Diapers
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Nursery & Baby Products · CPSC Code 1512
Up 15% over 5 years
The verdict
Diapers carry a danger score of 38/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 2,987 ER-treated injuries a year that are rising by about 15% over the last five years.
- 38/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 2,987
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 7.3%
- end in hospital admission
- 0-4
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 1512 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 38/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for diapers - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume2,987 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)7.3%
- Fatality rate0.01%
- 5-year trend+15%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Diapers (CPSC product code 1512, in the Nursery & Baby Products category) generate an estimated 2,987 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 59,736 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 38/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are rising by about 15% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2024 (4,425 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2008 (1,819 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for diapers is internal injury to the head, accounting for approximately 10,405 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by other to the lower trunk (3,972 cases). The 0-4 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 38,904 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 7.3% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.01%) result in fatality.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 372 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how diapers fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 20,572 | 18,332 | |
| 5-14 | 903 | 410 | |
| 15-24 | 475 | 1,892 | |
| 25-34 | 1,702 | 3,972 | |
| 35-44 | 963 | 1,753 | |
| 45-54 | 462 | 913 | |
| 55-64 | 368 | 1,256 | |
| 65-74 | 232 | 1,033 | |
| 75+ | 1,000 | 3,491 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Elbow | Dislocation | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| All Parts Body | Poisoning | |
| Pubic Region | Other | |
| Pubic Region | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Lower Trunk | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Internal | Ingestion | |
| Face | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Upper Leg | Fracture | |
| Head | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Not Stated/unk | Other |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
8 WOM HAD CIRCUMCISION LAST WED PRESENTING W/CONCERN FOR PENILE LESION.PT HAD *** CIRCUMCISION PERFORMED,THIS FELL OFF 3-4 DAYS AGO,APPEARED NORMAL AT THAT TIME.THIS MORNING NOTED LESION ON THE TOP OF HIS PENIS.MAY HAVE BEEN FROM PRESSURE NEXT TO THE *** OR MAY BE FROM IRRITATION OF THE DIAPER. DX: LESION OF PENIS
25YOM PRESENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN AFTER REPEATEDLY BENDING OVER CHANGING A DIAPER DX: LUMBOSACRAL STRAIN
70YOF WAS CHANGING HER GRANDDAUGHTERS DIAPER WHEN SHE HAD A SLIP AND FALL LANDING ONTO HER BUTTOCKS DX:COMPRESSION LOWER BACK
2YOM PRESENTS AFTER HIS MOTHER WAS CHANGING HIS DIAPER AND HAD A HOLD OF HIS ARM WHEN HE FELL BACKWARDS, PULLING ON THE ARM INJURING HIS LEFT ELBOW. DX: NURSEMAID'S ELBOW OF LEFT UPPER EXTREMITY
3YOM C/O DRIED BLOOD TIP OF PENIS, SORE THROAT, ECZEMA TO BUTTOCKS, WEARS *** DX: STREPOCOCCAL TONSILITIS, ABRASION TO PENIS, ECZEMA
15MOF WAS HOLDING ONTO A WINDOW BLIND WHILE GETTING HER DIAPER CHANGED, WAS PICKED UP WHILE STILL HOLDING ONTO BLIND AND IT CUT HER FINGER, DX LAC TO FINGER
20 DOF WAS HAVING HER DIAPER CHANGED ON THE FLOOR BY PARENTS WHEN 1 1/2-YEAR-OLD BROTHER TRIPPED AND STEPPED ON HER HEAD. DX: TRAUMATIC INJURY OF HEAD
19MOF DAD WAS CHANGING HER DIAPER WHEN SHE TRIED TO ROLL OVER AND LEFT ELBOW POPPED OUT OF PLACE DX: NURSE MAIDS ELBOW
7MOF WAS HAVING A DIAPER CHANGED WHEN SHE STARTED CRYING NOW WILL NOT BEAR ANYWEIGHT ON LEFT LEG DX: LEFT FEMUR FRACTURE
3MOF WAS GETTING HIS DIAPER CHANGED ON HIS MOMS BED WHEN HE ROLLED OFF STRIKING HEAD ON THE FLOOR DX: CLOSED HEAD INJURY
5YOM PRESENTS WITH PENILE REDNESS AND DISCOMFORT FROM THE DIAPER TAPE. DX: POSTHITIS
23YOF WAS BENDING DOWN CHANGING HER BABY'S DIAPER AND DEVELOPED PAIN DOWN LOWER BACK DX: SCIATICA
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
I wanted to bring a serious concern to your attention. My baby recently used Little Movers Plus diapers purchased at Costco, and after just a few uses, he developed a severe rash that looks like a chemical burn. He has never had diaper rash before, and this reaction was immediate. The box is opened, and I can provide the lot number and photos if needed. Im very concerned about the safety of this product and wanted to report this issue directly to you. Please advise on next steps. Thank you for your prompt attention.
Formal Complaint to Huggies / Kimberly-Clark Product Concern: Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, Size 5 To: Huggies Kimberly-Clark Corporation P.O. Box 2020 Neenah, WI 54957-2020 Phone: 1-877-648-2484 Email Contact: https://www.huggies.com/en-us/contact-us Corporate Contact: https://www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us/contact-us Subject: Urgent Safety Concern Regarding Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers and Severe Red Burn Reaction Dear Kimberly-Clark Team, I am writing to report a recurring and deeply concerning issue involving your Huggies Snug & Dry Size 5 diapers. Our 15-month-old baby has experienced repeated severe diaper burns this week after we just opened a new box of diapers. At first we were assuming this was just a rash. But upon closer inspection, we took note that this is obviously no rash. The reactions occurred despite our careful hygiene practices including frequent diaper changes, avoiding wipes, and using warm baths to soothe the skin. After researching online, we discovered multiple reports from other parents describing similar reactions allegedly linked to Huggies diapers: 1. Report of chemical burn-like rash from Huggies Little Movers [REDACTED] 2. Parent complaint about rash and raw skin after switching to new Huggies batch [REDACTED] 3. Class action alleging chemical burns from Huggies diapers [REDACTED] To mitigate the burn, we applied [REDACTED] Butt Paste and inserted a double-layered paper towel between the diaper and our babys skin before putting our baby in the crib for the night. When the baby woke up he did not urinate during the night as his diaper was dry. But amazingly, the burn was 100% completely gone. This method led to rapid healing overnight. Needless to say, I did not know there is a helpful visual guide that demonstrates this remedy when addressing rashes in general. [REDACTED] But to reiterate my complaint, we were not dealing with the rash we were dealing with a reddish chemical burn ap
My infant daughter began showing redness on her skin the morning after her first use of Mille Moon diapers. Within a couple of days, the redness progressed into what appeared to be a blister/chemical burn. I do not recall the exact day the blister first appeared, but I do have dated photos documenting the progression. Her pediatrician confirmed this was not a simple diaper rash and recommended specific treatment at home. The injury caused her pain and distress, and I have since stopped using the product. Update 9/25/2025: We ended up having to take our daughter in to the doctor to be prescribed two ointments to treat her wounds caused by the diapers. UPDATED ON 11/17/2025: [Millie Moon responded to my report and said they reviewed their production and inspection records for this batch but found no irregularities. They also stated that no further testing could be done because they had a limited number of retained samples. My childs pediatrician confirmed that her skin reaction was caused by these diapers. Ive decided to keep the remaining diapers and all documentation as evidence. I declined the companys $100 [REDACTED] offer and storybook because I dont consider this issue resolved. I want this added to my report in case other parents experience similar reactions.]
The caller stated that after using the diapers for about 2 months it caused blisters on her 4 month old child. She was not sure what was causing it at first until she changed it a few days ago , she noticed that the rash started to clear up. She visited her physician and she was advised to used a diaper rash ointment. The manufacturer was not contacted as yet. The caller is concerned that this diaper is unsafe and should be recalled.
Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Contaminated Parents Choice Diapers To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding Parents Choice diapers, which I recently purchased. Upon opening the package, I discovered worms/foreign contamination inside the diapers, which poses a serious health and safety risk to infants. This product is intended for babies, and the presence of contamination is completely unacceptable. It raises significant concerns about quality control, manufacturing standards, and consumer safety. My primary concern is the potential danger to my childs health, as well as to other families who may unknowingly be using the same product. Details of the issue: Product: Parents Choice Diapers Date of Purchase: [insert date] Place of Purchase: [insert store/online platform] Lot/Batch Number (if available): [insert number] Description of Issue: Found worms/contamination inside sealed diapers I request that this complaint be taken seriously and investigated immediately. I would also like confirmation of what corrective actions will be taken to ensure such contamination does not happen again. Additionally, I am seeking information on how to return the contaminated product safely, receive a refund, and ensure accountability from the manufacturer. Please advise me on the next steps in this process. [REDACTED] Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter. Sincerely, [Your
We recently switched to Pamper's Cruisers and our baby daughter started to develop small hives around the edge of the diaper. We were not certain what was causing this until 2 days ago when she woke up in the morning whimpering in discomfort and we saw the bright red rash only on the front of her diaper area. She was so red, she had welts in the creases of her thighs where the edge of the diaper was touching. As soon as I removed the diaper the rash immediately spread upwards over her belly button where it stayed red for almost the full day. We contacted an advice nurse since this happened over Labor Day, and she confirmed it was a chemical burn/reaction to the diapers. The rash was over her hips and around her thighs anywhere the edge of the diaper touched- except for the back. Whatever ingredient/chemical this company is using in its cruiser line of diapers is hurting infants.
My son came home from pre-school with blue streaks on his inner thighs and a diaper rash. I was able to use a little rubbing alcohol to remove the streaks. After his bath his legs were streak free. When I went to change his diaper before bed, I noticed the blue streaks were back. I realized that the diapers lined up with the streaks. I called Huggies the next morning and they confirmed that they had a problem with that Lot number.
My husband and I had taken our son swimming. We forgot to take his diaper off, so we took it off and threw it to shore. When we went to leave, my husband picked up the diaper, and when he squished it together, out popped a razor from the inside lining of the diaper. By the grace of God, it didn't come through while my son was wearing it.
Showing 8 of 372 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to diapers on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are diapers?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, diapers have a danger score of 38/100 (low risk). An estimated 2,987 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from diapers?
The most common injury is internal injury to the head, accounting for approximately 10,405 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from diapers increasing or decreasing?
Up 15% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for diapers injuries?
The 0-4 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 38,904 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by diapers?
Of all ER visits involving diapers, approximately 7.3% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (92.7%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with diapers?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Nursery & Baby Products
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 38/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 0-4 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.