A Cuban mother who posts on TikTok under the name @soy_maya_cuba demonstrated, in a 33-second video, how she reuses her baby's disposable diapers due to the inability to purchase new ones regularly.
The clip is part of her series "Surviving in Cuba" and describes the process in detail: soaking the used diaper to extract the absorbent filling, washing the outer cover with soap and water, and refilling it with gauze for reuse. "The first thing I do is soak the diapers and remove all the filling inside. I wash them thoroughly with soap," she explains in the video.
The author reserves the new diapers for outings or doctor's visits. "I only put the new ones on my child when we go out or have an appointment, and at night I use one with padding," she points out.
She herself acknowledges the hygienic limitations of the practice, but justifies it with a reality that, she claims, many families share: "Although many think this is not the most hygienic thing in the world, and I know that many Cuban mothers have to do this because the price of these pampers is exorbitant."
And it's not an exaggeration. A pack of 32 disposable diapers can cost between 8 and 9 dollars in the currency stores on the island, according to testimonials from the mothers themselves, which is equivalent to more than 4,000 Cuban pesos (CUP).
The official average salary in Cuba was just 6,930 CUP per month in 2025, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information, roughly 13 dollars at the informal exchange rate. Consistently buying new diapers would consume more than half of a family's monthly income.
This is not the first time a Cuban mother has documented this practice on social media. Last February, the user @yatmara.bernal showcased the same process, and in December 2025 and August 2025, similar videos circulated, each receiving tens of thousands of views. This practice has been documented since at least 2016, but it has intensified with the worsening of the economic crisis.
The issue is framed within a widespread deterioration of access to essential products for babies. Officials from the Ministry of Food Industry admitted last June that so far this year, it has not been possible to distribute oil, chicken, or yogurt in the regulated basket. The state only guarantees milk to 15,026 children with chronic illnesses and to more than 16,000 pregnant women, out of a total of over 331,000 minors who should be receiving it.
Disposable diapers are not included in the supply ration book, so families must purchase them in stores that accept foreign currency or in the informal market, both of which are beyond the reach of most.
At the end of the video, the author poses a question to her community: "If you live or lived in Cuba, let me know in the comments if you do or did the same as I did with these disposable diapers." The response came quickly: in less than 24 hours, the video garnered 18,700 views, 569 likes, and 123 comments, a sign that the experience resonated with those who are closely familiar with that reality.
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