In Finland, young children sleep in cardboard boxes which is a custom that has reduced cot deaths
When it comes to taking care of babies, there are different opinions, often due to the traditions of each country.
Many would, for example, consider it to be child neglect to let a newborn baby sleep in a cardboard box, but in Finland, it is a tradition that has been going on for more than 75 years.
Every new mom receives a cardboard box from the government where the newborn baby can sleep. It may seem like madness, and yet it's a very serious matter ...
via babysitio.com
In Finland, all children sleep in cardboard boxes for the first few months of their life.
It is a tradition that has been going on for 75 years, and it is the government itself that supplies the baby boxes to the new mothers.
In the box, there is a new parent starter kit, very useful for new moms and dads! The kit consists of :
- A baby cap, gloves, and waterproof baby booties
- A baby jumpsuit with a hoodie
- Socks, gloves, and a knitted hat
- T-shirts, playsuits, and leggings
- Bath towel, scissors, brush, and toothbrush
- Thermometer for bath, moisturizer lotion, and a sponge glove
- Cotton fabric baby diapers
- Illustrated book and baby toy for dentition
- Mattress and box size cotton sheet
In the United States, this custom has also started to spread. In fact, Michelle Vick is the co-founder of the company that has started producing these baby boxes.
American pediatricians support the use of baby boxes due to child safety issues. As a matter of fact, it is much better for a baby to sleep with only the essentials, that is, with a mattress and a blanket. This will prevent the well-known and terrible deaths by accidental suffocation in the cradle.
Since the introduction of baby boxes, in Finland, the infant mortality rate has decreased significantly and today it is among the lowest in the world.
The baby can sleep in the baby box for up to 8 months. After that, they can be transferred to a normal baby bed.
In Finland, almost all mothers chose the baby box instead of a sum of equivalent money, which the government also makes available.
Watch the video to find out more!
