Lancashire baby bank referrals quadruple over pandemic

We've been told the huge financial strain of the pandemic's forcing more and more Lancashire families to rely on baby banks.

Almost half of young parents have had to get essentials like nappies and formula from one during Covid according to new stats.

Sue Wade, founder of Tippy Toes baby bank in Leyland which supports parents across the county, said their referrals had quadrupled over the last year: "We know of families who have been watering down baby bottles because they've managed to get a food parcel and they're having to make that last the family. They've got one tin of formula milk...it's only going to last three days but they need to make it last a week.

"Is it you pay for your electric, you pay for your food or your provide formula?

"We've been at doorways where we're the first person that the new mum's seen and she's in tears because she's tired, baby's not sleeping well, baby's maybe struggling with feeding, she's worried about money where's she going to be nappies and formula.

"We've had families who would never have expected to be turning to food banks and baby banks for help and support and have come through our door.

"Throughout covid we have had mums on the phone ringing us up never thinking they'd be in this position where they are now, they've no money, partner's been furloughed, they've got a new baby and they can't afford the equipment for it."

The research from Pampers shows that 18 per cent of parents with young children have had to go on a weekly basis in order to get the supplies they need for their children, whilst 7 per cent have had to go daily.

This has had a profound impact on nearly a third of parents who said they felt embarrassed to have to go to find help at a baby bank, with over a quarter saying they felt like they have failed as parents.