Four in 10 UK parents struggle to afford essentials for newborns, study says

Exclusive: Survey of 2,000 people by Barnardo’s also finds almost half feel their child has missed opportunities due to cost

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Four in 10 parents across the UK are struggling to afford essential items for the care of their newborn babies, according to research.

The survey of 2,000 parents with children aged under five by the charity Barnardo’s found that almost half (49%) felt their child had missed out on opportunities to learn or play because of the cost of living.