Did you guys see this BBC article circulating the other day? Rookie mom Yasmeen in Pune, India sent it to us. Thanks, Yasmeen!
Pregnant women in Finland receive a starter kit from the government that includes this large box, suitable as a newborn sleeping station (includes a mattress), packed with baby necessities from cold weather clothing to bathing products. Everything in the box is gender neutral, and it saves the expectant parents money as well as the stress associated with making a bunch of purchase decisions.
How wonderful for every baby in the country to be offered the same start in life, down to the same hooded bath towel. A father quoted in the article even says, “…when I visit friends with young children it’s nice to see we share some common things. It strengthens that feeling that we are all in this together.”
Question for you: Did you enjoy shopping for and selecting all the things you needed to prepare for baby or would you prefer to have a magic box handed to you by the state?
images: BBC
I actually put my oldest child in a drawer with padding when we came home from the hospital as her crib had not come yet. If I had the money I would buy my own stuff if I didnt I would be happy to get it from the state
I think this would have been fabulous! It feels like such a whirlwind to get everything done when you’re working, that a “magic box” would be fantastic. It was neat to read in the original article that people could tell what year your child was born in, as the contents change slightly on an annual basis. Kind of a neat, communal experience. It seems that in Finland, this box just represents a sort of commitment of the government/society to each baby/family. We could learn a lot from this in North America!
Everything looks so cute – I probably would have purchased the magic box!
I would have loved for something like that. What a great way to support the family. Way to go Finland. I used a rubbermaid tub as a bassinet. I couldn’t see the point in purchasing a special single use item.
I saw that article too and was charmed by it. I think I would have done the magic box, it looks completely adorable. I also liked how the article said people could tell that their babies were the same age by the stuff they had, which changed slightly from year to year.
I would have paid for a magic box!! Gets me thinking (on a smaller scale) that this would be awesome to provide to our local supportive living center for teen moms.
I love this. I would be so grateful if my country did this, it speaks of a culture that really cares.
I think it’s interesting that some posters said they’d buy the box, it’s a different culture where it is everyone. Accepting the box doesn’t mean the same as a handout would here (or I imagine it does in the US).
Seriously, awesome. I mean, really, until about 6 months or the rolling over stage babies don’t go anywhere. It would also save space and help parents, who have a one bedroom place, gain the time to save money. The clothes is a great bonus, too!
That magic box looks awesome. I’d take it! If the contents didn’t look so cool, or if they aren’t 100% cotton, then No.
I enjoyed buying everything! But a freebie like the magic box looks pretty cool. Way to go, Finland.
Man, I love Finland. I hold their education system as my ideal: Kids don’t start formal education until age 7, and even then it is still largely play-based as that is how kids learn best. Before that preschool is state-funded (I.e. free) and again focused on play. Love it.
The magic box is awesome too – think about how wonderful it would be here for every mom to be handed what she needs. I loved buying my own stuff, but getting handed this would also be awesome and even more so for all the moms who can’t afford new, cute stuff or even necessities.
You can buy the box! http://www.finnishbabybox.co/products/finnish-baby-box Definitely more expensive than free, but it looks really cute!!