蜜芽传媒

A baby box is a cardboard box full of goodies for newborn babies, which can also act as a cot. They were first used in Finland in the 1930s, as a part of a drive to improve maternal and infant health, and have grown in popularity in recent years. Every baby in Scotland is now given one and there are various commercial options available as well - some of which are being donated to hospitals in England and Wales.

However there is increasing concern about the way they have been promoted, particularly the link between use of the box and low rates of sudden infant death syndrome - of which there is no evidence. Furthermore there are several safety worries about the boxes and they may actually be harmful. Consequently, several senior doctors and academics have written to the British Medical Journal expressing their concerns. Francine Bates, Chief Executive of the Lullaby Trust, a UK-based charity raising awareness about cot death, was one of the signatories.

(Image: Baby lying in a box, Credit: 蜜芽传媒.)