Charity raises safety fears over trendy ‘baby boxes’

A COT death charity has raised concerns about the safety of so-called ‘baby boxes’ used for newborns to sleep in.

The concept is from Finland, where new parents are given a cardboard box, which can be used as a bed, filled with baby products, and a mattress.

The tradition, which has been taken up by a number of NHS organisations and was recently introduced in Scotland, has been cited as helping reduce the rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – known as cot death.

But now The Lullaby Trust, which works to reduce SIDS, has said there is no evidence to support the claim the boxes reduce infant mortality.

It acknowledged that for some parents – who do not have an enclosed space for their baby to sleep such as a cot or Moses basket – a box may be better than other sleeping arrangements.

But the charity claimed it is not possible for baby boxes to fully comply with safety standards. It also raised questions over the safety of the mattresses in some boxes and has advised parents to check they meet regulations.

Francine Bates, of The Lullaby Trust, said: ‘If parents choose to use the box to sleep their baby, we urge them to read and follow our advice, approved by our scientific and paediatric advisers.’

The charity said that it will no longer allow its branded leaflets to be enclosed with baby boxes ‘as this suggests we endorse the product’.

In new advice, the charity also said that if a parent does decide to use a box, it should be for ‘daytime naps only’.

In Scotland, parents of all babies born after August 15 this year will be presented with the boxes. During a pilot scheme, the boxes included a changing mat, a thermometer, a fleece jacket, babygrows, a reusable nappy and liners, a baby book and an organic sponge.