A cushioned cardboard box is enough for a newborn. Its weakness could be moisture and high flammability. But aside from that it is perfect.
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Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
101–110 of 171 posts
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#102A cushioned cardboard box is enough for a newborn. Its weakness could be moisture and high flammability. But aside from that it is perfect.
This is really odd comment. Like, yes, if you leave it outside in the rain that probably isn't the best for it, but it is a bed thous usually stay indoors. I don't get what your imaginary scenario is where the structure of the box is randomly compromised by the moisture. The flammability is even more strange. Again yeah, maybe don't put your baby box right in from the of the fireplace, but you probably wouldn't leave…
Commenting on flammability is rather odd, but I have actually seen flammability warning tags attached to kids clothing — perhaps a sign of our overly litigious society.
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#103Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm talking about today: Finland is one of the wealthiest nations on the planet. In that aspect, it's mostly symbolic.
They continue the policy largely as a symbolic gesture now, but it's an important one that serves as a reminder of how their country grew to be wealthy. Finland is one of the wealthiest countries today because of policies like this. The government has helped lift Finland's poorest out of poverty over the past 80 years, and made it feel like a country where raising a baby is essentially the same regardless of your inc…
No, this rags to riches story is just a myth that Finland (the same goes for Norway) tell to themselves.
In reality, in the early 1900s, Finland was poorer than Western Europe and some British colonies, but richer than just about any other place in the world. Richer than Japan, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Poland - and about as rich as Austria or Italy.
Fast-forward to 2021 - Finland is poorer than Western Europe and some British colonies, but richer than just about any other place in the world. Not much of a change, really. This is an unfortunate, but repeated finding of development economics - policy, unless intentionally malevolent, matters very little to the long-run wealth
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#104Scotland also has a very similar baby box, introduced a few years ago due to the success of the Finnish one. https://www.mygov.scot/baby-box Content of the box: https://www.parentclub.scot/baby-box Study on impact of the box: https://www.gov.scot/publications/baby-box-evaluation/pages/...
We got a one of these in Scotland, and I have to say a few years on, we're only just getting rid of the last of the items. Some items were arguably more useful than others (but I think the inventory is reviewed and updated constantly) - we never used the baby box as intended and it could be argued that we never really needed the support, but I can't understand the people who would argue against such an initiative.
People in this country were up in arms when this was first suggested ... bristling with the absolute indignity at the thought of money being spent to help others.
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#105Finnbin [1] is a company that sold Finnish style baby boxes in the US up until July 2021. Oddly enough, they appear to have suspended operations due to a US Consumer Product Safety Commission ruling that effectively bans baby boxes.
[2]: https://www.finnbin.com/blogs/news/finnbin-suspends-operatio...
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#106Being a father of two and seeing how much money and decisions goes into buying baby stuff and thinking how struggling family might find it inaccessible it makes me cry to read “give all children in Finland, no matter what background they're from, an equal start in life.” Other countries give welfare benefits in form of money but that can be spent on things like addictions, in this case giving the set of necessary car…
> Other countries give welfare benefits in form of money but that can be spent on things like addictions
Why is it that when discussing welfare benefits the topic of them being spent on addictions is often brought up.
If an addiction is a problem, treat the addiction instead of treating welfare recipients as children. How pissed would you be if your employer dictated how you spent your wages because certain activities went against their beliefs. No donating to your local church because they believe religion is silly and their employees shouldn’t be wasting money on such things. People would be pissed. An extreme example I know but helps get the point across, but same could also be said about any vice we partake in.
Coming from a shitty childhood myself such things were often brought up and implemented poorly which tbh actually hurt us as kids growing up.
Yeah a few will exploit what ever system that’s put into place, you have only got to look at most tax systems to see that, but you don’t punish the many just because of the few.
But just a bit further down the article
> Mothers have a choice between taking the box, or a cash grant, currently set at 140 euros, but 95% opt for the box as it's worth much more.
Bulk ordering and a fairly consistent birth rate will mean the government are not paying retail for these items so the box can be worth more than straight cash even if the cost of the government per box is close to the cash grant but gives an incentive to parents take higher value to them option.
Sorry for the rant, it just pisses me off having been though it. EDIT: Also lack of coffee, I'm grumpy without coffee :-P
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#107Scotland also has a very similar baby box, introduced a few years ago due to the success of the Finnish one. https://www.mygov.scot/baby-box Content of the box: https://www.parentclub.scot/baby-box Study on impact of the box: https://www.gov.scot/publications/baby-box-evaluation/pages/...
In Sweden new parents get a few pieces of pine and an Allen key.
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#108I actually built an Aircrib, B.F. Skinner style. Basically, a wooden baby box on wheels, raised to eye level, and with heat and humidity control.
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#109My baby is due in 4 weeks. My wife and I shopped for weeks trying to buy a 2nd hand crib that was affordable (We ended up getting one for free from a neighbor on nextdoor). Never did it cross my mind that I could just use a cardboard box! I will definitely make a cardboard box for my upcoming baby, use it as much as I can, and see if I could get by without a crib! Perfect DIY project for a stay home dad, cribs always…
Don't stress too much about it. Very few items are really necessary for a newborn, most things can be gotten when you need them.
As DIY projects go, check out something called a "baby nest". It's an insert that can be used for either a shared bed or a crib, easy to sew and can be convenient.
Re: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes (2013)
#110Earlier quoted context omitted.
They continue the policy largely as a symbolic gesture now, but it's an important one that serves as a reminder of how their country grew to be wealthy. Finland is one of the wealthiest countries today because of policies like this. The government has helped lift Finland's poorest out of poverty over the past 80 years, and made it feel like a country where raising a baby is essentially the same regardless of your inc…
No, this rags to riches story is just a myth that Finland (the same goes for Norway) tell to themselves. In reality, in the early 1900s, Finland was poorer than Western Europe and some British colonies, but richer than just about any other place in the world. Richer than Japan, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Poland - and about as rich as Austria or Italy. Fast-forward to 2021 - Finland is poorer than Western Europe and som…
How do you define rich: currently Finland has higher GDP per capita than Germany, France and the UK... and well Norway is well ahead of the most West Europe (lots to do with the oil but still).