Yes that's right it's a box for your baby. The babybox is a cardboard box designed for your newborn baby to sleep in! The box replaces the need for a traditional Moses basket or cot for the first 6 months or so of your babies life. Sounds a bit bonkers but actually it's an idea thats been around for a long time. In fact for the last 75 years, all of Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed and then as it outgrows it, storage. Some say it has helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates. The UK had even been giving some baby boxes away on the NHS to help promote and encourage the use of them. It is thought the small size of the box prevents babies from rolling onto their stomachs, which experts believe can contribute to sudden infant death syndrome.
So it's really nice to see UK High Street favourite store, Mothercare, picking up on how great an idea this is by teaming up with Sleep brand Eve to launch their own babybox, featuring artwork by designer Clifford Richards (known for his bold, colourful and graphic designs in the sixties). Created exclusively for Mothercare, it's gender neutral and I love the colourful design. The babybox, available in two bold designs, has just gone on sale, exclusively online only for £95.
I recently attended the press day for it so got to see it properly and fell in love with what a great idea it is. Clemmie (mother_of_daughters) was there as a special guest and gave a talk on baby essentials and how all you need to start out with a baby is included in the box, demonstrated how the box doubles up as a secondary sleep space and spoke honestly about her experiences of the early days with newborn babies, warts and all.
The babybox is packed full of newborn essentials from mothercare and is also an ideal secondary sleep space for babies at nap time, making it the perfect gift for new parents. In fact this is what I love. I think it is the perfect newborn or baby shower gift and one I wish I had used when my kids were babies and one I will definitely get for expectant friends going forward, especially if a few of you group together to cover the cost.
They recommend only using the babybox until your baby can kneel, sit or pull itself up or has reached 20lbs. Also that you stop using the babybox when the clearance within the sleeping space on either end of the infant becomes less than 10cm. It has handles on the side so can easily be moved around from room to room like a traditional Moses basket. I also like how it can become a keepsake basket or storage for clothes after the baby has outgrown it.
What’s inside the babybox: The babybox is filled with essential items from mothercare such as Water Wipes and crib sheets as well as sleep suits, muslins and a crib blanket. Plus, there is a unique Clifford Richards print inside that’s perfect to frame and hang on the nursery wall. The mattress inside the babybox is created by eve’s team of mattress experts and is made of specialist nursery grade high density foam. The cover is washable (at 60 degrees) and quick drying. It is ultra-breathable, thanks to the use of Cairfull ® fabric, and is 400 times more breathable than a standard mattress fabric. The 3D spacer technology in the fabric means that airflow can move from side to side and up and down, providing extra ventilation, moisture regulation, resilience and comfort for your baby. The box includes tips for safe sleeping.
The full list of included products
- An exclusively designed print by Clifford Richards
- Sleep safe tips
- Jersey fitted 2 pack crib sheets - white
- CTN cellular moses/crib blanket white (core white)
- MC 3pk embroidered muslins
- NB dribbler white 2pk
- Water Wipes
- 2 x white bodysuit
- 1 sleepsuit white
- 1 white hat
- 1 white cuddle and dry
- Flora box includes 1 bear blanket and rattle
- Fauna box includes 1 elephant plush and blanket
In collaboration with Mothercare we are giving away one baby box of your choice either in Flora or Fauna. To find out more and enter please head over to finlay_fox Instagram feed.