Each baby box provides a safe sleeping environment for the baby along with essentials such as blankets, nappies, thermometers and clothes.
Following more than a year of campaigning the "baby box" scheme has been officially included in the Programme For Government. Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond has pushed for the decision and is delighted to finally see it moving forward.
The scheme was originally piloted two years ago in two maternity hospitals in Ireland. University Hospital Limerick was the first to trial the initiative which was originally aimed at increasing the survival rate of babies in Ireland.
Each box provides a safe sleeping environment for the baby along with essentials such as blankets, nappies, thermometers and clothes. The idea behind the boxes is very much steeped in equality. With a baby box every baby born in Ireland has the same start in life. According to finegael.ie
" This programme will ensure that regardless of their means, all parents can rest assured that their babies will have what they need. "
The idea originated in Finland almost eighty years ago with a nationwide uptake of almost 95%. What originated as a gesture for low income families quickly became a standard for all babies born in the country. In 2017 Scotland introduced the scheme for all babies born in the country and Ireland appears to be following suit.
The scheme has officially been included in the Programme For Government which represents a commitment to ensure that all babies born in Ireland will receive a baby box at birth. TD Neale Richmond is delighted that the campaigning has had a positive outcome.
" After campaigning for Baby Boxes for over a year, I am delighted to see that the nationwide roll out of the Baby Box programme is included in the Programme for Government for the very first time "