Mom breaks down after panic buying left her without diapers to buy

A mother’s viral video shows the painful consequences of panic buying.

Lauren Whitney, a mother and wife to an ex-military husband on a tight budget, burst into tears after being confronted by empty shelves at her local Walmart when trying to buy diapers for her young daughter.

In an emotional video she shared on the social media platform TikTok, she tearfully said, “How am I supposed to diaper my child if I can’t afford to buy 20 at a time like you can?”

Whitney told Today that her viral video brought tons of support, with strangers offering to send her money for diapers, or send boxes of diapers. She says that she was eventually able to find what she needed, and she gracefully turns down the offers of money or diapers when she receives them.

Walmart announced Wednesday that it will put limits on the purchase of milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, baby formula, and baby food, in response people hoarding basics amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I just hope that people can understand that by purchasing 10 or 20 boxes at a time, it leaves nothing for those of us that can't do that,"  Whitney said.