I can't afford diapers (nappies) or childcare. What help is there?

Two pages in this library cover the two bills that arrive first with a small child. Ask for free diapers or nappies instead of leaving each one on longer is about diapers (nappies in the UK) when the last few are left. Before you quit work over childcare costs, look up the help that exists is about the childcare bill when it seems bigger than the reason to work. Both are for the United States and the United Kingdom, and both end by sending you to the office or group that decides your case; neither can tell you what you would get. The diaper page carries safety lines about your baby’s skin and fever, so it comes first.

If you are running out of diapers (nappies in the UK), ask a diaper bank or a local baby bank for free ones today, and change your baby’s wet or dirty diaper as soon as you can, even while supply is short. Running out is a money problem; it says nothing about how well you look after your baby.

Do not leave a baby in a wet or dirty diaper (nappy in the UK) to make a pack last. The NHS says a baby’s nappy needs changing as soon as it is wet or dirty, or the skin becomes sore and red, and that young babies may need changing as many as 10 or 12 times a day and older babies around 6 to 8 times. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to change diapers frequently, because wet or soiled diapers left on too long chafe the skin. If a rash appears, the NHS says to keep the skin clean and dry, leave the nappy off when you can, and ask a pharmacist about a cream. It says to see a GP or health visitor if the rash does not go away, gets worse or spreads, or if the baby has a high temperature or seems very uncomfortable. Its page on fever in children goes further: call NHS 111 if a baby has a rash and a high temperature, if a baby under 3 months has a temperature of 38°C or more, or if nappies are not very wet, and call 999 if a rash does not fade when you press a glass against it. That page lists more reasons to call 999. The Academy says to call the pediatrician if the rash is not going away or is getting worse after two to three days of treatment, if it has pimples, peeling skin, blisters, pus, oozing or crusty sores, if a bright pink or red rash with red spots at the edges starts while the baby is taking an antibiotic, if it is especially painful, or if the baby has a fever as well. It says to call your child’s doctor right away if a baby younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. If you cannot reach a doctor, in the UK call NHS 111; in the US go to urgent care or an emergency room. In an emergency, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. Never use a plastic bag as a diaper cover: the NHS nappy rash page says not to use plastic underwear or nappy covers over nappies, and the NHS says to keep plastic bags, including nappy bags, out of reach and sight of young children and away from cots, so they cannot put one over their nose and mouth.

Where free diapers come from in the US: the National Diaper Bank Network’s help page says to call 2-1-1 on your phone or search 211.org, and to ask about “diapers or basic needs”. It says to check the listings under “children” too, and that if you still cannot find a source, local faith-based groups and food pantries are the next thing to try. It has an online directory of its member diaper banks. A local group sets its own hours and rules, so call before you go. Some people say churches, food banks, libraries, college pantries, student affairs offices and mosques may have diapers to give out, and one person says some churches set up swaps, so families can pass on packs of a size their child has grown out of. WIC and SNAP do not pay for diapers: the US Department of Agriculture says WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to other services, and that households cannot use SNAP benefits for nonfood items such as paper products, other household supplies and hygiene items. WIC staff give referrals as part of what WIC says it does, so ask your local office where diapers can be found, and one person points out that food help and help with utility bills free up cash you can put toward diapers.

In the UK, Citizens Advice says baby banks “offer free essentials like nappies, toys, shoes and clothes”, and that some food banks also give out nappies, baby wipes and baby food. It says to search online for your nearest baby bank or food bank, or to speak to your midwife or health visitor. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority asks families to have a health visitor or midwife complete a referral for the baby bank in their area; other places may work differently, so ask yours. Healthy Start is the NHS scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that puts money on a card for plain liquid cow’s milk, fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, pulses, and infant formula milk based on cow’s milk, and lets you collect vitamins; it does not pay for nappies, but it can free up money that does. In Scotland the matching help is called Best Start Foods. GOV.UK says a one-off Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 may be paid if you are expecting your first child, or a multiple birth such as twins when you already have children, and you or your partner get certain benefits; you can claim from 11 weeks before the week your baby is due until 6 months after the baby is born, and you do not have to pay it back; in Scotland you cannot get that grant and can apply for a Pregnancy and Baby Payment instead.

Cloth is a question people split on. The NHS says washable cloth nappies work out cheaper if you add up the costs over the years your baby is in nappies, and many people say the same. Some people push back that laundry costs eat into the saving, and say it depends on having your own washer and dryer. The NHS says cloth nappies can be machine washed at 60°C, that nappies soiled with poo should be washed apart from your other washing, and that fabric conditioner makes them less absorbent, which can cause nappy rash. If you have no washer you can use at home, or cannot be sure a shared machine washes hot, cloth is probably not for you, and disposables from a diaper bank or baby bank are the safer start. Some people describe folded old cotton T-shirts, flannel or receiving blankets as a stopgap; the page holds no instructions for folding or fastening one safely, so ask a health visitor, a nurse or your diaper bank, and the NHS’s rules still apply: change it as soon as it is wet or dirty, and do not put plastic underwear or nappy covers over it.

Before you quit work or turn down childcare because of the cost, look up the official help where you live, because several kinds of help depend on you working. Some people say that if one parent quits, the family can lose more in pay than it saves on childcare, once tax and travel are counted. Some people say help with childcare can stop at an income line, or can need a minimum number of work hours. Some people point out that families who assume they are over the limit may find help if they check their own state’s programs. The page’s step is to write down your child’s age, whether you (and your partner) work, and about how much you earn in a year; in the US, call 211 or Child Care Aware (1-800-424-2246) and ask what help your state has for a family like yours, and whether there is a waiting list; in the UK, use the childcare calculator at gov.uk/childcare-calculator. Give true figures to every office you ask, and do not leave out income, pay or people in your household to qualify: giving a benefits office false or incomplete information can be fraud, so ask the office what counts.

In the United States, the government’s childcare.gov site lists the main kinds of help, and eligibility is decided state by state. The childcare subsidy through your state, also called a voucher or certificate, is for a child younger than 13 when you apply (a state may raise this to under 19 for a child who cannot care for themselves or is under court supervision), who lives with a parent who is working, in job training or in school (or the child receives or needs protective services), in a family whose income is no more than 85 percent of the state’s median income for a family that size, with assets of no more than $1,000,000; a state can set stricter rules. If you already get it, the federal rule (45 CFR 98.21) says a state must keep a child eligible for at least 12 months between checks, even if family income rises, as long as it stays at or below 85 percent of state median income. If a parent’s work, training or school stops for more than a temporary break, a state may end the help, but must first continue it, at least at the same level, for at least three months so the parent can look for work, or go back to training or school. Head Start and Early Head Start give low-income families free learning and development services for children from birth to 5; a family qualifies if household income is at or below the poverty level, and families who get public assistance (TANF, SSI or SNAP), and those with children in foster care or children who are homeless, also qualify regardless of income. Apply through your local program; its page gives a toll-free number, 1-866-763-6481, Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 6 pm Eastern. Ask how many hours a day it runs, because a program may not cover a full work day. childcare.gov also lists state prekindergarten for children between 3 and 5 at low or no cost in some states; local fee assistance, scholarships and sibling discounts; a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, which an employer may offer and which takes the money you put in before payroll taxes (the IRS says the 2026 limit is $7,500, or $3,750 if married filing separately; ask your human resources office whether your employer has one); and, at tax time, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, which the IRS says you may be able to claim if you paid for care so that you (and your spouse, if you file jointly) could work or actively look for work; it is a percentage of up to $3,000 of expenses for one qualifying person, or $6,000 for two or more, the percentage depends on your income, the maximum rate rises from 35 to 50 percent beginning with tax year 2026, and the credit is limited to your tax. childcare.gov says IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance gives free tax help to eligible low-income taxpayers.

In the United Kingdom, GOV.UK sets out the help below, with figures as its pages showed in October 2026. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own schemes for free hours. In England, all 3 to 4-year-olds can get 570 free hours a year, usually 15 hours a week for 38 weeks, and GOV.UK gives no work condition for these hours; a 2-year-old can get 15 hours a week if you or your child get certain benefits or support. Free Childcare for Working Parents is 30 hours a week, for 38 weeks of the year, for a child aged 9 months to 4 years, if you (and your partner) are in work or about to start a job and expect to earn at least £2,643.68 over the 3 months after you apply if you are 21 or over (lower amounts apply to under-21s and apprentices); you cannot get it if you or your partner’s expected adjusted net income is over £100,000. Tax-Free Childcare tops up what you pay into an online childcare account by £2 for every £8, up to £500 every 3 months for each child (£2,000 a year), or £1,000 every 3 months if your child is disabled; you usually need to be working, the child must be 11 or younger (16 or younger if disabled), and your provider must be signed up; you cannot get it at the same time as Universal Credit or childcare vouchers, or over the £100,000 limit, and you must sign in every 3 months to confirm you are still eligible, or it stops. In England, Scotland and Wales, if you are in paid work or starting a job in the next month (there is no minimum number of hours), and, if you have a partner, they are also working unless they cannot look after the children, Universal Credit can pay back up to 85 percent of childcare costs, up to £1,071.09 a month for one child or £1,836.16 a month for two or more; you pay first and report the costs in the assessment period you paid them or the one after, because you might not get the money back if you report later. Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020, Scotland 0800 028 1456) and, in Northern Ireland, Advice NI (0800 915 4604) give advice on benefits and other money problems.

Some people say staying home is the only choice that pays once childcare, tax and travel are counted. One person argues that a parent who keeps working keeps building a career, retirement savings and Social Security credits. The page does not settle it. It adds one thing to weigh: several kinds of help are paid only while you work. If there is a waiting list, ask to be put on it anyway; Head Start says, “If there is not a space for your child, you can ask to be added to the waiting list.” If you have been turned down, ask the office for the reason in writing and how to appeal; in the US, LawHelp.org points to legal help in each state. If your immigration status is unsettled, the rules differ by scheme and the page says to talk to an immigration legal service before you apply for any of the US help; Immigration Law Help lists nonprofit groups by state. In the UK, GOV.UK says the person applying for Tax-Free Childcare or the 30 free hours needs a National Insurance number and at least one of: British or Irish citizenship, settled or pre-settled status, or permission to access public funds, and a partner also needs a National Insurance number; Citizens Advice gives advice on benefits.

If you are worried that a child is being harmed in someone’s care, call 911 (999 in the UK) if there is danger now. Childhelp (1-800-422-4453) in the US and the NSPCC Helpline (0808 800 5000; it says it is open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) in the UK take calls from adults who are worried about a child. Outside those hours in the UK, contact children’s services where the child lives or the police on 101. One person warns that informal childcare swaps between families may break local licensing rules and may have no insurance if a child is hurt; the page did not check those rules, so ask your state’s childcare licensing office in the US, or your local council in the UK, before you swap care.

Who this is not for. If your baby already has a rash that is not going away, a fever, or sores, a doctor comes before any of this. If you have no food in the house, start with a food pantry (US: Feeding America’s directory, or 211) or a food bank (UK: Trussell’s directory, or your health visitor). If a new baby has left you too tired or low to cope, that is a health matter, not a failing, and a diaper plan does not treat it. In the US, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is 1-833-852-6262, by call or text, at any hour. In the UK, tell your GP or health visitor. If you are thinking of ending your life or hurting yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, at any hour. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. The childcare page is not about whether to have a child, and if your child is older than the ages above the rules differ; for example, GOV.UK says Tax-Free Childcare stops at the September after the child turns 11 (16 if disabled). Outside the US and the UK, your own country’s rules apply.