Children whose parents cannot afford diapers do not get quality sleep, according to a study by the Rutgers School of Nursing.

The study, published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, is the first to examine the relationship between diaper need and sleep.

“Sleep promotes brain development and solidifies learning and memory,” said co-author Sallie Porter (DNP, PhD, APN, PED-BC, CPNP), an associate professor at Rutgers School of Nursing. “Children with compromised sleep are more at risk for childhood obesity and emotional and behavioral problems.”

The researchers surveyed 129 parents of children age 3 and younger who were involved in early development, home visiting and disability support programs on the severity of their diaper need and their child’s sleep habits. The habits include the time it takes for them to fall asleep, how often they wake at night, the longest stretch they sleep and the total number of minutes they sleep. Parents were asked to report difficulties with bedtime routines, sleep problems and sleep locations and their perceptions of their child’s quality of sleep. They were also asked if their child had been diagnosed with a developmental disability.

They found that 88 percent of the participating families were food insecure and 76 percent were without diapers at least once a year, with more than one-third reporting not having diapers monthly. One-third of the children had a diagnosed developmental disability and 47 percent of the parents had concerns about their child’s development.

Additional News Coverage:

• Not having diapers may negatively affect infant’s sleep, Consumer Affairs, 5-10-22
• Kids’ Sleep Suffers When Parents Can’t Afford Diapers: U.S. News & World Report (syndicated widely), 5-9-2022
• Kids’ Sleep Suffers When Parents Can’t Afford Diapers: Consumer Health News, 5-9-2022
• Children who don’t wear diapers sleep poorly, finds study: DeviDiscourse, 5-8-2022
• Children who don’t wear diapers sleep poorly: Study: The Print, 5-6-2022
• Rutgers study links diapers to behavioral problems in kids: CBS NY, 5-5-2022
• Children Without Diapers Sleep Poorly: Patch, 5-4-2022
• When families can’t afford diapers, children sleep worse: Futurity Research News, 5-4-2022
• Children without diapers sleep poorly, says study: Medical Xpress, 5-3-2022
• Inadequate Diaper Supply Linked To Disrupted, Shorter Sleep In Children: International Business Times, 5-3-2022