Healthy Homes

A baby doesn't know what "temporary accommodation" means, but long before they have words, babies experience the world through sensory memories - the feeling of being cold or warm, the sounds around them as they try to sleep, the tension or calm in the adults who care for them. For many young parents we support, housing instability isn't just about them not having a permanent address - it's about trying to keep a baby safe in spaces that were never designed for families, let alone newborns.

Across England, record numbers of children are growing up in temporary accommodation, and babies are bearing the greatest risk. National reviews show that unsuitable housing can make even basic things - like following safer sleep guidance - incredibly difficult. The tragic consequences of this are well documented, with temporary accommodation cited as a contributing factor in the deaths of dozens of babies in recent years. This is not inevitable. Babies are not unsafe because their parents are young or struggling; they are unsafe when systems don't adapt to the realities families are living in.

For many years, WILD has worked alongside young parents and babies experiencing housing insecurity, seeing firsthand how overcrowded rooms, shared facilities and frequent moves affect babies' sleep, development and attachment - and parents' confidence and wellbeing. We have long advocated for families in housing need and and championed safer sleep guidance that is realistic, compassionate and grounded in real living conditions. What's newer is how closely we are working alongside our housing colleagues, recognising that early years, safeguarding and housing cannot sit in silos when it comes to protecting babies.

Through Healthy Homes, this partnership means working together to create more joined up, compassionate responses for families. We support young parents to navigate housing and tenancy systems, advocate for accommodation that is suitable and equipped for babies, and ensure families have the basics they need - from cots and bedding to warmth and stability. We also support parents to establish safer sleep routines, even in challenging circumstances, without fear or judgement. This work is about more than responding to crisis - it's about intervening early, so babies are supported, protected and given the best possible start in life.