350,000 Baby Boxes delivered in Scotland

More than 350,000 Baby Boxes have been delivered across Scotland, saving expectant parents around £400.

The Scottish Government’s universal Baby Box programme is offered to all parents of newborn babies and is the only one of its kind in the UK.

The programme is backed by almost 8 million in funding for 2025-26.

The programme first opened in June 2017 and since the start, 350,000 Baby Boxes have been delivered across Scotland with 1,281 Baby Boxes being delivered to families in NHS Western Isles.

The Baby Box contains essential newborn items and ensures that families have access to items needed in the first six months of a child’s life, as well as a safe space for the baby to sleep.

The Baby Box includes items which support breastfeeding, such as breast pads and a leaflet with top tips on breastfeeding and how to access support. It also contains two baby books, a carrier sling, underarm thermometer, bath & room thermometer, play mat, around 15 items of clothes for age 0 – 6 months, a changing mat and a redeemable voucher for a reusable nappy and liners, among other things.

Marking eight years of the programme, First Minister John Swinney said:“Scotland’s Baby Box strongly signals our determination that every child, regardless of their circumstances, should get the best start in life. 

“The programme is supporting families right across the length and bread of Scotland, including here in the Western Isles where 1,281 boxes have been delivered to date.

“It is clear that this universal offer, a UK first, has been hugely successful with 89% of all parents with newborn babies registering for a box – benefiting around 41,000 families annually.

“My number one priority as First Minister is to end child poverty in Scotland – and I am very proud of the impact that the baby box is making to support families across the country.”