The Surprising Reason Babies Everywhere Are Sleeping in Cardboard Boxes

Finnish Baby Box

It almost seems too simple to work, but for more than 75 years, Finland's government has provided all expectant moms — regardless of their economic status — with a maternity box filled with a selection of clothes, bedding, and products used in the first few months of a baby's life. And the government there says the box is the reason Finland has one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates — 3.4 deaths per 1,000 births — half the rate in the United States.

In addition to baby's layette and some bath products, the box comes with a small mattress that is placed in the bottom of the box to create baby's first bed. To get the box, all expectant parents need to do is attend a a prenatal appointment prior to their fourth month of pregnancy.

Although the box had been around for more than half a century, news of its existence spread a few years ago and a number of copycat boxes began cropping up — some government or charity-issued, and some for sale by entrepreneurial companies.

In South Asia, for example, the Barakat Bundle was created by a Harvard University doctoral student. Karima Ladhani developed the low-cost box to include a clean-birth kit that helps prevent infections during childbirth, a thermal kit, and a mosquito net to ward off malaria. "We wanted to provide low-cost life-saving solutions to new mothers — specifically targeted to causes of preventable infant and maternal mortality," Ladhani told the BBC. The box also includes health and hygiene information, as well as newborn essentials — including a safe place for the baby to sleep. In order to receive the box, mothers must attend a prenatal checkup.

Here in the US, Jennifer Clary and Michelle Vick were taken with the story of the Finnish baby boxes and set out to create a version that American parents could buy for themselves. The result is The Baby Box Company, a for-profit company that sells several different boxes that provide a safe sleeping environment for babies up to 8 months old. Depending on the box you buy, it can be simple with just the box, a mattress, a waterproof cover, and a sheet ($69) to luxurious with onesies, socks, bibs, sleep sacks, organic bath products, and more ($199). The company also works with government agencies and hospitals to distribute their for free.

And lest anyone think the folks in Finland are just watching other countries copy one of their signature products, Anssi Okkonen, Heikki Tiittanen, and Anton Danielsen — three dads who were impressed with the contents of the boxes they received for free from their government — have created the Finnish Baby Box that ships copies of the government-issued boxes to expectant parents around the world for approximately $450.

Read on to see what the boxes look like around the world.

The Baby Box Company
Facebook | The Baby Box Company

The Baby Box Company

The US-based Baby Box Company sells five versions of their box ranging from $69 to $225 — including the classic box seen here.

British Baby Box
Facebook | British Baby Box

British Baby Box

Started by two mothers in England, the British Baby Box comes with a box, a fitted mattress, a waterproof cover, and a fitted sheet for approximately $71. Boxes with newborn clothing options can be purchased for $143 and $214.

Thula Baba Box
Twitter | ErnstHertzog

Thula Baba Box

In South Africa, Ernst Hertzog and Frans de Villiers are creating the Thula Baba Box, which is focused on getting expectant moms to attend prenatal classes to help reduce the risk of HIV being passed from mothers to babies. Instead of a cardboard box, the entrepreneurs are using plastic boxes that can be used as baby baths.

Finnish Baby Box
Finnish Baby Box

Finnish Baby Box

Anssi Okkonen, Heikki Tiittanen, and Anton Danielsen — three Finnish dads who were impressed with the contents of the boxes they received for free from their government — have created the Finnish Baby Box that ships copies of the government-issued boxes to expectant parents around the world for approximately $450.

Barakat Bundle
Twitter | BarakatBundle

Barakat Bundle

The Barakat Bundle was created by Harvard University doctoral student Karima Ladhani who was impressed with the health benefits of the Finnish box. She developed the low-cost box to include a clean-birth kit that helps prevent infections during childbirth, a thermal kit, and a mosquito net to ward off malaria. The box also includes health and hygiene information, as well as newborn essentials — including a safe place for the baby to sleep. In order to receive the box, mothers must attend a prenatal checkup. Pilot boxes began shipping earlier this year.