Abstract
Jennifer Randles’ Living diaper to diaper: The hidden crisis of poverty and motherhood offers a compelling account of the centrality of diapering in the lives of families with young children. Despite disposable diapers being a relatively recent invention — emerging in the mid-twentieth century — Randles documents how they have become a near-universal requirement of modern American parenting. Motivated by the startling reality that roughly half of American families experience some level of diaper need, the book examines this crisis through a review of how modern diapering practices came to be, the social and ecological impact of these practices, the consequences of diaper need for children and families, and the individual and collective responses that have aimed to address this need in the United States.
Randles’ qualitative analysis draws on original interviews with California parents experiencing diaper need and “diaper bankers” — individuals and nonprofit organizations who distribute free diapers to families experiencing diaper need — painting a clear picture of a material hardship left largely unaddressed by a social safety net designed by those who have likely never lacked sufficient diapers. The book's findings illuminate both the chronic stress that diaper need engenders and the remarkable resourcefulness parents often demonstrate in the face of it. While community organizations and diaper banks have stepped in to fill this gap, Randles’ analysis of the contested, patchwork nature of diaper banking highlights ongoing debates over means-testing and other eligibility requirements. These program design choices are intended to direct limited supplies toward the most vulnerable families, but they carry their own complications and pose barriers to parents seeking support.
Throughout, Randles situates her findings within the racialized and gendered nature of poverty in the United States and a social safety net that largely neglects diaper need. She documents how diaper need is unequally distributed across American families, with individuals who identify as mothers — and particularly mothers of color — disproportionately bearing its burden. These same mothers are the ones who are often blamed for their circumstances and are at times reported to Child Protective Services when children appear soiled or exhibit health consequences associated with practices like stretching diaper resources. Randles continually focuses on the structural causes of diaper need and maps the broader political landscape by reviewing recent state and federal legislation that has been passed or, more often, proposed to address the crisis. The book also tackles the environmental catastrophe that disposable diapering has created, but successfully avoids blaming parents for this issue, and, instead, points to diaper companies’ greater responsibility for failing to develop affordable, eco-friendly alternatives.
A notable strength of the book lies in Randles’ deliberate departure from scholarly norms of neutrality. Rejecting it outright, “as this is an issue of morality, equity, and social inclusion, I make no claims to neutrality” (p. 27), she positions herself within the narrative, drawing on her own experiences as both a parent and a diaper banker. This positionality lends the book greater authenticity and allows Randles to move beyond academic description and toward prescription, proposing equity-focused policy and practice solutions grounded in parents’ own suggestions and diaper bankers’ on-the-ground observations.
The book's primary limitation is an occasional narrowness of scope. At times, the sustained focus on diapering as a discrete need risks lending itself to downstream policy solutions that address diaper need in isolation rather than considering it within the broader context of poverty's impacts. This myopia is somewhat at odds with Randles’ own acknowledgment that diaper need might be most effectively addressed through larger structural remedies, such as a renewed federal monthly refundable Child Tax Credit or other policies that would reduce childhood poverty on a larger scale.
Overall, Living diaper to diaper is a valuable resource for social workers who engage with young families in any capacity. Randles’ thorough analysis of the social and political landscape surrounding diaper need and her account of the emotional and physical toll of this basic need gap for families offer important context for practitioners working within and alongside systems that have largely failed to address it. Those in positions to directly support families’ access to essential resources will find particular value in Randles’ nuanced discussion of how to distribute diapering resources in ways that are equitable and that avoid stigmatizing parents and their children. By synthesizing parents’ and diaper bankers’ perspectives, Randles ultimately provides actionable insights into the practices and policies that social workers might champion to help solve the diaper need crisis in the United States.
