Babies in Finland are given cardboard cribs to welcome them to the world, along with a box of other needed items for baby's first year. Provided by the government of Finland since 1938, these baby boxes helped to reduce infant mortality in the Nordic country.
Finland was a poor country in the 1930's. Out of every 1,000 births, 65 babies would die. The Finnish government began to supply low-income mothers with a care box. This box, containing diapers and cream, among other items, could itself could also be used as a temporary crib, complete with mattress and sheets. At first, the boxes also included fabric for mothers to sew clothes for their children, which was common practice at the time.
During the Second World War, plain-weave cotton and flannel were needed for the war effort, so the fabric was replaced by swaddling cloth and paper bed sheets.
The program was extended from just low-income women when the program began to include all expectant mothers, beginning in 1949. The practice of government providing a needed, identical package to every expectant mother is now considered a sign by many Finnish people that that all babies are treasured - and equal - in the eyes of their government.
"Not only was it offered to all mothers-to-be, but... in order to get the grant, or maternity box, they had to visit a doctor or municipal pre-natal clinic before their fourth month of pregnancy," Heidi Liesivesi from Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, said.
Later on, cold-weather gear was included, including a snowsuit, booties, mittens and a hat, along with a picture book and teething toy. By the 1950's, ready-made clothes were included in the packages, and in 1968, a sleeping bag was part of the packages. Disposable diapers appeared the following year. The packages were changed, removing bottles, in order to encourage breast feeding. By the 1970's, some of the clothes in the boxes were made with synthetic fabrics. In 2000, more environmentally friendly cloth diapers made a comeback, replacing disposables.
Even the cardboard crib itself is designed to reduce danger to the infant, who can get smothered sleeping in a bed with parents.
"Babies used to sleep in the same bed as their parents and it was recommended that they stop. Including the box as a bed meant people started to let their babies sleep separately from them," Panu Pulma, professor in Finnish and Nordic History at the University of Helsinki, said.
Modern packages come with items for the bath, a sleeping bag, and a complete set of clothes, including a bodysuit, in gender neutral colors. One advantage of these colors is that the clothes collected can be passed on to a younger baby, regardless of gender.
The style of the baby clothes changes every year. Because of this, Finnish mothers can tell what year a baby was born just by their outfit.
Mothers can elect to receive a check for the equivalent of $183 in place of the care package, but the value of the items offered is significantly higher, so 95 percent of mothers forgo the money.
Today, the infant mortality rate in Finland is 3.5 deaths for every 1,000 babies born, which is the best in the world. This is half the rate of the United States. Finland also has the world's best average maternal health.
