Why are diapers so expensive? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#451

Post by esaym » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:26 PM UTC

I always take it personally when people complain about diaper costs. The fact is 30 years ago, most kids were out of diapers by the age of 2 [0] and nothing is stopping you from using reusable products just like people had to do 30 years ago. The shear unpleasantness of non-disposable diapers is what pushed people to start training their kids at age one. But now the "convenience" of throw away diapers leads modern parents to leave their kids in them until they are over the ago of 4 (disgusting), and complaining about the price the whole way. And here in Texas, anyone that doesn't make over $40k a year automatically qualifies them for the "WIC" program which means they get their diapers free for how ever long they want.

And yes I am a parent, and was somewhat lazy as my kids were not out of diapers until right at the age of 3 but all of our friends still didn't even try until their kids were 4. Heck I can remember being 4 years old and running around my grandparents farm and popping a squat right out in the open field and burying it just like the barn cats around there. I almost find it child abuse to allow your kid to be so unconscious about their bodies that they have no problem crapping on themselves when in other cultures 4 year olds are cutting up fruit with machetes (personally seen in a small village, Africa).

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_training#History_in_the... [1] http://dshs.texas.gov/wichd/

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#452

Post by triangleman » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:29 PM UTC

mythas wrote: post #37

I have an 8 month old and just the other day was thinking how are they able to make these things so cheaply? Seriously for 80 cents a day I can avoid the nightmare of cloth diapers (sorry planet). All the estimates in the post are soooo far off the mark. They are done with the cost of premium diapers for 4 year olds at the rate of use of a sub 2 month old. I’d say 350 bucks Canadian a year if I extrapolate out our co…

The planet will be fine. Maybe better off, in fact--do you have any idea how much water it takes to wash these things?

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#453

Post by astura » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:30 PM UTC

eesmith wrote: post #239

mixmastamyk wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you rinse it out and the majority of the gross stuff is down the drain. How do you rinse it? What drain? > Get some quality covers and then buy a ton of flour sack towels. They make the best inserts. Super absorbent, cheap, and unfolds to a single layer, which means they get cleaner and dry faster. Don't understand this whole paragraph.

Many people have a laundry room (or area) with washer, dryer, and utility sink. For example, see http://www.mlexecutiverealty.com/_account/images/listing/122... . Taking care of a baby requires specific education. You should not expect to know everything about the topic if you have not researched it. It is rude to express your confusion this way. As written it implies that the author did not express things well, when…

I've seen people hook up a hose to their toilet and just spray the diaper "into" the toilet, I guess it could also double as a bidet too if you wanted.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#454

Post by Aloha » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:31 PM UTC

kmm wrote: post #318

gjm11 wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the same way, although cooking doesn't always make food safe to eat, there is a form of cooking that's simple and 100% effective: not eating. And although the various safety measures rock climbers use sometimes fail, there is a method of rock-climbing safety that's 100% effective: not going rock-climbing in the first place. And I have a perfectly safe car: that is, I never leave my house. I take it you can see how…

You need to eat. You need to leave the house. You need to use some form of motorized transport to partake in society. You don't need to have sex. Abstinence is a form of birth control as much as being bald is a hairstyle.

Speak for yourself.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#455

Post by jakobegger » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:33 PM UTC

esaym wrote: post #451

I always take it personally when people complain about diaper costs. The fact is 30 years ago, most kids were out of diapers by the age of 2 [0] and nothing is stopping you from using reusable products just like people had to do 30 years ago. The shear unpleasantness of non-disposable diapers is what pushed people to start training their kids at age one. But now the "convenience" of throw away diapers leads modern pa…

The article followed a mother of a newborn who was struggling to make ends meet, not a four year old.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#456

Post by sampleinajar » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:33 PM UTC

scandox wrote: post #212

Ireland 5 nappies a day x 365 days = 1825 nappies / 30 per pack = 61 packs x euro 2.99 [1] = euro 182.39 per annum Which sounds about right to me. Where are they getting a $1000 from? [1] https://www.aldi.ie/extra-large-nappies-size-6/p/05962400586...

They do their math in the article. "In the United States, the average diaper sells for about 25 cents. The quarters add up quickly. Newborns need as many as 12 changes a day. That’s $21 per week, or $84 per month. Bigger kids need fewer, but their diapers are more expensive." It's a worst case calculation biased towards newborns, which they don't remain all year, obviously. For me, it averaged more like $800 - $400 a year. Also, 2.99 a pack is insane for me as an American. That would go for about $8-$10 USD, depending on size.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#457

Post by alistairSH » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:33 PM UTC

xienze wrote: post #356

akira2501 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I think about UBI I worry about responsible spending and wonder if just subsidizing common items food, clothing (diapers) and household goods wouldn't be a smarter solution overall. In relation to the case in the article, I wonder if we couldn't subsidize certain items and allow parents to receive a one month supply at low to no cost? Why should we give disadvantaged people $180 a month just to let several middl…

> When I think about UBI I worry about responsible spending and wonder if just subsidizing common items food, clothing (diapers) and household goods wouldn't be a smarter solution overall. Irresponsible spending is precisely what will happen with UBI. When you cut a check not earmarked for a specific purpose (food, rent, clothing, etc.) you will inevitably end up with people mismanaging their money and coming back fo…

There is abuse of earmarked assistance. UBI isn't unique in that regard.

Trading food stamps (or food purchased with them) for drugs. Etc. The drug addict is going to get drugs one way or another; we may as well reduce the friction (and use the savings to pay for rehab).

Regardless, most of the poor are just trying to get by and not prone to abusing whatever assistance is available.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#458

Post by pnathan » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:36 PM UTC

They are expensive because they haven't hit the price points which induce demand pressure downward.

That said, the thread holding this narrative together is the terrible welfare system in the United States.

I see absolutely zero reason why the 0-3 y/o in poverty shouldn't qualify for free diapers from the local welfare offices, no questions asked.

n.b., cloth diapers are a fair bit of work, and a substantial investment early on.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#459

Post by astura » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:37 PM UTC

corvallis wrote: post #5

shiftpgdn wrote: post #2

My wife and I cloth diapered both of our children. In addition to being radically cheaper it also resolved rashes/eczema in both kids as well as accelerated potty training. There is an 'ick' factor but liners and a toilet sprayer take care of 99% of that.

A lot of people don't live in places with an in-home washer/dryer. They have to go elsewhere in the building for pay laundry or to the laundromat. This makes it logistically and financially nearly impossible to use cloth diapers. Not to mention the substantial up front cost for cloth diapers, which makes them inaccessible for people living paycheck to paycheck. This is an example of how having money allows you to sav…

Well, I mean, I personally know people who are living paycheck to paycheck who cloth diaper, it's not basically impossible like you suggest. It's really, really not.

Re: Why are diapers so expensive?

#460

Post by mantas » Thu, Apr 05, 2018, 4:37 PM UTC

war1025 wrote: post #437

GordonS wrote: post #303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not $30/ day , it's $30 for 360 nappies that will last around 2 months. Even if you're making minimum wage, you can afford that if you've got your priorities right.

But when you are bringing in $50 / day, you have a lot less money to work with. That's the point I was trying to make. $30 is inconsequential to me, but 4 hours of pay is .

And that $30 is for 2 months of diapers. Roughly $0.50/day. It's not like those people are getting paid daily. And I'm pretty sure they're good enough at math to realise that buying in bulk is cheaper. Unless they lack social skills or have addictions, which is totally different can of worms. And not exclusive to poor people.

Even if they're working illegally and getting paid daily, they probably get monthly welfare.