Kids' Sleep Suffers When Parents Can't Afford Diapers

It might seem like an unlikely connection at first, but a new study finds that infants and toddlers suffer sleep issues -- and maybe other problems --- when their parents can't afford diapers.

"Sleep promotes brain development and solidifies learning and memory," noted study co-author Sallie Porter, an associate professor at Rutgers School of Nursing in New Jersey. "Children with compromised sleep are more at risk for childhood obesity and emotional and behavioral problems."

Porter and her colleagues surveyed 129 parents of children age 3 and younger who were signed up for early development, home visits and disability support programs.

The parents were asked about their diaper needs and their child's sleeping habits, including how long it takes them to fall asleep, how often they wake at night, the longest stretch they sleep, and the total number of minutes they sleep each night.

Parents were also asked about difficulties with children's bedtime routines, sleep problems and sleep locations, their child’s quality of sleep, and if their child had been diagnosed with a developmental disability.

Nearly 9 in 10 of the families in the study were food-insecure, 76% had to go without diapers at least once a year, and more than one-third said they did not have diapers monthly.

"Diaper insecurity is as prevalent if not more prevalent than food insecurity," said Alexandra Grelecki, MPH, NREMT-P, Community Health Improvement Coordinator- Community Paramedicine at Franciscan Health Crown Point. "One in every three families suffer from diaper insecurity in the United States. Indiana is at higher risk because 44% of children under the age of 3 live in families earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Also, according to the National Diaper Bank Network, Indiana has the second highest diaper tax in the US."

Children in families that struggled to provide diapers were more likely to have disrupted, shorter sleep periods and lower total sleep scores. Parents who worried about not having enough diapers at least monthly were more likely to describe their child's sleep as a problem or difficult, according to the study.

The findings suggest the health care providers should ask parents about diaper needs during well-child visits and connect families in need to resources that provide diapering supplies, Porter said.

"When families are not able to provide diapers for their children, a child can be impacted physically, mentally, and emotionally," Grelecki said. "Children who live in homes suffering from diaper insecurity often face constant infections and are often inconsolable due to discomfort. This can lead to increased child abuse and neglect.  Most childcare facilities require a day’s supply of diapers therefore, families suffering from diaper insecurity are often unable to get childcare for their children because. 57% of parents experiencing diaper need have said that they have missed an average of 4 days of work or school due to not being able to provide their children with diapers."

The findings were published n the Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics.

"Diaper insecurity is very real," said A'onesty Cross, Community Health Prenatal Care Coordinator with Franciscan Physician Network Hammond Family Health Center. "There are many challenges that come with having a child, and diaper expenses can be one of them. Situations exist where women have to decide between buying food or buying diapers. Prioritizing food can require leaving their babies in one soiled diaper all day to make their diaper stretch.”

Cross explained that leaving your child in a soiled diaper all day can result in skin breakdown and infections which can lead to more health concerns.

"The diaper pantry exists because there's a need in the community," said Shelby Beasley, Community Health Specialist with Franciscan Physician Network Hammond Family Health Center. "People need to know that there are resources even with the need for diapers at an all-time high. These are donated diapers. We are a supplementary program, so we can't supply a month's supply of diapers. Still, it should keep moms from buying two packs a month.”

“From your child's birth until 3 years old, you can come here and get three years of free diapers with some rules and regulations after qualification," Beasley said.

For more information about the diaper pantries located in Hammond, Michigan City, Crown Point and Rensselaer, call 219-852-7870.

HealthDay News contributed information to this article.