In Tarrant County, thousands of parents are doing quick math at the changing table and coming up short. About 65,200 of roughly 114,150 children ages 3 and younger in the county live in households that are cost‑burdened by diapers, leaving families scrambling for supplies and child‑care providers plugging the gaps so kids can stay in care. The squeeze is reshaping family budgets and, for some, disrupting work schedules and school attendance for the county’s youngest children.
County Data Shows The Scale Of The Shortage
The scope of the problem comes into focus through local mapping by the Urban Institute, which uses National Diaper Bank Network data and Census demographics to track diaper insecurity community by community. The institute estimates that about 57% of Tarrant County children ages 3 and under are cost‑burdened by diapers. Meeting the diaper needs of families below 300% of the federal poverty level would take more than 39 million diapers.
Diaper Need Affects Health, Mental Health And Work
National research connects diaper insecurity to both child health risks and caregiver distress. Families that cannot afford enough diapers report more skin problems and missed care, and parents are more likely to experience anxiety and depression. The National Diaper Bank Network’s Diaper Check 2024 also found that many parents skip meals or miss work to stretch diaper budgets.
Local Diaper Banks Are Struggling To Keep Up
Nonprofits and diaper banks in Tarrant County are trying to close the gap, but demand is intense. The Junior League of Fort Worth and partner agencies distribute large volumes of diapers through a county diaper bank housed with the Tarrant Area Food Bank. The organization reports it has moved millions of diapers since the program began. More information on how the local diaper‑bank model works is available from the Junior League of Fort Worth.
Child‑care Providers Are Filling The Gaps
When families run out of diapers, home daycares and small centers often step in so children can keep their spots in care. Retha Wilson, who runs a Morningside home daycare, told the Fort Worth Star‑Telegram she asks parents to bring six to eight diapers per day and sometimes buys extras herself. Other providers say they keep emergency packs on hand, and they occasionally see parents keep children home when supplies run out…