by Prices for baby items have risen significantly over the last year, with baby diapers up 20%.
The baby formula shortage that had parents struggling earlier this year has eased, but families are still struggling as inflation is taking a toll on other baby supplies.
Fox News stopped at a store to see how much it would cost to buy some basic baby items. A week’s worth of diapers, three packs of wipes, and a 12-ounce bottle of baby formula would cost about $60.
To help ease the financial burden on families, Baby’s Bounty in Las Vegas has provided nearly 2 million free diapers to families in Southern Nevada since 2008.
“Diapers right now are very, very expensive,” said Angie Melgar, a new mom who receives free diapers from Baby’s Bounty. “Everything right now for babies, anything in general is expensive. So this is just a big help.”
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Inflation is affecting all kinds of baby supplies, such as diapers, which have seen a cost increase of about 20% since last year, according to Nielsen IQ. (Fox News/Fox News)
The cost of diapers increased 20% in the last year, while baby food increased 11.8% and car seats 41%.
In addition to its diaper bank, which takes place twice a month at two of its locations, Baby’s Bounty delivers packages of baby items.
Packages include an infant car seat, blankets, a play mat, 25 clothing items and more.
“This is what someone might get at a baby shower,” said Kelly Maxwell, CEO. “We hear from our package customers that without these items, they would have nothing to care for their newborn.”
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Baby Center, a digital resource for parents, found that parents would spend at least $16,000 on basic items for a baby in the first year.
It is especially difficult for low-income families.
“We see monthly income in the $500 range quite often, so they can’t afford to buy all these items,” Maxwell said.
Inflation is also hitting nonprofits like Baby’s Bounty.
They buy around 75 car seats each month.
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“It’s one thing if you’re buying a car seat, right? But when you buy 75 and distribute them, that’s a huge number, too much of a strain on the smaller nonprofits that are doing most of the heavy lifting.” in our communities.” Maxwell said.
They also became a “de facto formula bank,” as Maxwell described the situation during the height of the baby formula shortage, helping 700 families.
“My employees were emotionally drained. We were all exhausted from frantic calls from our customers saying things like, I haven’t fed my baby in 12 hours because I can’t find any formula,” Maxwell said.
The team of four was “basically operating a match service for the formula,” he said.
The Baby’s Bounty mobile diaper bank will launch in November and will reach rural areas and those with limited transportation. (Fox News/Ashley Soriano/Fox News)
Baby’s Bounty, a member of the National Network of Diaper Banks, will launch its mobile diaper bank next month, with a van that will travel across southern Nevada three times a week to help people with limited or no transportation.
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The National Network of Diaper Banks has locations throughout the country.
