Podcast Summary: New Books Network – Jennifer Randles, "Living Diaper to Diaper: The Hidden Crisis of Poverty and Motherhood" (March 5, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode of the New Books Network, host Dr. Miranda Melcher interviews Dr. Jennifer Randles, sociologist and author of Living Diaper to Diaper: The Hidden Crisis of Poverty and Motherhood (University of California Press, 2026). The conversation explores the phenomenon of "diaper insecurity"—the struggle many families face in affording enough diapers for their children—and examines its personal, social, and policy dimensions. Randles draws from her research to reveal the historical, economic, gendered, and racial factors behind this often-overlooked crisis, and discusses both grassroots organizing (notably, the rise of diaper banks) and possible policy solutions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What Prompted the Book and Randles’ Research Trajectory

• Randles’ Background in Family Inequalities: Initially focused on family policy, particularly on fatherhood and marriage-support programs (02:46).
• Turning Point: Noticing that fathers were attending programs primarily for diaper incentives led her to realize that the need for diapers was overlooked in policy and academia (03:20).
• Emergence of "Diaper Insecurity": At the time (ca. 2017), there was little research; Randles identified a book-length gap on the subject (03:50).

2. How Diaper Insecurity Became a Major U.S. Issue

• Technological Shifts: Modern disposable diapers, while a technological marvel, have become expensive and nearly ubiquitous (05:16).
• Societal and Economic Changes:
  • Most childcare facilities require disposables, excluding the feasibility of cloth for working parents.
  • Disposable diapers now cost families $100–$120/month or over $1,000 per year (07:25).
  • Cloth diapers are primarily an option for affluent, two-parent homes with access to laundry facilities (09:00).
• Lack of Public Support: Programs like WIC and cash welfare largely exclude diapers, despite the fact that nearly half of U.S. families with young children face diaper insecurity (09:50).
• Striking Quote:

  "If you don't know where your baby's next diaper's coming from, you have to know exactly how much time you have to figure out how to get more."
  —Dr. Jennifer Randles (17:18)

3. The Policy Vacuum Around Diapers

• Assumptions and Ignorance: Many policymakers assume cloth is viable for everyone, misunderstanding both the economics and social logistics involved (11:31).
• Persistent Misconceptions: Even within policy circles, many mistakenly believe WIC and similar programs already cover diapers (12:38).
• Taxation: About half of U.S. states tax diapers, a further economic burden and a symbolic message they are not a basic necessity (14:30).
• Policy Momentum: Some states have begun funding diaper support or offering vouchers (California's $30/month benefit cited as example) (13:40).

4. Parental Strategies and "Diaper Work"

• Inventive Mothering and Invisible Labor: Diaper-insecure parents engage in what Randles calls "inventive mothering" and "diaper work"—planning, counting, stretching resources, and managing household stress (15:28).
• Coping Strategies:
  • Letting babies go undiapered and staying home to avoid embarrassment or judgment.
  • Using makeshift supplies—newspapers, menstrual pads, old T-shirts, duct tape.
  • Reusing or rationing diapers, borrowing or swapping among networks (18:00).
• Personal Sacrifice: Frequently, parents (especially mothers) sacrifice their own food or medicine to afford diapers (18:45).
• Notable Quote:

  "The specificity with which these mothers answered...is so telling about what it means to manage this problem day in and day out."
  —Dr. Jennifer Randles (16:20)

5. Gender, Race, and Stigma

• Gendered Burden: The responsibility of diaper work falls overwhelmingly on mothers (20:17).
• Race and Scrutiny: Mothers of color—especially Black mothers—face heightened scrutiny, stigma, and real fears of social services intervention (20:36).
• Disproportionate Isolation: Social isolation (not leaving home) is both a strategy for stretching diapers and a response to fear of judgment or intervention (22:30).
• Quote:

  "Part of the privilege of both racial and economic privilege is not having to worry about certain things."
  —Dr. Jennifer Randles (22:03)

6. Diaper Banks: The Grassroots Response

• How They Work: Diaper banks collect in-kind or financial donations (the latter preferred for bulk purchasing) and distribute diapers via partners—schools, clinics, and community organizations (24:03).
• Scale: Now present in every U.S. state (and spreading globally), ranging from tiny pantries to organizations distributing tens of millions of diapers monthly (25:30).
• Healthcare Partnerships: Responding to doctors' observations that some parents have only one clean diaper, many clinics now distribute diapers (24:40).
• Movement or Patch?: Diaper banks consider themselves both direct service providers and social movement actors highlighting structural inequities (28:01).

7. Limits and Future of the Diaper Bank Movement

• Recognized Limitations: Diaper bankers themselves note that their efforts are a "band aid"—saving many but far from solving nationwide need (31:06).
• Systemic Solutions Needed: Calls include WIC-style programs for diapers, government-negotiated contracts for bulk purchasing, direct diaper vouchers, and subsidy expansions (33:18).
• Innovative State Programs: Examples include statewide programs that distribute diapers through Medicaid pharmacies (35:00).
• Advocacy and Local Actions: The appendix of Randles’ book provides steps for individuals to get involved—donations, advocacy, starting local banks (36:19).

8. Final Takeaways and Future Research

• Awareness and Empathy: Recognizing the existence and severity of diaper insecurity and challenging stigma against affected parents (36:19).
• Privilege of Security: Not having to worry about diapers is itself "a privilege" (36:57).
• Transformative Anecdote: Randles shares the story of a father who, after being forced to choose between diapers and milk and ultimately being arrested, inspired her deep focus on this area (39:15).
• Ongoing Commitment: Randles continues collaborating with local banks and hospitals while she awaits her "next project" to find her (38:47).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Diaper Counting

  "When I asked mothers struggling with diaper insecurity how many diapers they had, they said 3, 7, 13...They could tell me exactly how many diapers they had on hand and exactly how long those diapers would last them."
  —Dr. Jennifer Randles (16:20)

• Band Aid, but Essential

  "To a bleeding person, a band aid looks pretty good."
  —Quote from a diaper advocate, shared by Dr. Randles (31:49)

• On Policy Assumptions

  "[Policymakers think] 'How expensive can a diaper actually be?'...Even among policymakers, there’s an assumption that public programs already cover diapers like WIC."
  —Dr. Jennifer Randles (12:38)

• Racialized Stigma

  "Even different diaper types, like...a cloth diaper versus a disposable diaper, and how that might lead people to make certain kinds of judgments about maternal fitness..."
  —Dr. Jennifer Randles (21:14)

• Call to Action

  "There’s probably something in your community or state...You can contribute either through an in-kind donation, going and buying a box of diapers, or a monetary donation, which is usually preferred..."
  —Dr. Jennifer Randles (36:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to the Issue and Research Motivation: 01:21–04:52
• History and Costs of Diapering in the U.S.: 05:16–11:14
• Policy Gaps and Misconceptions: 11:14–15:14
• Inventive Mothering and Parental Coping Strategies: 15:28–19:10
• Gender, Race, and Social Implications: 20:10–23:44
• How Diaper Banks Operate: 24:03–27:28
• Politics and Movement Aspects of Diaper Banks: 27:28–31:00
• Limits of Current Solutions and Policy Futures: 31:00–36:11
• How Listeners Can Help / Book’s Appendix: 36:11–38:31
• Randles’ Personal Commitment and Next Steps: 38:47–40:27

Useful for Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This in-depth discussion will equip listeners (and non-listeners) with an understanding of why diaper insecurity is a significant, yet overlooked, aspect of poverty and parenthood in the U.S. and globally. It breaks down the history and economics of diapering, differentiates between the personal and political facets of the issue, and offers a nuanced look at solutions both grassroots and systemic. The episode is empathetic and packed with actionable insights—raising awareness, providing ideas for individual and collective action, and giving visibility to a hidden crisis affecting millions of families.