COVID one year on – First 1001 Days Movement calls on Government for action for babies with #Whataboutus appeal

The Parent-Infant Foundation is supporting the First 1001 Days Movement’s #WhatAboutUs appeal to help babies born in a year of Covid lockdowns.

One year on from the first UK National Lockdown on 23 March 2020, the First 1001 Days Movement is launching the #WhatAboutUs appeal to raise awareness of the many important moments these lockdown babies will have missed, and crucially to encourage Government to show parity of support for babies and to include them in their Covid catch-up planning and funding.

Over 600,000 babies born in England during the last year have now spent their whole lives in lockdown and although Covid lockdowns will have affected all babies in different ways, the impact for some will be serious and long term if support is not put in place. Many have been exposed to high levels of stress, particularly when parents are overloaded with financial worries, or have experienced domestic abuse or mental health problems. Local authorities reported more than 100 serious incidents of injury and death involving babies under one between April and October 2020. Up by 50% on the previous six months. Of all the serious incidents involving children in that period, 36% were babies under one.  

As highlighted in our ‘Babies in Lockdown’ and ‘Working for Babies’ reports there is increasing evidence of a “baby blind spot”, with babies often being forgotten in recovery plans and funding. With £1.7bn allocated for older children but nothing for babies, the Parent-Infant Foundation along with partners in the First 1001 Days Movement are calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak for this support to be matched with funding to help the babies and families in the most need.

As the 1st birthdays of the babies born in lockdown begin, The First 1001 Days Movement are also asking parents, grandparents and carers across the UK to join the #WhatAboutUs campaign and share their babies’ missed moments through our website or on social media.   

Sally Hogg, Head of Policy and Campaigning at the Parent-Infant Foundation and Coordinator of the First 1001 Days Movement  

“The Government must extend their support to include all children, not just those attending school or preschool. We welcome the £1.7bn, but again, there has been a baby blind spot. The earliest years of life are the most rapid stage of brain development, which lay the foundation for future health and wellbeing. It is critical that babies and families who have suffered because of the pandemic are identified and given the support they need as quickly as possible.”

Share your missed moments. Let Rishi Sunak know your story.

Follow the campaign on social media at #WhatAboutUs or visit 1001days.org.uk/whataboutus  

Supported by Kindred²: Kindred2 is a charitable foundation working collaboratively with partner organisations to improve early education and early child development.