Good news for Monterey County families expecting a new baby: Natividad Medical Center in Salinas is one of the hospitals participating in Golden State Start, California’s new statewide program that gives every newborn 400 free diapers — regardless of family income.
What Is Golden State Start?
Golden State Start is a first-in-the-nation initiative from the State of California, administered by the nonprofit Baby2Baby on behalf of the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). The program supplies participating hospitals with free diapers that they distribute directly to families around the time of hospital discharge.
The idea is simple: give new parents one less thing to worry about in those first exhausting, expensive weeks home with a newborn.
How to Qualify
This is the best part — there’s nothing to apply for. According to Baby2Baby:
- Every baby born at a participating hospital qualifies automatically.
- There are no income limits, no immigration requirements, and no paperwork for families.
- Diapers are provided around the time of hospital discharge, so parents leave with them in hand.
- Each hospital determines the exact point in the discharge process when diapers are handed out.
Since Natividad is on the official participating hospital list, families delivering there will receive their 400 diapers as part of the normal discharge routine — no extra steps needed on your end.
When Does It Start?
The statewide program launched in summer 2026, rolling out first at hospitals like Natividad that serve large numbers of Medi-Cal patients, with plans to expand to more hospitals over time. For more information on Natividad’s Women & Children’s Services call (831) 755-6226, or visit natividad.com/women-and-childrens-services.
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