Opinion: Dame Andrea Leadsom & Lauren Seager-Smith: Why Every Baby Needs Protection from Domestic Abuse and the Solution

Domestic abuse is one of the most devastating issues facing families today. It tears apart relationships, damages lives and leaves a lasting mark on babies at the most vulnerable stage of their development.

The evidence is clear: the first 1001 days, from pregnancy to age two, form the foundation for a baby’s future health and wellbeing. Babies who are exposed to domestic abuse in these early years can suffer disrupted brain development, poor physical and mental health and difficulties with learning and relationships that toofrequently last a lifetime. Tragically, these patterns are often repeated across
generations.

Yet, when parents are supported to address trauma and harmful behaviours, the cycle can be broken. That is why the 1001 Critical Days Foundation has committed funding to The For Baby’s Sake Trust, a charity pioneering a whole-family approach to preventing
domestic abuse and protecting babies.

The For Baby’s Sake programme is unique because it works with both parents, starting in pregnancy, to confront the root causes of abuse. It combines trauma-informed therapeutic support with practical strategies to build healthy, nurturing relationships.Families who once seemed on the brink of collapse can find new hope and, crucially, babies are given a better start in life.

Take Eloise and Peter. Both grew up with abuse and trauma. When they met, their relationship was volatile, and Children’s Social Care was preparing to take their unborn baby into care. Through For Baby’s Sake, they were able to confront their pasts, learn new ways to cope and build a safe and loving home. Today, their children are thriving, which is living proof that with the right support, cycles of harm can be broken.

Stories like theirs remind us that protecting babies from domestic abuse is not just a moral imperative, it is also a smart investment. The social and economic costs of family breakdown, care placements and health problems linked to abuse run high each year. By contrast, philanthropic funding that enables frontline organisations to intervene early delivers benefits that last a lifetime.

But philanthropy cannot act alone. If we are serious about giving every baby the best start in life, Government, local authorities, health services and charities must work together to embed approaches like For Baby’s Sake into Family Hubs and other similar
settings across the country.

No baby should grow up in fear. With the right partnerships, investment and resolve, we can help ensure that even the most vulnerable babies are protected, nurtured and able to thrive.

Dame Andrea Leadsom is the Executive Chair of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, and Lauren Seager-Smith is the CEO of The For Baby’s Sake Trust.

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