400,000 children in the UK now rely on baby banks for essential items like formula, new data shows

New figures reveal a sharp rise in families needing help with nappies, formula milk, cots and clothing.

Pampers nappies and a tub of baby formula

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Published: June 23, 2026 at 12:19 PM

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400,000 children were supported by baby banks last year - 11% more than last year, data from the Baby Bank Alliance finds.

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Baby banks provide essential items for families with young babies in need, such as cots, baby formula, and nappies, as well as support for parents.

The Baby Bank Alliance, a network of over 400 banks across the UK, warns that families are increasingly experiencing hardship, with an increase in demand for all areas of support they offer from 2024 to 2025.

Families are increasingly relying on baby banks for the essentials

The Baby Bank Alliance surveyed 225 banks in March 2026 and found that 210,000 families and 400,000 children were supported by them in 2025 - up by 11% since 2024.

This works out at around 1096 children supported each day, or 46 children each hour.

They also found that the numbers of essential baby items given out increased across the board:

Abby, a mum who is being supported by her local baby bank says: “We’ve got 3 little kids and it’s so hard to make ends meet. Even when you work, you’re trying to afford some of these things but it’s so expensive. I’ve been given clothes and shoes recently that I just couldn’t afford to buy otherwise."

Baby banks can't keep up with demand

As the demand for essential items has increased, baby banks haven't been able to meet it.

53% said that they had waiting lists for essential items like prams, and 44% said that shortages of items were the biggest barrier to helping families.

And almost 6 in 10 (57%) of the banks surveyed said that they had been unable to fulfil referrals from professionals including health visitors and social workers - although this was down from 65% of banks in 2024.

Parents are struggling due to increased costs of living and housing insecurity

Although the cost-of-living crisis plays a big part in the increase of families accessing help from baby banks, it isn't the only factor. 75% of the baby banks surveyed said that unsuitable or insecure housing affected the families they support.

And while the government scrapping the two-child limit on Universal Credit benefits earlier this year is expected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty by 2030, there are still 4 million children growing up in poverty, according to Save the Children.

“Every child has the right to a safe place to sleep, and clothes to keep them warm. Children having to rely on baby banks for basics essentials is unacceptable," says Sophie Livingstone, chair of the Baby Bank Alliance.

Families are struggling more than ever with work and housing insecurity, rising energy & food bills, and unaffordable childcare.

Sophie Livingstone, chair of the Baby Bank Alliance.

"Baby banks are doing everything they can to provide a crucial safety net and stop families from falling through the cracks, but charities alone cannot continue to absorb the impact of child poverty on this scale. It’s time the government took the impact of poverty in children’s early years more seriously,” she says.

Baby banks are supporting some families for months and even years

Some families are also requiring long-term support, sometimes for several months. An estimated 20% of referrals received in 2025 were for repeat visits, although the Baby Bank Alliance says the real number is likely higher.

“It’s one thing being able to offer support in an emergency, which we are very happy to do, but we are being relied upon more and more," Reverend Caroline Hewitt, who runs Little Lighthouse Baby Bank in Greater Manchester, says.

"There are some families who were referred to before their baby was born, and we’re still supporting them two years on with basics like nappies and clothes. Some of our families are coming to us regularly for formula milk, which I find very worrying. It makes me wonder what they would do if we weren’t here.

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"Going to the baby bank has become as normalised as going to the Food Bank. That is a tragedy in 21st century UK.”

Authors

Serafina Kenny journalist headshot

Serafina KennyDigital Journalist

Serafina Kenny is a Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes news and features and has expertise in health, nutrition, relationships, and history. She has previously written for Business Insider, Women's Health, Stylist, Men's Health US, The i Paper, Dazed, and more. You can contact her with tips and story ideas (or compliments!) at serafina.kenny@immediate.co.uk.

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