Baby: Not all newborns to get help, says Welsh government

The bundle was a "tremendous help" for new mums, said Natalie Wilson who was part of the pilot in 2020

Bundles of baby items will only be sent to new parents who need them most, rather than every newborn in Wales as previously planned.

The Welsh government is cutting £3.5m from the bwndel babi [baby bundle] scheme, due to launch next year.

One mum involved in the 2020 pilot scheme said the boxes were a "tremendous help" for new parents.

It has now been confirmed the number of eligible families will be cut and it is not clear who will be entitled to it.

Expectant mothers in the Swansea Bay NHS area were sent baby grows, blankets and changing mats as part of a trial in 2020.

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Natalie Wilson from Gorseinon in Swansea was 34 weeks pregnant with her first child when she became the first person in Wales to receive a bundle.

She said it gave her "a great insight into all the things you need".

Baby boxes given out in Scotland contain a range of useful products for newborn babies

A government report found "there was a clear appreciation of the bundle by parents" and it made them "feel supported at a special time".

Overall "there was a slight lean from parents who participated in this research towards making it available to all if possible".

All newborns in Scotland are entitled to a box of essentials, including a mattress and sheets.

An inquiry by the Senedd's equality committee heard how the idea, imported from Finland, was supposed to make sure every family had the basic necessities.

In May, Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt was asked in the Senedd if the scheme would be universally available.

"It's a universal gift, and that's what's so important. It is universal. Every baby born in Wales," she said.

She said £6m had been set aside and a supplier was being sought to start the project.

During his Welsh Labour leadership campaign, Mark Drakeford said he hoped boxes "could go to every parent, regardless of income".

However, wide-ranging cuts were announced in Tuesday's budget, intended to divert money to frontline NHS services.

The Welsh government said: "We are moving from a universal to a more targeted model to ensure it can reach those expectant parents in most need of support."

It added that it was "exploring a range of options for the delivery" to ensure "more families in Wales have the essentials to provide their child with the best start in life".

Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd Sioned Williams, a committee member, said there was a fear that some families who needed help would miss out.

"We know that many families who are ineligible for many types of support are nonetheless struggling to pay for everyday items, so it will be crucial to understand who will miss out."

In a budget of £20bn, £3.5m might not sound like a lot, but it shows how a cherished principle, dear to Mark Drakeford's heart, has encountered a harsh financial reality.

Mr Drakeford was the chief adviser to earlier Welsh governments that abolished prescription charges and offered breakfasts in primary schools without means tests.

He hoped they could do the same with baby bundles, but at the tail end of his leadership, after the spike in inflation and with long NHS waiting lists, they decided it was not affordable.