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How 'maternity box' gift helped lower infant mortality rates in Finland

Many Finnish babies spend their first nights nestled inside a cardboard box – and here’s why.

FINLAND’S UNORTHODOX APPROACH to education has made the country’s school system one the best in the world – consistently coming at the top of international rankings for education systems.

But education is not the only area in which Finland is striking a home run. Seventy-five years ago, the Finnish government embarked on an other ambitious mission: giving every child, no matter what their background, the same start in life.

So, since the 1930s, expectant mothers in Finland have been given a maternity box containing everything they will need after their baby’s birth –including bodysuits, outdoor clothes, nappies, bathing products, a sleeping bag, a rattle, an illustrated book, bra pads and condoms.

The specially-designed box even comes with a mattress in the bottom, meaning it can double up as a crib, and many Finnish babies spend their first nights nestled inside them.

The innovative idea is thought to have contributed to Finland having one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world. Before 1938, when the scheme was introduced, 65 out of every 1,000 babies in Finland died – however, the maternity box, a national heath insurance system and central hospital network has since improved infants’ chances significantly.

The contents of the box have undergone many changes since the initiative’s inception, in order to reflect the needs of a changing society. During the 1930s and 1940s, the boxes contained fabric as people were accustomed to making their own clothes, while paper bedding was provided during WWII when government funds were scarce. More recently, baby bottles and dummies were removed in order not to discourage breastfeeding.

Kela, Finland’s social security service, has even sent a box to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to congratulate them on their upcoming arrival. Not too shabby.

Read: Finland to cut corporate tax rate from 24.5pc to 20pc
Read: Finland flags Euro exit
Read: 16 surprising facts about Finland’s unorthodox education system

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17 Comments
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    Mute Barry
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    Jul 14th 2013, 5:43 PM

    People in Finland can actually opt for this box or a cash payment.

    Most tend to opt for the box though,

    I think the box is a fantastic idea and something that should be done in ireland, I’d be inclined to think no cash alternative should be available though as it could be misused.

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    Mute Sinabhfuil
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    Jul 14th 2013, 10:19 PM

    How typical of our attitude to each other in Ireland that the first assumption is “it could be misused”, while in Finland they trust each other.
    I suspect that excellent Finnish healthcare has more to do with the lowered infant mortality than the box of goodies.

    35
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    Mute Dublinjonny
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    Jul 14th 2013, 5:38 PM

    Wow and all we give mothers are the dole , supliments a house to live in and any freebie possible … but only if there social parasites , try bring up a kid any other way and ur on ur own

    236
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    Mute Leanne Griffin
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    Jul 14th 2013, 6:17 PM

    Not all mothers get that.

    108
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    Mute Leanne Griffin
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    Jul 14th 2013, 6:28 PM

    Actually I see that you said that, I just didn’t understand some of what you said. “there” instead of ‘their’ threw me way off for some reason! Sorry.

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    Mute Alan Reid
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    Jul 14th 2013, 9:19 PM

    Do you not mean they’re?

    47
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    Mute Leanne Griffin
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    Jul 14th 2013, 9:36 PM

    Haha yes, by the time I wrote it I’d forgotten the context it was in! Nothing annoys me more than they’re, there and their are misspelled and now it looks like I don’t know the difference either, argh! :(

    27
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    Mute Alan Reid
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    Jul 14th 2013, 9:51 PM

    All is forgiven :-)

    14
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    Mute Leanne Griffin
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    Jul 14th 2013, 10:32 PM

    I’ll never forgive myself. :(

    15
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    Mute Alan Harrison
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    Jul 14th 2013, 5:47 PM

    So no figures on what the mortality rates are now? And no photo of this baby box?

    84
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    Mute Maitiu O Faolain
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    Jul 14th 2013, 5:51 PM

    Wow! Read this story a few weeks back elsewhere!

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    Mute Maitiu O Faolain
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    Jul 14th 2013, 5:53 PM
    51
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    Mute felicity harris
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    Jul 14th 2013, 5:46 PM

    Surely the decline cannot be solely attributed to “the cardboard box” as the heading implies.

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    Mute Barry
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    Jul 14th 2013, 5:54 PM

    The BBC website did a more detailed story about this a few weeks back, stats and figures and usage.

    They also included box content and pictures of it.

    The box certainly made a difference

    84
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    Mute Michael Barrett
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    Jul 14th 2013, 6:15 PM

    I think the main contribution to mortality was that the baby slept in the box and not their parents bed. There is more information on the link posted to the BBC by other contributors.

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    Mute Paul Beggan
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    Jul 15th 2013, 9:36 AM

    Co sleeping doesn’t put babies at risk. U have to be careful when putting a child to sleep whether it sleeps in your bed or in a cot. No pillows, parents not drinking etc. Just use common sense

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jul 15th 2013, 6:01 PM

    Giving a baby condoms?
    Surely a voucher for them would be a better idea?

    6
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