A new mum who raised her baby during the Covid-19 pandemic has been left shocked by her daughter's first word - which is very fitting for these strange times.
Leanne Howlett, 34, gave birth to her daughter Miley just a five months before the first coronavirus lockdown began in March 2020, and spent the whole time mothering her baby through the pandemic.
She said that all appointments and chances for her daughter to socialise were cancelled, and so the young child didn't have the same range of interaction as most babies do.
Go here for the very latest parenting updates from across the North East
As a result when she was learning to talk young Miley didn't say mummy, daddy, dog, or any of the other popular first words - but instead went for 'mask', as in face mask.
Speaking to the BBC, Leanne said: "My baby's first word was mask."
Leanne said that as everything was closed during the first lockdown, her baby had no chance to socialise and learn from other children.
She continued: "Overnight, home appointments dropped away. She is not at all sociable - she didn't see anyone but us until she was nearly one."
She added that when her daughter did go to her first baby group, all the mums were wearing face masks and she thinks this may have affected Miley's first words.
