Boxes for Beds?

Here at The Snoozery we like to keep an eye out for interesting sleep themed stories from around the world: Here is the latest one that caught our attention…

In Finland all expectant mothers are given the gift of a maternity package from the government - containing bodysuits, a sleeping bag, outdoor gear, bathing products, nappies, bedding and a small mattress. With the mattress in the bottom, the box becomes the baby's first bed!

This tradition dates back to the 1930s and is designed to give all children, regardless of their background, an equal start in life. As well as being a lovely idea, some say that it has helped Finland to achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.

Encouraging good parenting has always been part of the maternity box policy. For example when it was recommended that babies no longer sleep in the same bed as their parents - turning the box into a bed by including the mattress - encouraged parents to start letting their babies sleep separately from them.

There was a recent report saying that Finnish mums are the happiest in the world, we think that this little box might just have something to do with that!