Diaper Grant Program

Baby in a cloth diaper

Champlain Township wants to help new parents! Cloth diapers are affordable, easy to use and environmentally friendly. In an effort to protect the environment, the Township of Champlain offers $200 per year in financial assistance to purchase at least 10 cloth diapers to families living in Champlain. 

On this Page

  1. Benefits of Cloth Diapers
  2. How Do Cloth Diapers Work?
  3. Eligibility Requirements
  4. Allowance and Eligible Items
  5. Apply for a Grant

Benefits

Eco-friendly
  • One cloth diaper replaces 230 disposable diapers, and one cloth diaper can be used up to 200 times.
  • In addition, the production of disposable diapers requires 39% more water than the production and maintenance of cloth diapers.
  • By the time a child is potty trained, he or she will have used 5,000 to 7,000 diapers, which is the equivalent of about one ton of waste. 
  • Disposable diapers take between 200 and 500 years to completely decompose. Cloth diapers take 6 months to decompose.
Health
  • Rashes as less common since cotton diapers are made of natural fibers.
  • Cloth diapers do not contain any absorbent gel, the main cause of dry skin. Cloth diapers therefore require less moisturizers.
  • Cloth diapers are free of toxic substances, made of natural fibers like cotton, bamboo or hemp.
Budget-friendly
  • Disposable diapers cost between $1,500 and $2,500 per baby, while a complete set of cloth diapers costs between $450 and $650 and can be used by several children.
  • Champlain Township offers a grant to families who make a green choice of diapers.
Comfort
  • Cloth diapers allow for greater air circulation and are less hot.
  • Cotton diapers are easy to clean and use, and are waterproof.

How Do Cloth Diapers Work?

Cloth diapers are made up of two components: an absorbent and a waterproof part. The absorbent part is designed to collect the feces. It is generally made of a fabric with a high absorption capacity such as bamboo or hemp. The waterproof part prevents leakage because of the impermeability of the fabric. It covers the absorbent part. 

A family needs about 20 cloth diaper sets and one set (absorbent and waterproof part) costs between $20 and $30.

To change a cloth diaper, the feces must first be flushed down the toilet. The sections can be rinsed in the sink. The absorbent part can be put in a wash net (maximum 72 hours). The waterproof part can be washed every 2 to 3 days if they are not stained. The diapers are washed with the rest of the family's laundry, which is kept in the wash bag.

Eligibility Requirements for the Grant

In order to qualify for the diaper program, the parent must:

  • Be a resident of Champlain Township;
  • Have a child under the age of 12;
  • Purchase a minimum of 10 cloth diaper items. (10 items);
  • Submit the application no later than 180 days after the date of purchase of the 10 diapers.

Provide the following supporting documents:

  • A copy of the child's proof of birth
  • Proof of residence
  • A copy of the original invoice for the cloth diaper bundle; or
  • A printed copy of the purchase details with confirmation number for online transactions.

It is important that the copies are legible. Otherwise, the documents will be rejected and you will not be eligible for the grant.

Allowance and Eligible Items

A $200.00 grant will be given per family, per year, per purchase of ten cloth diaper items,

Families can apply for a diaper grant each year until children are 12 years of age. A limit of ten grants will be given per year.

The Receipt Must:
  • Be in one of the two official languages (English or French);
  • Include the name and full contact information of the merchant and the date of purchase;
  • Include information that clearly identifies each eligible product and the quantity of each item purchased;
  • Invoices for online purchases must include the shipping address and payment confirmation. Purchase orders are not acceptable.
  • Invoices displaying the purchaser's name and contact information must be made out to the claimant's name and contact information.
Eligible Items
  • Cloth diapers
  • Swim diapers
  • Diaper covers
  • Inserts
  • Washable potty training underwear
  • Washable cloth wipes

Non-Eligible Items
  • Second hand purchases
  • Home-made cloth diapers
  • Purchase orders
  • Disposable or non-reusable products
  • Taxes

Apply for a Grant

To apply for a subsidy, you must complete the form below and attach the required documents.

Fill out the Diaper Grant Application Form

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