The Californer - California: Governor Newsom launches first-in-the-nation program providing free diapers for all new parents

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May 8, 2026

Governor Newsom launches first-in-the-nation program providing free diapers for all new parents

What you need to know: California is launching a first-in-the-nation program to provide 400 free diapers to every newborn, easing costs for families and supporting infant and maternal health as the state explores how CalRx can help bring down diaper costs. Para leer este comunicado en español, haga clic aquí.

SAN FRANCISCO – Ahead of Mother's Day, Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that the state is partnering with Baby2Baby, a leading national nonprofit organization headquartered in California, to launch a first-in-the-nation program to provide free diapers to all new babies born in California. Leveraging the bulk purchasing power of the state, this new effort known as Golden State Start will distribute high-quality, mass-produced diapers directly to families through participating hospitals statewide.

As part of a broader affordability strategy – including CalRx – the Newsom administration is also exploring opportunities to lower the cost of diapers by challenging high prices from major brands.

California is taking on the cost of raising a family head-on — delivering free school meals, making preschool free for every four-year-old, expanding after-school programs, and now making sure parents leave the hospital with the basics their newborn needs. 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.

Governor Gavin Newsom

California families deserve to feel supported during one of life's more exciting, yet vulnerable transitions. 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.

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Beginning this summer, every newborn delivered in a participating California hospital will receive 400 diapers at no cost to the family. Hospitals will provide diapers to families at the time of discharge, ensuring parents leave the hospital with an immediate supply of high-quality diapers tailored to newborn needs.

The goal of the program is to ease financial strain for families, reduce difficult trade-offs between diapers and other essentials, and support infant health by helping parents maintain an adequate supply of clean diapers.

"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 & Human Services Agency. "This program helps ensure families can begin that journey with greater stability and peace of mind."

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For the first year of the program, CalRx and Baby2Baby will prioritize hospitals that serve large numbers of Medi-Cal patients so that low-income families benefit early from the program, with plans to scale across additional hospitals and birthing centers over time.

The diapers distributed are manufactured for Baby2Baby and will be co-labeled with the state's program name, Golden State Start, to reflect California's commitment to bringing affordable diapers to Californians.

"Diapers are at the core of our mission at Baby2Baby as a shocking one in two families in this country struggles to afford them," said Baby2Baby Co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof. "We are incredibly grateful to Governor Newsom for his ongoing commitment to combating diaper needs in California and could not be prouder to partner on this historic initiative that will support moms and babies at their most vulnerable time."

Beginning this summer, every newborn delivered in a participating California hospital will receive 400 diapers at no cost to the family. Hospitals will provide diapers to families at the time of discharge, ensuring parents leave the hospital with an immediate supply of high-quality diapers tailored to newborn needs.

The goal of the program is to ease financial strain for families, reduce difficult trade-offs between diapers and other essentials, and support infant health by helping parents maintain an adequate supply of clean diapers.

"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 & Human Services Agency. "This program helps ensure families can begin that journey with greater stability and peace of mind."

For the first year of the program, CalRx and Baby2Baby will prioritize hospitals that serve large numbers of Medi-Cal patients so that low-income families benefit early from the program, with plans to scale across additional hospitals and birthing centers over time.

The diapers distributed are manufactured for Baby2Baby and will be co-labeled with the state's program name, Golden State Start, to reflect California's commitment to bringing affordable diapers to Californians.

"Diapers are at the core of our mission at Baby2Baby as a shocking one in two families in this country struggles to afford them," said Baby2Baby Co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof. "We are incredibly grateful to Governor Newsom for his ongoing commitment to combating diaper needs in California and could not be prouder to partner on this historic initiative that will support moms and babies at their most vulnerable time."

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