What will be in the “baby box” offered to all young parents from 2022?

For several months, the Ministry of Solidarity has embarked on the development of a “baby box” which will be distributed at the birth of children in February 2022.

Created in 1938 in Finland, the “baby box” is a real success. But what is it ? It is simply a cardboard box provided with a mattress and which contains everything necessary so that the infant does not miss anything the first days of his life. This package is given to all future mothers, just before birth. Then, the box can be transformed into a cradle, to accommodate the child. This measure was taken by the government and has helped bring down the infant mortality rate, providing a safe space for the child’s sleep. Indeed, a bad sleep is one of the risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome. Even today, Finland has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world with less than 0.3%.

Seduced by this project, the French Ministry of Solidarity and Health is currently developing a box intended for young parents at the birth of their child. The first families will receive it in February 2022.

“We’ve been working on it for 9 months, we are in the context of a public contract so it takes time. We are considering the first models in early 2022. But we have already produced two prototypes. ”, explained the Secretary of State for Children.

In reality, the French model will not be entirely similar to the Finnish baby box, it will not be a box but a shoulder bag.
“We kept the code name“ baby box ”for now, because it gives an idea of ​​what it is”, he stressed.

A bag with a mission for parents: to be an “in invitation to go out, take things for yourself ”and“ not to forget yourself as a parent. ” Presented to the Council of Ministers as “The main communication medium for public health messages for the first 1000 days”, each object has been designed for its didactic and informative qualities.

What does the box contain?

In the list of “flagship objects” we will notably count a sleeping bag.

”It will be accompanied by a public health message: it is less risky for the baby to sleep in a sleeping bag than with something that could cover his face. And you have to lay it on its back ”, summarizes the ministry before specifying: “Each object conveys and symbolizes a message intended to help parents”.

A bib and neutral soap will also be part of the lot. “They will allow us to introduce topics expected but useful to remember, such as breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, allergies, diversification” he added

A children’s book is also available in the box, “To say that the development of the child also passes through interaction and an artistic and musical awakening, which is also fundamental for the development of his brain”, said the ministry

No clothing is provided to garnish the package. “There were discussions about it, but in the end it was not retained as one of the essential things ”, he explained.

A small booklet will be slipped into each box, containing public health messages, both for the child and for the parent. “We want there to be an object specifically for the mother, to allow her to tell herself that she has to take care of her, maybe a cream or something like that”.

The box will be distributed in maternity hospitals, its deployment will be done gradually, starting in February 2022 with priority areas.

“We have a geographical zoning of maternity hospitals and not of individuals, some families receive a box and others do not. The first 6 months, until August inclusive, three-quarters of French maternity hospitals will be affected, which represents around 180,000 boxes distributed. ”, announced the ministry.

By the end of 2022, 250,000 other boxes should be offered to young parents, to be able to cover all maternities in 2023.

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