11 September 2024

A groundbreaking research report has highlighted the huge obstacles facing families with twins or triplets, including at least a £20k financial hit compared to having two babies in succession.

The financial, social, emotional and health challenges combine to make the UK one of the worst places in the world to bring up multiples.

The research, commissioned by Twins Trust and carried out by Per Capita, a public policy think tank, is the most comprehensive of its kind ever published. It includes a survey of over 1,800 families with multiples. 

 

Key findings
  • Raising twins or triplets is more difficult in the UK than almost any other advanced OECD economy, particularly because there is so little additional support.
  • Families who have multiples face at least a £20,000 financial hit in the first year after birth, compared with having two babies in succession.
  • There is a 15% decline in families' household income, around £12,500 in the first year after birth.
  • 72% of families having multiples had to buy a new car to accommodate their children.
  • 89% of those surveyed said the current childcare provision is inadequate and does not meet the needs of families with multiples.
  • The mental health of parents suffers after pregnancy, with 84% of families having one or more parent who experienced emotional or psychological challenges in the first year of their babies' lives.
  • Parents of multiples feel less supported now than their counterparts in previous decades.
  • The emotional impact of having multiples continues well into years two and three post-pregnancy.

 

A graphic depicting a pair of hands supporting five babies

 

Recommendations from the report
  • Maternity pay per baby, rather than per pregnancy.
  • An expansion of the Sure Start Maternity Grant.
  • Additional mental health support for parents of twins and triplets.
  • An allocation of hours of care for families with multiples.

 

Shauna Leven, Chief Executive at Twins Trust, said: "This report lays bare the grim reality facing families with multiples - the financial burden, mental health toll and lack of support.

"Raising multiples is harder in the UK than almost any other nation. We will continue to campaign tirelessly to tackle the issues highlighted here, so our families can access the support they desperately need and deserve.

"With one set of multiples born every hour across the UK, it's critical that our society steps up and provides adequate support, rather than sending our families to the back of the queue.

 

Michael D'Rosario, Chief Economist at Per Capita, said: "The disparity in paid parental leave provisions leaves parents of multiples at a significant disadvantage, exacerbating financial stress and impacting their ability to provide the necessary care and attention their children require.

"The UK's paid parental leave system is designed with single births in mind, neglecting the compounded demands on parents of multiples, thereby failing to support families who need it the most.

"The fiscal shock experienced by parents of multiples is an urgent issue that demands policy intervention to prevent financial ruin and ensure these families can thrive, not just survive."

 

Discover our State of the Nation research to find out more and download the full report findings.

Discover the research