So, what is parent and child fostering? Sometimes called mother and baby fostering, parent and child fostering is a specialist type of foster care that supports parents and their babies in staying together in a safe and supportive home.
Through this type of fostering, you can help keep families together, giving the new parents good life skills, all while lending a listening ear, and helping to nurture their children.
Across Newport and the wider Gwent area, local foster carers play an important role in supporting families within their own communities, helping parents and babies stay close to the people and services they know.
how parent and child fostering can help families
Parent and child fostering is also referred to as a ‘mother and baby foster placement’ as, in most cases, they are needed for young mums who are about to or have just given birth.
However, this isn’t always the case.
Parent and child fostering could mean providing a safe space for a dad and his baby, an older mum or toddler who might need extra support, or sometimes for both parents together, with their child.
The circumstances might be different, but the aim always stays the same – to give families the best possible opportunity to stay together safely.
how does fostering work?
Foster carers offer a safe, stable home where parents can learn and grow in confidence while caring for their baby.
As a parent and child foster carer, you’ll will be expected to:
- Teach parenting skills like feeding, bathing and bedtime routines
- Encourage parents to give children positive attention, emotional warmth and how to play with them
- Model good parenting so parents can learn what their babies need and how to respond effectively
- Support parents, who may have had a difficult childhood themselves or experienced domestic violence, to build their own self-esteem, confidence and choices
- Teach household skills like budgeting and preparing meals
- Provide a safe and nurturing home environment for parents to develop their parenting skills
- Observe the parent and child’s daily interactions, and progress, and keep detailed records for the assessment. Supervise, but without judgement
- Attend meetings with social workers and other support staff
- Contribute to decisions made around what happens next
what do you need to foster a parent and child together?
When it comes to fostering parents and children, their needs can vary from child to child.
However, for this type of fostering, you’ll need to have had experience with young children and be confident around them. This isn’t to say you need to have had children yourself, but you must be able to care solely for an infant and teach another how to do so.
You will also need to always be around to help support the baby.
why are parent and child foster carers needed in Gwent?
Families in Newport and across Gwent benefit from being supported close to their own communities, services and support networks.
Having local parent and child foster carers means parents and babies can remain connected to healthcare, education, family support and social work teams during an important stage of their lives.
There is an increasing need for carers who can provide patience, understanding and stability to local families when they need it most. Being a new parent can be isolating, but it doesn’t have to be with your support and help from your local community.
thinking about fostering in newport?
Learn about who can foster, and read about any common questions other foster carers might have.
could you become a parent and child foster carer?
Parent and child fostering can be incredibly rewarding for people who want to make a lasting difference to families in their area.
You do not need to be a parenting expert. What matters most is being able to offer a safe home, emotional support and encouragement to parents as they build confidence and independence.
Foster Wales provides full training, guidance and ongoing support throughout your fostering journey.
If you live in Newport or the wider Gwent area and want to help local families stay together safely, parent and child fostering could be the right role for you.
Find out more about becoming a parent and child foster carer with Foster Wales today.
