Struggling mums 'taking babies in bed with them' to keep them warm
Baby Basics Liverpool is facing unprecedented demand from mums in need of support
Last updated 17th Oct 2023
Many struggling mums across Merseyside are taking risks to keep their babies warm - as temperatures begin to slide.
Baby Basics Liverpool is facing ever-increasing demand from struggling families because of rising costs, with many not able to afford heating.
The charity accepts referrals via midwives, health visitors and professional agencies to provide everyday essentials to families for their babies.
They provide Moses baskets packed with toiletries, blankets, mattresses, towels and baby clothes.
363 packs were provided across the region in 2022 and that has already been topped this year so far.
7.5% of all live births in Merseyside this year have received one of the starter packs.
Toria Clifton-Brown, Baby Basics Centre Coordinator, said:
"Every month is the busiest, we've hit new targets. We used to think that doing 20 packs a month was busy, which of course it is, but we've been hitting over 50 a month. Particularly May, June and July we hit those kind of figures.
"The other thing that's quite difficult as a voluntary organisation is usually we ask for referrals to be in as early as possible. We're starting each month with maybe 7-10 referrals anticipating and knowing we're going to finish having done 40-50. We know there is going to be loads of emergency ones.
"I think that's really indicative of what's happening in society. These health professionals are going out into the community and meeting families who have been trying to make ends meet and they are unprepared for babies.
"We're getting calls from hospitals saying this mum can't go home until she's got a safe place for the baby, so that's many of our emergency referrals there where they come up and get one of our Moses baskets which provides that safe space for the baby to go home and sleep in."
That demand has led the charity to spend £14,200 last year, double the previous year.
Baby Basics Liverpool is welcoming donations - particularly at the moment for new-born baby coats, cardigans and blankets.
It is not currently able to welcome any other clothing.
Toria said:
"Some of our mums have never had anything brand new, even on their own birthday, so to be able to give out these gifts as a really precious thing with everything looking spick and span and occasionally a few brand new items in there as well because people are so generous in passing those on.
"The mums are in tears of gratitude"
"The mums are in tears of gratitude, they can't believe someone would care that much for them. We've had stories of people saying 'I couldn't even start thinking about how I could be a good mother, but know that I've got this, I can now get prepared in my mind emotionally that I'm going to be able to be a good mum.'
"It's not just a bit of charity, it's a really special gift to help this parent maybe overcome that first initial hurdle and make a positive step."
The charity has supported many women who have been rescued from domestic violence and trafficking, as well as parents struggling to look after their babies amid the impact of the cost of living.
Safe sleep issues have also been highlighted as a major concern.
Toria added:
"We've had a number of times when we've needed to deal with it immediately that day because the staff have identified really unsafe sleeping environments.
"It's so cold, you've got a family where they're trying to make decisions about food on the table, putting the heating on, how we're drying the washing, they can't afford the Moses baskets, they can't afford to buy a blanket, they're juggling all of those tensions of what do we spend our money on here?
"They'll take the baby in bed with them just to keep them warm"
"To avoid spending on a basket, they'll take the baby in bed with them just to keep them warm. Close sleeping can be done really safely, but in these kind of situations where it's done out of desperation, it's often not being done safely and so that's a huge concern for our referring health professionals.
"You might have families where they've got one blower, which is obviously the most expensive way of heating your home, and then putting that in the children's room or all trying to snuggle into one room to stay warm in that way. There's compromises are made on where a baby sleeps.
"We've heard stories of babies sleeping in car seats and prams overnight which of course is really unsafe for them as well. That's part of why we are here."