[Survey of 1,406 Municipalities Nationwide] Reconsideration of the Culture of Parents Bringing Diapers to Nurseries is Progressing! Municipalities Ending the Requirement Triple in Just 2 Years

BABY JOB Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; Representative Director: Koji Ueno), which provides child-rearing support services such as the "Tebura Toen" (empty-handed commuting) paper diaper and baby wipe subscription for childcare facilities, conducted the "3rd National Survey on Bringing Diapers" targeting childcare departments in 1,406 municipalities with public childcare facilities nationwide. The survey revealed that 359 municipalities (25.5%) no longer require parents to bring diapers, a rapid increase of about three times in just two years from 111 municipalities (7.8%) in the 2024 survey. Amidst the increase in dual-income households and the worsening shortage of childcare workers, the "culture of parents bringing diapers," which has been taken for granted, is rapidly being reconsidered even in public childcare settings. ■ In Kanagawa Prefecture, about 60% "do not require bringing diapers," greatly exceeding the national average (25.5%) There are 359 municipalities nationwide where parents do not have to bring diapers, a significant increase from 191 last year. Notably, in Kanagawa Prefecture, about 60% of municipalities no longer require bringing diapers, a result greatly exceeding the national average (25.5%). This is followed by Toyama Prefecture (57.1%) and Tokyo (56.9%). While there are regional differences in the progress of initiatives, the movement for review is spreading nationwide. Also, it was found that 91.9% of the municipalities that eliminated the need to bring diapers utilize diaper subscriptions provided by private companies. ■ "Paper Diaper Subscriptions" Expanding Nationwide The paper diaper and baby wipe subscription provided by BABY JOB is a service that eliminates the need for parents to write names on diapers at home and bring them. As of February 2026, it has been introduced in 156 municipalities nationwide, spreading regardless of urban or rural areas. Many of the municipalities that eliminated diaper bringing utilize private services rather than bulk purchasing, a reality that can be seen from this survey. This service not only reduces the burden on parents but also directly connects to improving the operational efficiency of childcare workers (eliminating inventory and individual management), attracting attention as one of the means to resolve the severe shortage of childcare workers. ■ Voices of Paper Diaper Subscription Users "We introduced the paper diaper subscription with the desire to lighten the burden on our teachers even a little. Previously, parents brought about 5 diapers every day, and teachers had to sort and put them into individual boxes for each child. There was also a lot of detailed work, such as managing inventory per child and asking for refills when running low. After introducing the subscription, such complicated tasks are no longer necessary, and I feel teachers have a little more breathing room in their work. Furthermore, the fact that paper diapers and wipes are unlimited is a huge merit, and we are very grateful to be able to use them freely when needed according to the child's situation." "Using the paper diaper subscription has reduced the luggage I carry when commuting, which is really helpful. At the previous nursery, I had to bring bulky diapers, so I needed a large tote bag, but now a small backpack is enough. Also, I used to have to prepare diapers for home and for the nursery, so the purchase frequency was quite high, but now that I use the subscription, the frequency has dropped significantly, making it much easier." [Survey Overview] Survey Name: 3rd National Survey on Bringing Diapers in Public Childcare Facilities Target: Childcare departments of 1,406 municipalities across 47 prefectures with public childcare facilities Period: January 23 - March 11, 2026 Method: Telephone interviews (some conducted in writing) ■ What is BABY JOB's "Tebura Toen"? "Tebura Toen" is Japan's first subscription service where paper diapers and baby wipes are unlimited at childcare facilities. It solves issues for both sides: it eliminates the parents' hassle of "handwriting names on paper diapers and bringing them," and the teachers' hassle of individually managing diapers. In 2020, it won the Grand Prix at the Japan Subscription Business Awards. Currently, the paper diaper subscription provided by BABY JOB is introduced in over 9,300 facilities (as of February 2026).