For the last year or so
We have been made aware
Of the Finnish Baby Box tradition
Through traditional and social media
Since 1938, expectant parents in Finland
Have been given a Baby Box by the state
Preparing them for the arrival of their baby.
Much like a starter kit
The box is bursting full of clothes, bedding, toys and information for new parents
Perhaps more importantly
The sturdy Baby Boxes can be used as baby’s first bed
Experts say that this element has been responsible for
Helping Finland achieve one of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates
Now baby’s sadly die for many reasons
Not all related to how or where they sleep
But we all know that too many babies
Are still dying around the world
Whose lives might be saved
Through safer sleep
Here in the UK
The Lullaby Trust promote the ABC of safer sleep
Baby should sleep alone
On their back
In a clean, clear cot
The Baby Box provides a simple
Affordable way
To meet those guidelines and more
British Baby Box are one of a number of companies
Bringing the Finnish tradition to the UK
And I was honoured to be asked to take a look at their box
And write a post about it here on my blog
British Baby Box is run by two mummies
Two mummies who want to make a difference
Susan Purse and Sarah Simons
Are at the forefront of pushing the Baby Box concept
Here in the UK
Susan said: “It might sound odd to tell new mums to put their precious bundle to bed in what is essentially a cardboard box but studies have shown that putting a baby to sleep in a baby box rather than a cot or Moses’ basket can help reduce the causes associated with sudden infant death syndrome. We want to inform and educate British parents on the idea and our company has created a range of options to make the concept affordable and accessible to all.”
Susan has a very personal reason for wanting the product to succeed in the UK
Her fourth child was stillborn and she believes that protecting babies is something that should begin at conception
This is why their company supports not only The Lullaby Trust but also Kicks Count
Two charities very close to my own heart
Who have helped me enormously since losing Matilda Mae in 2013
They have also formed a number of partnerships with other charities and organisations to reach more vulnerable women and children
Among these was a scheme with Save The Children and another with Barnardos.
They were also involved in sending boxes to Syrian refugees in Greece and delivered them to a women’s charity in Iraq
There is no doubting the companies good intentions and credentials
But what about their product?
What about the actual British Baby Box?
The British Baby Box is made of sturdy cardboard
The box comes with a fitted mattress
With attached waterproof mattress cover
And one 100% organic cotton fitted sheet
Made here in Britain
The box comes fully assembled and ready to use
Inside the box there are leaflets for The Lullaby Trust and Kicks Count
The idea is that instead of a moses basket
You buy a baby box for your baby to sleep in
It is actually not as crazy as it sounds
A sturdy cardboard box provides a clear sleeping space for a baby
At least for a short while
I would be a bit worried after spending £50 on the box
That baby would be sick on it or have an explosive nappy
And in that situation you would not be able to use the box anymore
As you cannot clean cardboard in the way that you would clean a wooden cot
Or plastic moses basket
However assuming that no illness, accident or spillage happens
And no family pets take up residence in the box
Then it does provide a clean clear space where a small baby can sleep safely
The bespoke fit mattress has a wipe clean cover
Is fully air permeable and reversible
It can be used for placing baby in the “feet to foot” position
The quilted microfibre mattress cover has huge benefits
Which include being anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-dust mite and air permeable
The box itself is larger than a traditional moses basket
And has a recommended upper age limit of 6 – 8 months
Which makes it great value for money at a little over £50
I also like the idea of using the lid as a space to change baby
Though you would need to place a changing mat in it to protect the cardboard
I worried that seeing a white box for a baby
Would be a trigger point for me
I worried that I would not feel able to lay my baby to sleep in a white box
Having seen one daughter laid in a white casket
But it was okay
I understand the purpose of the box
The practicalities of it
And I think it is actually a neat idea
A cardboard moses basket
Travel cot
A portable place to sleep
A portable space to play
British Baby Box would make a wonderful baby shower gift
Or a going on maternity leave gift
You could pack the box with useful goodies
Ready for the new baby’s arrival
British Baby Box sell their boxes empty
So that you can choose gifts
Especially for your mum to be
But they also sell filled boxes
And wonderful filled boxes they are
Filled to bursting with products made in Britain
Featuring some lovely brands
Are not cheap
But the British products are of excellent quality
British Baby Box can be used before a new baby arrives
To keep new baby clothes in
Or to store essential items
The boxes can also be used as precious memory boxes
Once baby is too big to sleep in them anymore
Or as a toy box in a nursery, bedroom or playroom
The concept of the baby box is an excellent one
To be able to provide families in need
With all they need for bringing a new life into the world
Including a safe space in which the baby can sleep
British Baby Box support that concept
And until it is in place for all parents in the UK
As it is for all parents in Finland
Provide a quality alternative
That parents can buy or be bought
By family in friends
To welcome their new arrival
For more information about British Baby Box
Their story and their products
Please visit their website
And follow their journey on
We were sent one Adorable Box in exchange for an honest review
NB – It is important to know that the introduction of a baby box alone does not guarantee that a baby will not die. There is an interesting article here about baby boxes and infant mortality rates around the world.
Oh gosh, I hadn’t ever thought of the issue with the cardboard. I wonder whether they could make it easier to wipe clean without increasing the cost. I do like the idea but I read the article you linked to and it does seem that people are perhaps putting too much store by the boxes when there are a lot of other factors we can do nothing about.
Nat.x
Can I just reply to this…. I’ve got one of these boxes and the cardboard is coated, smooth and very, very easy to wipe-clean. In fact, it’s a lot easier than my moses basket was where, without wanting to make anyone feel sick, little bits of spit up got wedged between the wicker.
I also liked the Baby Box because its larger than a moses basket but not as big as a cot, so fit nicely in my bedroom so I could keep an eye on the baby. It was also lighter and more portable and so much more aesthetically pleasing. It fits with the rest of my contemporary decor. So many baby products are twee.
This ticks more boxes (excuse the pun) for me than anything else on the market.
I will look again at the box I have here for coating. It is definitely smooth but I am not certain it would cope well with being cleaned. I am happy to stand corrected though if I have that detail wrong. I agree the box is smooth and a small spillage could be wiped with a wipe. I also agree that I would choose the box over an older style, more traditional wicker moses basket for hygiene and a quieter sleep x
I’ve loved the idea of the Finnish baby boxes since hearing about them when I first found out I was pregnant and have been looking for a British equivalent. Definitely going to check out the British Baby Box website now.
I hadn’t considered the err sick/spillages issue but they look fairly wipe downable!