Baby box condoms not welcomed by parents

Most do not intend to use box as child’s bed but appreciate useful room and bath thermometers included in Scottish Government pack

Condoms are the most unpopular inclusion in the Scottish Government’s baby box, a survey of parents has revealed.

One in five recipients (19%) of the state-gifted maternity kit said they would not use the contraceptive threepack.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Lib Dem MSP, said: “With this revelation, perhaps the SNP ought to increase the number of baby boxes they have ordered.”

Overall the boxes were well received by families, with 95% saying in the Social Research survey for ministers that they were “very satisfied” with them.

While contraception may be seen as an eyebrow-raising inclusion in a parenting pack, female fertility tends to soar after pregnancy and births soon after a previous one can lead to health problems.

More than a third (37%) did not want to use the box itself as a sleeping space.

The majority of those already had alternatives, but 8% of them did not want their child lying in a box.

Although most could not think of anything else to include in the box, newborn nappies was a popular choice among those who could. Nearly all of the clothing items were used, while a room and bath thermometer was declared the most useful.

The Government said registrations had reached 20,000 since the roll-out of the Finnish-inspired scheme in August.

Childcare minister Maree Todd said the baby box will help tackle deprivation, improve health and support families. She added: “We’re proud it has already become an important and exciting part of the journey to parenthood in Scotland.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said they keep all contents of the box under review.

Picture: Steven Brown. Baby Emma and her father Lee Hughes were the first to receive the baby boxes in Fife earlier this year.