This report sets out the case for baby bundles - essential items provided to families during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
Baby bundles typically include clothing, blankets, nappies, books, play items, and practical guidance on infant care and early development. Beyond providing essential supplies, baby bundles are an early touchpoint between families and services, offering information and support at a critical stage in a child’s life. By providing families with essential items and ensuring parents are informed about the support in their communities, baby bundles can help ensure every child has the best start.
How tackling poverty in the early years can make a lasting difference
At Barnardo’s, we know that the right services can make a real difference to children growing up in poverty, from paediatric and children’s health services to family hubs. But for too many families, these services remain out of reach: the cost of transport, the isolation that poverty brings, or simply not knowing they exist, can all stand in the way.
Building Blocks: The case for universal baby bundle provision, explains what poverty looks like for children aged 0-5 and their parents, and how this can have lifelong impacts. It explains why – alongside removing the benefits cap and abolishing the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ condition for families with a child under 18 – we believe that family support is an essential step in poverty mitigation. It also explains why baby bundles can help more families in poverty access the support they need to ensure their children have the same opportunities to thrive as their peers. The value of baby bundles is more than the goods inside – it is in the commitment of support from the community to be there for parents of newborns and help ensure they have the best start in life, whatever their level of income.
Help us make sure that every child has the foundations to thrive
Poverty keeps too many babies and toddlers from building the healthy foundations they need to learn, play, and grow. It undermines their futures, leading to delays in speech and physical development, and damages their emotional wellbeing. That’s why we need your help to urge the government to tackle early years poverty as a priority.
How we change practice, policies, and systems so they really work for all children and young people
Nobody knows better than children and young people what their lives are really like. That’s why we're committed to supporting young people to share their experiences and insights about the laws, policies, practices, and systems that affect them. We amplify their voices in our research and influencing work with decision-makers across the UK to help change children’s lives and the systems around them for the better.
“We were financially stable...then we ended up homeless”
Aimee, a care-experienced (someone who grew up in the care system) mum from Scotland, explains how quickly circumstances can change and push a family into homelessness after we supported her family to get back into housing.