Cost-of-living crisis leaving babies at risk

The worsening cost-of-living crisis is putting vulnerable, young babies at risk, a Gold Coast organisation has revealed.

The Baby Give Back team are conducting a safety-check, cleaning and assessment of donated baby car seats. Little 9 month old Oakleigh Cotter has decided which is his favourite. Picture Glenn Hampson

The number of Queensland families unable to safely travel with their babies has skyrocketed, Gold Coast-based charity Baby Give Back has revealed.

Over the past year the charity, which provides car seats for families in need, has seen a 42 per cent increase in requests statewide. Last year they provided 1292 car seats to vulnerable and disadvantaged families.

On the Coast, the charity receives more than 20 requests for car seats every week – a quarter of which they are unable to fulfil.

And without access to safe car seats, CEO Carly Fradgley said parents were risking potentially “catastrophic consequences”.

Ms Fradgley said: “For many families doing it tough, a car seat can be really expensive to access and second-hand car seats can be really dangerous in terms of safety issues.”

“So one thing we do is we clean and safety check every preloved car seat before they go out to vulnerable families.”

But as the cost-of-living crisis worsens, Ms Fradgley said parents were struggling to choose between feeding their children and putting their kid’s safety first.

She added: “A car seat is the ability for a family to safely transport their children to medical appointments, to be able to get to the shops and buy essentials.”

“But for so many families even accessing a seat at all is impossible for them without the support of their communities.”

Last year they provided 1292 car seats to vulnerable and disadvantaged families. However, a lack of donated car seats means many families on the Gold Coast do not receive the help they need.

This month, Baby Give Back is urging Gold Coasters to get behind their Buckle Up Baby campaign running from July 6 to July 13 either by donating a car seat or by offering a monetary donation.

This year, EthicalJobs will match every monetary donation dollar for dollar up to $9000.