In the mid-1930s, infant death rates in Finland were very high, at 65 out of 1,000 live births. Social scientists attributed many of these deaths to two factors. First, expectant parents sought too little prenatal care (often because they were too poor to afford it). Second, these parents brought the baby home into a house with inadequate, well, stuff — too few diapers, not enough baby clothes, and often, nowhere for the baby to sleep. And as any parent of a newborn will tell you, the worst time to figure out what you need for a baby is when you first come home and realize, holy cow, you have a baby. So Finland came up with an idea: a gift box, delivered before you deliver. Originally, this care package mostly consisted of a set of fabric so expectant mothers could create clothes for their newborns, along with a few other odds and ends. Over the years, the new baby box has grown into a robust cornucopia of tiny awesomeness. There’s a little mattress and concordant bedding; a snowsuit set with mittens, a hat, and booties; bodysuits, socks, and other everyday wear; some bathroom items, such as a towel and toothbrush; … Continue reading Children of the Box