Home-Start Falkirk: Scottish Minister visits Denny to talk about baby box scheme

To celebrate almost 293,000 baby boxes handed out in the last seven years, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville visited the Denny base of Home-Start Falkirk last week to hear how the charity supports families with young children and meet parents who have benefited from the Scottish Government’s unique baby box programme.

It is filled with essential items for newborns – everything from tiny vests to books and thermometers.

Based on a long-established scheme in Finland, the baby box is a universal free offer for families expecting babies in Scotland.

The scheme was launched in 2017 and since then 292,720 have been delivered to give families reassurance that regardless of their circumstances, they will have access to essential items needed for the first six months of their newborn’s life.

The minister was interested in hearing parent’s experiences of what is in the baby box and how useful they found it.

Sandra Rankin, Home-Start Falkirk manager for the last 17 years, said it was a very positive response from the parents.

She said: “Everyone had different opinions on what they found most useful and while some said there were items they wouldn’t use, they said these were always passed on to others to make use of.

"The minister was very interested in what everyone had to say, particularly the parents who had received a baby box for an older child and now had one for a new arrival.

"Some parents said that they used the box and mattress as a second cot for their baby, while others said they would never do that. It was interesting to hear the different viewpoints.”

Sandra added that parents with older children told of them colouring in the baby box for the new arrival and it was a great opportunity for them to bond with the baby.

However, a sling which is in the box is proving more of a challenge for new parents they revealed to Ms Somerville.

Sandra said: “None of them could work out how to put it on using the instructions provided but those who went on the YouTube were able to follow a video. The minister has said that she is going to get her staff to try to put it on using the instructions in the box. So perhaps we will see a change.”

Ms Somerville said: “The baby box is a welcome gift for every baby born in Scotland. It ensures that every family with a new-born has access to essential items needed in the first six months of a child’s life, like clothes, books and thermometers – saving expectant parents around £420.

“We want to ensure every child has the nurturing care they need to have the best start in life and to fulfil their potential. Supporting parents is key to improving outcomes for children and young people.

“As a result of the Scottish Government’s policies such as the Scottish Child Payment, it is estimated that 100,000 fewer children will live in relative poverty in 2024-25. But we will always be fighting poverty with one arm tied behind our back if the UK Government is delivering policies that result in the opposite outcome.

The box is delivered between weeks 32 and 36 of pregnancy and uptake is above 90 per cent.