Governor Gavin Newsom announced that newborns in California will begin receiving free diapers as part of a new “first-in-the-nation” initiative to support families across the state with the rising cost of living.
Newsom, along with state leaders, met in San Francisco on Friday, May 8 to unveil California’s new partnership with Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit that provides diapers to babies in need, and to explain how this new program will provide families with 400 “high-quality” diapers before they leave the hospital.
Why is California taking action now?
Newsom said during the press conference that over the past six years, families have seen the average cost of diapers increase by 45% — “over thousands of dollars a year” — making it impossible for some to raise a family.
“Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life – and that means making sure parents have the basics they need from day one,” Newsom said. “One in four families skip meals to pay for diapers.”
Newsom said, “The biggest problem universally defined in our cities, our state and our country is the issue of affordability. This is what affordability looks like; it’s not a slogan, it’s a box. A box of diapers.”
How the Golden State Start Program Works
The new effort will be known as Golden State START. California will use its bulk purchasing power to acquire 40 million high-quality diapers to ease the financial stress of families and support infant health.
“The first days at home with a newborn should be focused on the love, connection and joy of an extended family, not on stress about buying diapers,” said Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “This program helps ensure that families can begin that journey with greater stability and peace of mind.”
The program is expected to launch at participating California hospitals early this summer. The list of participating hospitals was not released at the time of publication, but Newsom reported that the state was in talks with at least 60 hospitals across the state.
During the first year, CalRx and Baby2Baby will prioritize hospitals that serve large numbers of Medi-Cal patients to ensure early benefits for low-income families. The state plans to add additional hospitals and delivery centers over time.
Newsom said the program is expected to grow: In 2027, the state is set to buy 80 million diapers from manufacturers, with the goal of eventually purchasing up to 160 million.
“California families deserve to feel supported during one of life’s more exciting, yet vulnerable transitions,” first partner Jennifer Seibel Newsom said in a press release. “Golden State START will provide immediate relief, allowing parents to focus on what matters most – caring for their newborn. Together with Baby2Baby, we can ease the financial burden on California parents while supporting healthy outcomes for babies and their mothers.”