Finland’s Famous Baby Boxes To Come To D.C. And Ohio

Newborn babies sleep a lot. Up to 10.5 to 18 hours to be exact. Which is why it’s so important that parents maintain a safe sleeping environment for their baby. Even the smallest of objects such as a stuffed animal in your child’s crib can lead to terrible consequences.

Fortunately, new legislation is being proposed to reduce the infant mortality rate in the United States. Both in D.C. and Trumbull County, Ohio, baby boxes are being considered the newest and safest way to keep infants safe.

The baby box is a rendition of Finland’s famous maternity package, which provides soon-to-be mothers with a blanket, clothes, and a simple box for their infant to sleep in. These boxes are clear of anything that may cause suffocation to a child and promotes safe sleeping habits for the parents as well.

“We don’t know all the causes of sudden infant death, but we do know that sometimes co-sleeping can cause problems,” said Brianne Nadaeu, a D.C. Councilmember, to Fox 5. “So we want parents to have a safe place to put their child while they are sleeping while it is also convenient for them.”

A baby box allows for parents to have their child in the bedroom with them without risking suffocation or the child rolling off the bed. The closeness of the box also allows the parent to keep an eye on their infant to prevent SIDS.

However, the baby boxes aren’t only a lifesaver for the child. The government-sanctioned boxes are also a lifesaver for the new mother who often can’t afford a crib or another alternative. This often leads to bed-sharing, which can be dangerous to the newborn child.

The Baby Box Company is the only company making these infant-safe baby boxes for new parents thus far. However, the new D.C. bill will enable other companies to partake in the production of the boxes as well.

“We have consulted with hospital association,” said Nadaeu. “We are hoping they might be our willing partner to provide the boxes as parents are leaving the hospital. One of the challenges is where do you store them because they are kind of big if you are taking thousands of them, so we are working on that now.”