As I write this, my best friend is bringing a new little wonder into the world, just in time for Christmas! As you can imagine, I'm very excited.
Last night I was putting together a care package for her, and I slipped in a pack of nappies and wipes. Over the past few months, as she talked me through the costs: a cot, a buggy, a car seat, I found myself wondering whether I could afford it all right now. And that’s before the clothes they outgrow and the endless nappies.
If, like me, you've never had a child, these are things you might not think about. If it's your first, they're things you discover while you're pregnant. And realistically, a lot of people can't afford them.
That's where baby banks come in. It's also one of the reasons I love working for Save the Children: through our work, we can make hard times a bit easier.
I could talk about my best friend all day, but today I want to tell you about Asia and baby Autumn, and how a baby bank in Edinburgh helped them.
What is a baby bank?
Baby banks give families essential items for babies and young children when they can't afford everything they need. They rely heavily on donations and volunteers to provide things like cots, prams, clothes and nappies.
I first heard about them a year ago, when I was offered the chance to volunteer at one for a day and see our work up close. It was a hot summer day, and we were sorting through their Christmas items, putting clothes and toys into age groups. It was lovely to know that what I was sorting would make life a bit easier for parents, and make a child very happy to have a present to open on Christmas Day.
There are more than 400 baby banks across the UK, which shows how much this kind of practical support is needed. And it goes beyond the items themselves. Baby banks are often a trusted place for advice and support during pregnancy and the early years of a child's life.
In 2024, UK baby banks supported 219,637 families. That's enough to fill Wembley Stadium more than twice over. Between them, they gave out more than 3.5 million essential items, roughly one for every passenger passing through Heathrow Airport in two weeks.
"It is life-changing even just for the littlest of things. Everything that we've been given has made our lives easier." - Asia
Now let me tell you about a very special baby bank in Edinburgh, run by Pregnancy Counselling and Care Services (PCCS).
Asia’s story: a new mum in her first year at university
A week before they start university, most students are buying cutlery, packing their things and sorting out their reading list. Asia was wondering whether she'd even be able to go. She'd just found out she was pregnant.
She was going to study to be a teacher, and she didn't want to delay or give up on her dream. But could she manage it? She was living in temporary accommodation, struggling with damp and flooding, never knowing when she'd have to move next. All of that added extra pressure to becoming a new mum. With the support of her partner, Reece, she decided she could make it work.
As part of her first year, she did a placement at a baby bank that Save the Children supports. That turned out to be very useful when Autumn was born, just two weeks after the end of term. As a full-time student, Asia wasn't earning, and she wasn't eligible for government support either. The baby bank helped her with essentials like reusable nappies and a sling that helped her keep some independence.
Her university friends couldn't really relate to her life, and Asia often felt isolated. The baby bank became a lifeline: not just essentials for Autumn, but a safe space to ask questions, share her worries and connect with people who understood what she was going through.
"[The baby bank] truly made all the worries kind of go away and just to know that if I do need anything, I can always just ask." - Asia
Reece was so grateful that he started helping at the baby bank whenever he could, building and fixing cots and cribs. With that support, Asia finished her first year of university while still volunteering, and she's now looking forward to the future with her family.
Autumn needed what every baby needs: somewhere safe to sleep, clothes, nappies and a parent who could get her up and down the stairs. What made it hard wasn't Asia's parenting. It was everything around her: a damp temporary home, no income while she studied, and no government support to fall back on.
Why the van matters
Edinburgh, where Asia and Reece live, is an expensive city. Many families can't afford a car, which means they can't collect bigger items like cots from the baby bank. When you buy something new, it arrives in a few clicks. When it's a donation, it's not that simple.
That's where Jordan, the baby bank's delivery driver, comes in. PCCS is one of the few baby banks with its own delivery service, and Jordan brings equipment and packs to the families who need them most, across Edinburgh and the Lothians. He doesn't just visit once. He often comes back up to four times over two years, making sure babies have everything they need as they grow.
PCCS keeps the families it supports anonymous, so Jordan is often the only person from the baby bank they meet face to face. That makes him much more than a delivery driver. Over time, he gets to know each family and what they're going through.
"When you revisit families, you see how these items make a difference to a baby's quality of life," he says. "Seeing the relief and the stress that comes off the parents is absolutely brilliant."
These deliveries aren't just nappies, cots and highchairs. They're relief and dignity. They mean not having to choose between turning the heating on and making sure your children have clothes. They mean seeing the same friendly face, someone you can trust when you need help.
In Edinburgh, it's a van. Elsewhere, Save the Children gets help to children by bus, plane, truck, boat and even donkey. Find out more about these deliveries on our One Delivery That Matters page.
Inside the baby bank
Remember that day I volunteered? Inside, a baby bank is exactly what you'd imagine: volunteers sorting donations, building cots, checking toys for safety, then putting together a pack for each family.
A newborn starter pack usually includes:
A pram
A Moses basket or crib
A cot
A steriliser
Baby clothes
Nappies
Feeding equipment and bottles
Toiletries
A baby bath
Toys
A tummy time mat
But every pack is put together for that family's needs. Asia's included:
A baby sling
New baby clothes
A baby bath
A tummy time mat
Reusable nappies
A rapid cool device for formula feeding
Toys
"The biggest thing was the sling we were given. I had a c-section and we live on a top floor so it was really hard to get up and down the stairs." - Asia
Some things can't safely be second-hand, like cot mattresses and bottles. So PCCS receives £10,000 a year through the Baby Bank Alliance to buy new essentials, including cot mattresses, bottles, nappies and toiletries. Alongside donations, this helps make sure families have what they need to give their babies a safe and dignified start in life.
And my favourite thing about baby banks? Families give items back when they've finished with them, so things go out "again and again", because they know first-hand how much that pack helped.
How Save the Children supports baby banks
Save the Children is one of the founding members of the Baby Bank Alliance. The Alliance brings baby banks together so they can do even more for families, through funding, essential goods, training, resources, networks and advocacy.
Baby banks matter because so many families are under pressure. In 2024/25, 4 million children in the UK, over one in four (27%), were living in poverty. Every baby needs the same things to get a good start. But whether they get them often depends on things their parents can't control, like the cost of housing, how much support they're entitled to, and whether there's a car to collect a cot.
That's why we don't just support baby banks. We also campaign to change the conditions families live in. The government estimates that ending the two-child limit, something we campaigned for, will lift 450,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament.
If you'd like to know more, read why child poverty happens here too, and what Christmas looks like for children living in poverty in the UK.
How you can help families with babies this Christmas
If Asia's story has stayed with you, there are simple ways to help. You could donate items to your local baby bank, or give a few hours as a volunteer. You can find your nearest one on the Baby Bank Alliance map. Check what they need first, as some items, like cot mattresses, always need to be new.
You can also help Save the Children reach more families. £25 could buy a baby gate to keep a child safe in a house with stairs.
This Christmas, make one more delivery with Save the Children - the one that matters more than any. Your gift will help children in the UK and around the world, wherever the need is greatest. Make one more delivery.
As for my best friend's new arrival, I can't wait to meet her. And I'll be thinking of Asia, Reece and Autumn, and of every family getting their own special delivery this Christmas.
Frequently asked questions
What is a baby bank?
A baby bank gives families free essentials for babies and young children when they can't afford everything they need, such as cots, prams, clothes, nappies, feeding equipment and toiletries. Baby banks rely on donations and volunteers, and many also offer advice and support during pregnancy and the early years. There are more than 400 baby banks across the UK. In 2024, they supported 219,637 families and gave out more than 3.5 million essential items.
How do I get help from a baby bank?
Most baby banks work through referrals, so the best first step is to ask your midwife, health visitor or another support worker. You can also find your nearest baby bank on the Baby Bank Alliance map and contact them directly.
Can I donate to a baby bank?
Yes. Find your nearest baby bank on the Baby Bank Alliance map and check what they need before you drop anything off. Some items, like cot mattresses and bottles, must always be new. Many baby banks also welcome volunteers.
How can I help families with babies in the UK this Christmas?
You can donate items to your local baby bank, volunteer, or give to a charity that supports families. £25 could buy a baby gate to keep a child safe in a house with stairs. This Christmas, make one more delivery with Save the Children - the one that matters more than any. Your gift will help children in the UK and around the world, wherever the need is greatest. Make one more delivery.
