P-05-1118 Allow parents of under 1 year old to form a support bubble in new Tier 4 Covid restrictions, Correspondence – Petitioner to Committee, 22.02.21

Dear Petitions,

Thank you for the email and apologies for the late reply. I hope my comments will still be considered - I will keep it brief.

I am happy for the petition to close as soon as possible.

I note the first minister's response to my petition, many of the points I was made aware of in December and by way of the updated FAQs by addition of the question "I have a young baby under 1 - can I form a support bubble" on the Wales government website early January.

The comments made do not address the issue parents of children with young children are facing during the lockdown. One of my main concerns regarding not having a dedicated bubble for parents of the youngest children, but allowing only childcare puts a barrier to breastfeeding women, who are unable to leave their child with someone else due to their feeding patterns. 

I would like the welsh government to recognise the need for parents to have support and look at allowing support groups to run for parents in line with England from no later than 29th March outdoors, and 12th April indoors. These were allowed in alert level 3 in Wales, as were extended households (although I have not seen the Welsh government mention following the alert level system in recent press conferences)

Welsh government has not allowed parents to travel to meet someone for exercise so socialising has been almost impossible even since the restrictions have allowed them to meet 1 other. I ask you to look at loosening this to allow parents to travel to meet another individual.

Personally I have a 6 month old who has only been able to meet his extended family on 25th December, because as like many others, they live in England there were restrictions on travelling across the border for much of the later past of last year, even to meet outside. When I return to work I am scared he will be so unfamiliar with other people, having only really seen the same 2 faces his whole life. 

It is exhausting having a baby - but you are asking us to do it alone - and putting the onus on parents to realise when they need "support" enough to use the caveats in your rules. 

Please reconsider your response and allow support bubbles and additionally support groups for parents.

Thank you