As we know all too well, many aspects of our lives have changed throughout the pandemic, but none more so than those who became parents during these trying times.
It's no secret that the last 18 months have been incredibly different for new parents, who've been forced to give birth alone and missed out on many face to face appointments.
In fact, many parents of babies have grown frustrated at missing out on simple things, such as regular weigh-ins for their newborn babies, which is what led one mum to turn to supermarket scales.
Tasha Moss was shopping in her local branch of Marks and Spencer in Reading, Berkshire, when she spotted the weighing scales in the fruit and veg aisle.
With her 10-week-old son Freddie-Jay Moss in tow, she couldn't quite resist the urge to stick the newborn on the scales after missing out on having the youngster weighed due to the pandemic.
"We were just walking past the fruit and veg aisle," Tasha said. "I had Freddie in my arms, I had just finished feeding him, and I saw the scales. I said 'shall we quickly weigh him?' I haven't had him weighed for so long, it's obviously not as accurate as the digital ones but it's given me a slight idea of what he weighs now."
So, the 32-year-old wiped the tray with an anti-bacterial wipe and popped little Freddie-Jay in there, while carefully cradling and supporting his neck. A few seconds later she scooped him out, thrilled to finally find out how much he weighed.
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The mum-of-three said: "It was funny, usually he would cry at something like that but he loved it. It was reassuring to know that he is putting on weight and that I'm doing something right.
"He's putting on weight so that's a good sign he must be healthy."
The front of house team leader, who is currently on maternity leave, was thrilled to discover that Freddie-Jay, who was born weighing 6lb 5.5oz, now tips the scales at 10lb 4oz.
Tasha said: "I think, especially for first-time parents, it can be worrying. You do wonder 'are they putting on weight? How much should they be eating?'
"I still do it with Freddie, you just want that reassurance that since he's last been weighed he's put on this much and it's all good."
Tasha's friend Natalie took a snap of baby Freddie-Jay in the scales, and later posted the picture on Facebook, writing: "NO BABY WAS HARMED IN THE MAKING
"When your best friend can’t get her baby weighed as no baby clinics running due to Covid (other than for emergencies). Good old M&S with old school scales."
The post quickly received more than 2,500 likes, and racked up hundreds of comments from people who branded the idea "ingenious."
He's not just any baby, he's an M&S baby.
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