Diaper Shortage Drives Prices Up

Maybe cloth wasn't such a bad idea after all.  The latest shortage on the worldwide stage connected to the COVID-19 Pandemic:  diapers.  And it's apparently a problem for a lot of families with young children.

According to the National Diaper Bank Network, "one in three families is experiencing a diaper shortage" right now, and the outlook for a solution doesn't appear good. The cause of the issue is one that's familiar to everyone the last year or so:  Global supply-chain issues.

Most diaper manufacturing companies are experiencing the same labor shortage issues that are plaguing almost every business these days.  Additionally, there are mounting issues with the materials needed to make the diapers - namely paper.  Add in delivery problems, and it's easy to see why many customers are having a tough time finding their favorite diaper brands on store shelves - if they can find any diapers at all.

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The shortage issues are also driving up costs.  Most diaper manufacturers have raised their prices considerably in the last few months"

"During the spring, Kimberly-Clark announced price hikes for its products like Huggies diapers and Scott toilet paper. Proctor & Gamble also announced in April its prices would increase in September in three categories....baby care, feminine, and adult incontinence - due to the rising raw material costs needed to produce the products."

Those rising costs are a definite issue for parents of infants and young toddlers who are still in diapers.  "[I]t's estimated that infants require up to 12 diapers per day, costing between $70 and $80 a month per baby".