California launches free diaper program amid criticism

The Golden State planned to provide free diapers to all newborns throughout the state, according to a Friday statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. State officials partnered with the nonprofit Baby2Baby to provide an immediate supply of high-quality diapers for newborns. Newsom’s office characterized the program as the first of its kind in the nation, and said it would deepen California’s broader agenda to invest in families and children.

The program aimed to leverage the state’s bulk purchasing and distribution power to compel major diaper brands to lower diaper prices, according to Newsom’s office. California is taking on the cost of raising a family by making sure new parents can meet their newborn’s basic needs when they leave the hospital, Newsom said.

Is this a bottomless supply of diapers? The program, beginning this summer, would provide 400 diapers for every newborn delivered at a participating state hospital. That’s enough to provide three months’ worth of care, according to Newsom’s office. The program’s first year would focus on providing diapers to low-income families and prioritizing hospitals with the highest number of California Medicaid patients. Officials planned to scale up the program with time and expand to hospitals and birthing centers across the state, Newsom’s office said.

What do critics of the program have to say? Critics such as Matthew Fleming of the Pacific Research Institute argue that private groups already giving out diapers are doing it much more efficiently at lower costs. The current plan, which involves the state distributing diapers to families through partner groups, helps low-income families for years, according to Fleming. He says Newsom’s plan would end the help after only 90 days, although he questioned whether 400 diapers would last that long.

Dig deeper: Read Bekah Bernhardt’s report on the pros and cons of government child care subsidies.