Filling the gap between baby and adult diapers

When Brady Crandall’s daughter was born with a brain injury, he learned firsthand how tough it is when kids outgrow standard diapers but aren't ready for adult sizes. Ultimately, his love as a father sparked a movement to create youth diapers that work better for disabled kids.

His company, Youth Crews, is building youth diapers that actually work – the right size, the right fit, the right look.

With Youth Crews, Brady envisions building much more than just a diaper brand; he’s spearheading a movement dedicated to offering practical support, comfort, and a sense of community for families like his.

Take Care sat down with Brady to chat about what it takes to build both a paradigm shifting brand and a community where every family feels understood, supported, and proud of who they are. Our full conversation follows below!

Can you tell us a little bit more about your family and the story behind Youth Crews?

My world changed completely during my daughter's birth when she experienced HIE (brain injury from lack of oxygen). Like many parents who are thrust into the medical world, I had no idea what to expect. Our community became everything - they helped us figure out all the medical stuff we never expected to have to deal with.

When my daughter started outgrowing baby diapers, it hit me hard. We tried adult diapers but they were awful - plasticky, uncomfortable, and clearly not made for kids. I kept seeing other parents posting about the same struggles everywhere. After surveying families and finding out 99% had this exact problem, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I reached out to Perry Quinn, who was my mentor at the time, to bounce around some ideas. He got it right away. Next thing I knew, we were figuring out how to actually make these diapers happen.

Roughly how many families in America have kids who require diapers beyond standard sizes?

We've found there are about 600,000 kids caught in this gap between baby and adult diapers. It's mind-blowing when you look at all the different communities dealing with this - families managing HIE, rare genetic disorders, Down syndrome, autism, spina bifida, epilepsy. These families have been invisible to the big companies for too long.

Talk to us about how you designed your diapers. What was the hardest part about getting this brand off the ground?

Diaper machines can only make certain sizes. The whole industry is split into baby sizes or adult sizes, nothing in between. We knew we needed something that would actually fit our kids right, feel comfortable, and give them dignity - because they deserve to feel good, just like any other kid.

Before we made anything, we asked hundreds of families what they needed. We ran polls, got feedback on designs, and tested prototypes with real kids. Everything from the fit to the materials came from what parents told us would work best for their kids.

Finding someone willing to make our sizes was like banging our heads against a wall;  manufacturers kept telling us it couldn't be done because their machines weren't built for it. We got lucky though. Wai Kong, who did manufacturing at Apple and SpaceX, joined us as an advisor and helped us figure it out. Barkley Jenny shared his years of diaper industry knowledge. But honestly? The best ideas came from other parents who kept telling us exactly what would make their lives easier.

How are you investing in building awareness for Youth Crews beyond conventional paid advertising channels?

We're building this from the ground up. Instead of fancy marketing campaigns, we're in Facebook groups talking with other parents who get it. I'm in there every day talking with families about their day-to-day challenges. These aren't just customers to us - they're the same parents I've been swapping advice with for years about therapies, equipment, and daily life stuff.

We're connecting with other parents of disabled kids who've been sharing their stories on Instagram, TikTok, and podcasts. They get why this matters because they've been dealing with the same problems. The private Facebook groups have been amazing too - I’ve had so much gratitude watching these communities spread the word to other families who might be struggling with the same things we did.

You say that "Youth Crews isn't just about diapers. It's about building a community where every family feels understood, supported, and proud of who they are." What does that mean to you?

We make diapers for disabled kids. No euphemisms, no sugarcoating. Every family I meet has their own story, and every kid brings their own kind of joy to the world. Some of our kids need diapers - it's just part of life, like any other piece of equipment that helps them do their thing. We're making products that actually fit right and feel good, because every kid deserves to be comfortable while they're out there living their best life.

How can our readers support the Youth Crews movement?

Here's how you can join us: follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, join on our email list, or if you know a family who might need our diapers, let them know they can try a Sizing Pack to find their perfect fit before committing to a full carton.

If we're looking back ten years from now, how has Youth Crews ideally left its mark on the world?

Being a caregiver to your child who needs extra support - it's incredibly isolating. Every time I grabbed a pack of diapers with running babies or pulled an adult product off the shelf, it felt like another reminder that companies didn't understand our reality.

Ten years from now, I want families like ours to feel seen. When they get their Youth Crews delivery, I want them to know there's a whole community behind them who gets it. This was never just about making diapers - it's about showing these families they aren't invisible anymore.