Have you heard of this custom in Finland? I just read this article and had to share it! Every baby born in Finland receives a box from the state full of clothes, a sleeping bag, accessories and toys. The box can then be used as a bed. Everyone receives it, so it has become part of the excitement of having a baby.
I thought it was really interesting how over the years the content of the box has changed. In the ’30s the box contained fabric as woman were used to making their own clothes… and now the box contains condoms! The Finns are certainly moving with the times, but the principle stays the same and so generations of children in Finland have started off their lives sleeping in a cardboard box — such a great tradition!
– Emilie
Comments (8)
That’s such a wonderful idea, I never knew that! It’s funny to see how the contents has changed as well! 🙂
Daisy
http://en.emoi-emoi.com/blog/
I love the fact that you featured this 🙂 Receiving the box when expecting my first baby was such a thrill. It’s definitely like a rite of becoming a mom 🙂 Five years on we still use quite a few of the items that came in it, the nail scissors, a hair brush, muslin cloths and my kiddies love the sleeping bag in their games. In fact my mom has kept my sleeping bag from the 80’s and my baby girl slept her naps in it the whole last winter (in the pram).
The older items sell for quite expensive and here’s a link where you can see some of the previous boxes:
http://www.kela.fi/aitiyspakkaus_edelliset-aitiyspakkaukset
My children never slep in the actual box as I prefer to co-sleep, but it’s such a saving for those who don’t as you can cover it with fabric and put it in the cot which saves the cost of a moses basket or a grib 🙂
I believe the finnish goverment sent one as a gift to Prince William and his wife when they we’re expecting their first baby.
That link is so interesting! They receive so much! How wonderful!
How funny! Someone was just telling me about this Finnish tradition. Apparently mums will bond over the year their child was born and talk about how amazing that year’s box was, etc. Love it!
Love this. Wish more countries shared this tradition.
It’s a great idea for new parents, I’d have been very happy to get a box like that. Looking at the pictures, it made me think there must be lots of babies in Finland every winter dressed indentically in a sort of ‘state snowsuit’ – I guess the chances of picking the wrong baby up and taking it home by mistake are fairly high!
I think it could be nice in a way, but I still find it seems “old-school” soviet to me to have a state-designed cardboard box to put your baby in! Perhaps it’s the American baby shower equivalent, but instead of new baby supplies given by your friends it comes from the government. I know it’s a well-loved custom for many, and I do love hearing about how parenting is different everywhere!
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