can’t afford enough diapers. Join Healthy Mom&Baby to end diaper need at bit.ly/2016diaperdrive.
• Toddlers in need can’t go to preschool without a “diaper stash.” Your $20 donation=two weeks of diapers needed to attend. Donate today at bit.ly/2016diaperdrive.
• Send a baby or toddler to school with enough diapers to attend; together let’s end diaper need. Donate today at bit.ly/2016diaperdrive.

Twitter:

• 5.3 million babies don’t have enough diapers to be clean, dry, healthy. Join @Health4Mom; end #diaperneed bit.ly/2016diaperdrive #moms4babies
• 1/3 of American families can’t afford enough diapers. Join @Health4Mom to end #DiaperNeed. bit.ly/2016diaperdrive #moms4babies
• Almost half of babies & toddlers lack diapers for preschool. Join @Health4Mom to fight #DiaperNeed at bit.ly/2016diaperdrive. #moms4babies

How will you help babies in need in your community during this holiday season?

photo source

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by AWHONN as part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.