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2 hours ago
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Four in 10 parents across the UK are struggling to afford essential items for the care of their newborn babies, according to research.
The survey of 2,000 parents with children aged under five by the charity Barnardo’s also found that almost half (49%) of parents felt that their child has missed out on opportunities to learn or play due to cost.
Meanwhile, 44% of respondents said that the financial pressures they face have affected their child’s ability to develop skills such as speech, socialising or physical play. Over half (54%) said they wished that they had more essential items for their newborn baby.
In Scotland, all parents of newborns are eligible for a box of baby essentials which includes clothes, books, a changing mat and a bath towel. Since the scheme was launched by the Scottish government in 2017, more than 360,000 baby boxes have been distributed to new parents. However, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, provision is inconsistent.
Barnardo’s are calling for baby boxes to be made widely available across the UK, citing the widespread public support for the initiative. Seven in 10 parents who took part in the survey agree that the baby boxes should be made universal.
Lynn Perry, the chief executive of Barnardo’s, said such supplies are essential for making sure every baby “has what they need from the very beginning, regardless of their parents’ circumstances.”
“Poverty steals the foundations of learning, playing and growing that are essential to build their futures, leading to delays in speech, growth and emotional development,” Perry said. “[Baby boxes] mean a family doesn’t have to choose between heating and a cot, or between food for themselves and clothes for their newborn. It means the basics are there, ready and waiting, so parents can focus on bonding with their baby rather than worrying about how they’ll provide for them.
“By giving parents the essential items they need from day one, we’re not just supporting families in crisis – we’re investing in children’s health, wellbeing and development for years to come. It’s something all parents need for their newborn babies and which we are calling for the government to provide.”
An estimated 4 million children (27%) across the UK are estimated to be living in poverty, within households earning less than 60% of the national median income after housing costs are taken into account, according to the latest poverty statistics.
This is despite the scrapping of the two-child benefit policy this month, which now means that low-income families could be entitled to a payment equal to about £300 a month for each additional child in the household. Although Barnardo’s has welcomed the ending of the policy, the charity has called for the government to focus on tackling poverty within the early years of life.
Juliea Morris, a Barnardo’s family centre manager in Woking, said that the current struggles new parents are facing are the worst she has seen within her thirty-year career.
“I’ve visited homes where babies are still sleeping in Moses baskets longer because families are unable to afford a cot, and toddlers are often still in prams when they are of an age for a pushchair but again families are unable to afford these,” Morris said. “These are not luxuries – they are basic items that keep babies and toddlers safe and healthy.”
She added: “We are privileged that families welcome us into their homes – it helps us gain an understanding of what’s important to them and the support they would like. Many families we are supporting are relying more on food banks than ever.”
A spokesperson from the Department for Work and Pensions said: “Our efforts to turn the tide on poverty after years of rising hardship are making a real difference – household incomes have risen 5% in real terms, about 100,000 fewer children are in deep material poverty and food bank usage has fallen.
“As part of our Child Poverty Strategy, which will lift 550,000 children out of poverty, we’re releasing new guidance on baby formula pricing, potentially saving parents up to £540 in a baby’s first year, while our £1bn Crisis and Resilience Fund is there for families who need extra support.”
