All babies born in Tayside and Fife will now receive a box full of essential items to help give them the best possible start in life after a new Scottish Government scheme was rolled out.
Each ‘Baby Box’ contains a large number of items which are not only practical but designed to help tackle inequality and promote health and wellbeing.
The scheme has been inspired by a similar initiative in Finland, and the decision to push it Scotland-wide follows successful pilot projects in Orkney and Clackmannanshire.
As well as containing items such as clothes, books and blankets, the box itself also doubles up as a safe sleeping space after being awarded British Safety standard accreditation as a crib for domestic use.
Safe sleep guidance is also provided in a leaflet inside the box, while safety guidelines are also printed on the box lid.
Delivery of the boxes to new mums and dads started on Tuesday, with proud parents at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital among the first to receive the resources.
Cowdenbeath couple Nicola and Lee Hughes welcomed 7lb 10oz Emma-Lily into the world at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, on Monday.
After seeing the baby boxes first hand, Nicola said: “I think they are amazing.
“There is a lot of useful stuff in there including things you wouldn’t immediately think of, so you can definitely see the value in having them.”
Lee added: “There really is something for everyone. Items like the electronic thermometer aren’t something you would necessarily think about buying before your child is born, but it’s great to have those sorts of things included.”
Professor Scott McLean, chief operating officer (acute) at NHS Fife, said: “We welcome any initiative aimed at ensuring each child in Fife is given the best possible start in life.
“The items contained in the baby boxes are extremely useful for new parents and not only do they contain practical items such as clothes, blankets, towels and a changing mat, they also include crucial health promotion information and resources to support mums and dads on their journey through parenthood.”
Several thousand Baby Boxes are expected to be delivered to hospitals across Courier country throughout the first year of the initiative.
Welcoming the scheme, an NHS Tayside spokesperson said: “We have received publicity materials for the newly launched baby boxes from the Scottish Government and our staff will be raising awareness of the baby box scheme in all of our maternity areas.”
