Atherstone parents urged to make sure lockdown babies have 'legal' start to life

BIRTH CERTIFICATES REALLY SIGNIFICANT, IMPORTANT AND JOYOUS EVENT FOR EVERY NEW-BORN, SAY REGISTRARS

DOCUMENT PROVIDES IDENTITY FOR ENROLLING IN NURSERY OR SCHOOL, GETTING A DRIVING LICENCE, AND EVEN GETTING MARRIED

PARENTS of Atherstone and North Warwickshire babies born during lockdown are being advised to make sure their new arrivals are furnished with the "most important" document needed for their later lives.

Many families were unable to register children born in March, April and May at the height of the pandemic.

County council officials have expressed concerns that as much as six months may have elapsed and the birth remains "unofficial".

Birth certificates for the Covid generation are a vital "legal identity", argues Warwickshire's registration service

Now registrars are urging new mums and dads to get in touch and make an appointment to officially register their new-borns.

They point out all of the county's Covid-secure register offices are up and running again – open for pre-arranged appointments.

Councillor Kam Kaur, county portfolio holder for customer and transformation, said: "We appreciate that family life is busy and that people's lives move on but getting your child's birth registered is a really significant, important and joyous event in their life.

"A birth certificate is a very important document that provides legal identity and which they will need throughout their lives, when enrolling in nursery or school, when getting a driving licence, and even if they decide to get married one day."

Parents can book a birth registration appointment online here or by telephoning 0300 555 0255.

On the day of the appointment, the registrars will telephone them while they are still outside the register office to complete a short telephone interview – so will require the mobile telephone number of the parent that is attending the appointment.

They will then be asked to come inside the office to check and sign the register. Face coverings currently need to be worn by visitors to register offices, unless they are exempt.

In addition, new parents would usually receive their Bookstart pack – which includes everything needed to begin sharing stories, rhymes and songs with their babies – at a visit from their health visitor.

But following all the disruption as a result of the pandemic, Warwickshire registrars are now giving them out again as they catch up with those that gave birth during lockdown – and parents that have had babies since.