Supporting Families Through Everyday Essentials: A Conversation with Baby Give Back

There’s something special about the everyday pieces we use with our little ones, the essentials that quietly become part of our routines. Supporting the small, unseen moments of the early days of parenthood.

But for many families, these simple essentials aren’t always within reach.

Across Australia, thousands of children are growing up without consistent access to the basics, something that organisations like Baby Give Back, is working every day to change. 

Through their work, over 15,000 Queensland children, were supported in 2025 alone, with hundreds of clothing packs and essential items distributed each month to families who need them most.

We sat down with Emily from Baby Give Back to learn more about their work, the families they support, and the impact they’re making every day.

Can you share a little about Baby Give Back and how it all began?

Baby Give Back is a Queensland charity with a simple mission: to give every child an equal start in life. We provide quality clothing, nappies and essentials to families doing it tough, partnering with the support services already walking alongside them. What began with our founder Carly Fradgley's desire to pass on her own baby items has grown into a community-led movement. Today, powered by generous donations and an incredible village of volunteers, we've directly supported over 58,000 babies and children across Queensland.

What inspired you to start the organisation?

It started from a really personal place. Carly had baby items her children had outgrown and wanted to make sure they went to a family who really needed them. That one small act sparked something much bigger - the realisation that the solution to clothing poverty is already sitting in our community. We believe the fabric of yesterday holds the solution to clothing poverty and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

How has Baby Give Back grown or changed since those early days?

We've grown from one person passing on baby clothes to a charity that supported over 15,000 children in 2025 alone. We now work alongside support services right across Queensland - midwives, child health nurses, domestic and family violence services, refugee and migrant support and many more. We're also reaching further into regional and remote communities, because where a child lives should never determine whether they have what they need. But the heart of it hasn't changed. It's still community-driven, still about dignity and still powered by people who care.

For those who may be discovering you for the first time, what does Baby Give Back do?

Baby Give Back provides quality clothing, nappies and essentials to vulnerable families with young children across Queensland. We work alongside support services to get the right things to the right families at the right time. And what makes us different is how we do it - every item is sorted, quality-checked and packaged beautifully so it feels like a gift, not a handout. We're kind of like the invisible village. You might not see us, but we're there making sure children have what they need to thrive.

What kinds of essentials do you provide to families?

We have three core offerings. Clothing Boxes provide quality second-hand clothing for children from premature sizes right through to size 5 - packed by our volunteers like a little capsule wardrobe. Our Safe Start Program delivers a beautifully packaged gift to vulnerable new mothers with everything needed for those first few weeks - newborn nappies, baby wipes, wraps, toiletries, a book, a baby onesie and a comforter toy. And we also provide nappies and wipes for families under pressure, because no parent should have to stress about the basics.

Who do you support, and how do families connect with your services?

We support families with babies and children aged 0 to 5 who are experiencing vulnerability. Families connect with us through the support services they already trust - midwives, child health nurses, family support workers, DV services and community organisations. These services identify families in need and refer them to us. It means families receive support through people they already know and trust, which is really important.

What kind of difference do you see your work making for families?

The difference goes well beyond the physical items. By taking the cost of clothing a growing child off the table, we help families redirect their limited resources toward other critical needs like food and housing. But it's also about dignity and belonging. When families receive essentials that are packaged beautifully and delivered through services they trust, it eases stress, reduces shame and reminds parents that they're seen and supported. When a child has what they need to get dressed, get to school and feel like they belong, everything changes.

Are there any moments or stories that have stayed with you along the way?

What stays with us is the weight that lifts when families know their children are taken care of. Families doing it tough are often forced to make impossible trade-offs - clothing versus food, nappies versus rent, basics versus basics. No parent should have to choose. When we can take one of those impossible choices off the table, you see something shift. Stress eases, hope returns and parents are reminded that there's a whole community behind them.

 "The parcel pack was given to Boy* just before Christmas.It was so lovely for him to see the new toys and books as well and also his father was super excited about the new clothes for him as he had grown outBoy's* Dad was very very appreciative to everyone for putting together such a thoughtful package, the nappies and wipes were extra support which allowed him to save the petrol money for Boys* medical appointment at the children's hospital in Brisbane and the parking, so he was so grateful to be able to save this extra outlay"
*Names removed for privacy  

In your experience, how can access to everyday essentials support families during this time?

The first 2,000 days of a child's life are critical for their development. Without appropriate clothing, children face real barriers to inclusion - it affects their wellbeing, their health and their future outcomes. By providing the "village" of basic support that vulnerable families often lack, we ensure the immediate physical needs of children are met, which allows parents and support workers to focus on longer-term stability and safety. It's not just what we give - it's how we give it. When support feels like a gift from your community rather than a transaction, it changes the experience entirely.

What does a typical day look like for your team?

Our warehouse runs on good hearts and busy hands. On any given day you'll find volunteers sorting tiny onesies, quality-checking donated clothing and packing boxes with care. Behind the scenes, our team is coordinating with support service partners, managing donations, building new partnerships and making sure we can reach more families in more places across Queensland. It's busy, it's purposeful and there's something genuinely special about the community that shows up.

• Purpose meets connection: Volunteers work alongside people they might never have met otherwise, all united by the belief that every child deserves the basics they need to thrive.

• Support goes both ways: Just as we wrap support around vulnerable families, our volunteers wrap support around each other, celebrating milestones and navigating life's challenges together.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face?

The need is growing. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 Queensland children aged 0 to 5 are living in poverty without access to the basics they need to thrive. That's 1 in 6 children. The cost of living crisis, housing pressures and rising rates of domestic and family violence are all placing increasing pressure on families and on the services that support them. Nearly 60% of all families we supported in 2025 were impacted by domestic and family violence. Keeping up with that growing demand while making sure we maintain the quality and dignity of everything we do - that's the ongoing challenge.

How important are donations in helping you continue your work?

Donations are at the heart of everything. The solution is already within our community - every year, more than 300,000 tonnes of clothing is discarded across Australia. If families donate just a few quality items their children have outgrown, together we can make sure every child has the essential clothing they need. Every item collected, every dollar raised and every hour of volunteer time helps a Queensland child get the start they deserve. It really is that simple and that powerful.

For those who would love to support your work, where is the best place to start?

There's a spot for everyone at Baby Give Back. You can donate quality pre-loved children's clothing, contribute financially or give your time as a volunteer. Whether you sort, pack, donate or share our story - you're part of this. Head to our website to find out more, or follow us on social media to stay in the loop.

How can our community continue to support Baby Give Back?

The most powerful thing our community can do is keep showing up - keep donating, keep volunteering, keep spreading the word. When you support Baby Give Back, you're not just giving stuff. You're building a community of care around a child and their family. Every donation counts and giving a little can change a lot.

What types of items are most needed right now?

Quality second-hand children's clothing in sizes premature through to size 5 is always in demand (our always most needed sizes are Premmie and Newborn 00000,0000 and kids sizes 3, 4 & 5). We also need nappies, baby wipes and basic essentials for newborns and young children. The key word is quality - we package everything beautifully because every family deserves to receive support that feels like a gift.

What does supporting families in this way mean to you and your team?

It means everything. We lead with compassion, show up with courage, build through community and plan for the long term. These aren't just words on a wall - they're how we enter every room, every partnership and every conversation. We're working toward a Queensland where every child has access to the basic essentials they need to thrive and the chance to grow up in a supported, connected community.

Is there anything you'd love more people to understand about the work you do or the families you support?

Every family that comes to us deserves to feel respected, not reduced. Our support is judgement-free by design. These are families navigating real challenges - the cost of living, housing pressures, family violence - and they deserve dignity. We don't position ourselves as saviours. We're a community that shows up for each other. It's by the community, for the community. And the families we support - they're part of that community too.

Where can our community go to learn more or stay connected with Baby Give Back?

Visit our website at babygiveback.org, and you can find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Follow along, share our story and become part of the invisible village. Together, we're giving children an equal start.

We’re so grateful to the team at Baby Give Back for welcoming us into their world, and for the care they show to so many families.

Behind every statistic is a family navigating real challenges and a community coming together to support them.

Being able to contribute, even in a small way, is something that means a lot to us.

If you’ve supported our brand, you’ve been part of this too.

If you’d like to learn more, follow along, or find a way to get involved, we encourage you to connect with Baby Give Back and see the impact they’re making within the community.

Because sometimes, it’s the simplest things, given at the right time, that can change everything.