California to Give Newborns Free Diapers. What It Means for Families

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that newborn babies in California will start 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 children in need, and to explain how this new program will provide families with 400 “high-quality” diapers before they leave the hospital.

Why California Is Acting Now

Over the last six years, families have seen the average cost of diapers increase by 45% — “thousands plus dollars a year” — which has made raising a family unattainable for some, Newsom said during the press conference.

“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 out of four families skip meals in order to pay for diapers.”

“The biggest problem defined universally, in our cities, our state and our nation, is the issue of affordability. This is what affordability looks like; it’s not a slogan, it’s a box. A box of diapers,” Newsom added.

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 obtain 40 million high-quality diapers to ease financial strain for families and support infant health.

“The first days at home with a newborn should be focused on the love, connection, and joy of an expanded family, not stress about affording diapers,” said Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “This program helps ensure families can begin that journey with greater stability and peace of mind.”

The program is expected to launch at the beginning of this summer at participating California hospitals. The list of participating hospitals had not been released at the time of publication, but Newsom noted 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 low-income families benefit early. The state plans to scale to additional hospitals and birthing centers over time.

Newsom noted that the program is expected to grow: In 2027, the state is set to purchase 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,” Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the first partner, said in a press release. “Golden State Start will deliver 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 healthier outcomes for babies and their mothers.”