Ask Me Anything: how baby banks work, who can use them and what to donate

[LibbyMumsnet]

Many families across the UK are struggling with the cost of essentials for babies and young children - from nappies and clothing to cots and bedding. That’s where baby banks step in, providing items free of charge to families who need them.

Over the next few weeks, we’re joined by Emilie de Bruijn from the Baby Bank Alliance, who’s here to answer your questions about how baby banks work, accessing support, volunteering, donations and more.

You might want to ask:

• Can anyone use a baby bank?
• Do you need a referral from a health visitor or other professional to receive support?
• What items are most useful to donate?
• What should you not donate?
• How can you find a baby bank near you?
• What happens to donated items?
• What's the best way to support my local baby bank?

About Emilie
Emilie de Bruijn is the Senior Community Lead at the Baby Bank Alliance, where she leads the team supporting the Baby Bank Alliance’s network of 250+ member baby banks. With eight years of experience as a founder and CEO of a baby bank, she brings deep, first-hand understanding of the sector and the challenges members face.

Emilie and her team provide training, guidance, and practical support, helping baby banks strengthen their services and impact. They also coordinate the fair distribution of Gifts in Kind and other donated resources across the network.

Post your questions below and Emilie will answer as many as she can over the next few weeks.

Can you give all baby items to baby banks? I have lots of cot sheets and a mattress which I would hate to go to waste - but I know some items aren’t allowed?

• Can anyone use a baby bank?
• Do you need a referral from a health visitor or other professional to receive support?

Both of these is what I'd like to know, as the next generation of my family are in the same position I was - earning, and not qualifying for benefits, but will be really struggling to balance the books once on maternity leave and then once paying out for childcare.

It's a great idea - can I donate a bottle warmer, or anything else electrical I have for a baby which may be of use ?

@Twinkletots1 It's always best to check with your local baby bank as not every baby bank can take everything. But cot sheets are almost always appreciated.

@JustGiveMeReason
It's not an easy juggle for parents! However, each baby bank across the UK, works slightly differently- some can take a referral directly from the family and some will require a professional referral, but if you reach out to the baby bank they will support you.

@JacCharlton
Some baby banks will happily take electrical other items, others aren't able to due to their insurance or lack of a pat tester. It's always best to check with your local baby bank and save yourself a wasted trip.

Is this still active? If so I have a cot and travel system pram to donate. Is that ok ri do so? I tried looking on the baby bank website and it’s not clear.

Not much of a question but I have a local baby bank, I got in touch and offered them a lot of excellent condition equipment that was in high demand as requested by themselves. I don’t drive, so someone would need to have collected it but they refused saying they don’t do collections, they wanted me to drop everything off nearly an hour away at a central hub! I gave it all away on Facebook in the end. So I guess my question is, I appreciate no one wants to collect perhaps one small item but if it’s a large amount of quality stuff, why no collection service?

what's the point of an ama if the answer to everything is 'it depends on your local baby bank?'

@Pinkfluffypencilcase
Baby banks love prams and pushchairs, but sadly not car seats for insurance purposes. I'm sure your local baby bank would be keen to hear from you

@BristolMum96
Sadly many baby banks are powered by volunteers and don't have the resources to come and collect either - it's why the Baby Bank Alliance is striving to increase awareness and awareness will lead to understanding but also more funding. Funding can lead to vans and paid staff and give baby banks the freedom to offer collection.

I would be Interested in whether you could gain access due to disability, even if you’re not on a low income

Such a great idea. Both my children are older now, so not something I’d use, but I would encourage friends and family to use it as well as donate to it. Would be good to have a list of what they do and don’t accepy.

Apart from time - are there any other ways we can help? I’d love to volunteer one day but with my own small children and a full time job I find it hard to find time.
Also are there times of the year you find particularly difficult/busy?

Are cash donations better than products

@RudolphTheReindeer

Baby banks are individual charities and community groups serving families in their local communities. Just as each community is different, so is each baby bank. This is what makes them so powerful, they can truly respond to local need and avoid a cookie cutter one size fits all approach. Some are large and some are small, some can take cots and big items and others just don’t have the space.

It would be useful if the website allowed searches for item wanting to donate and location
Ive looked at a few now in my area and none of them are clear if they’ll accept the prams. I’ll have to contact them directly. But I’m imagining having to call a few.

@Dizzywizz

Yes quite often you can. Baby banks cater to a varity of needs not just low income. Your local baby bank will be able to support you to get a referral from a partner organisation or in the case of self-referral baby banks, guide you on what information they need.

@racheltravel17

As a general rule, baby banks tend to avoid electrical items and car seats, but as each is different it's worth just a quick check on what your local one can take.

@PotatoNumber5

The summer holidays and Nov-January are often particularly busy for baby banks, but it's not just in person volunteering support that is needed. Baby banks may need social media or data entry support, or perhaps you'd like to host a fundraising event? There are many ways to support a baby bank.

@Kaidaia

Cash donations are great in that they can be used where the baby bank needs them most, perhaps they're fully stocked with shampoo that week but desperate for a mattress or nappy creams. Cash gives flexiblity to act quicker to fill a need.

Are babybank allowed to charge for items? My local ones charges for hand knitting and asks for a donation for clothes that are new! To me this goes against what a baby bank is set up to acheive.

I find it really depressing that baby banks need to exist.

What are the sponsors doing to fight for the rights of parents to better support?

@Pinkfluffypencilcase

This is great feedback and something we hope to have in the future , for the mean time the vast majority of baby banks love prams! And for further support you can always email [email protected] with your postcode and what you want to donate and we can advise the closest and best baby bank for this.

@Layla30

Whilst the vast majority of baby banks don't charge for items, there are some that ask for small amounts towards running costs. Unfortunately there are no specific funding mechanisms for baby banks and like all small charities they struggle with funding to keep the lights on.