The Baby Box

Ensuring the Best Start in Life for All

In Scotland, every newborn is entitled to a box containing essential items intended to make sure that every child has the best possible start in life. 

This landmark SNP measure encapsulates the striving towards a more equal society that has characterised Scottish Government policy since 2007.

The programme, the only one of its kind in the UK, is universal for all parents of newborn babies. Backed by almost £8 million funding in 2025-26, the Baby Box helps to ensure that every family has access to items needed in the first six months of a child’s life, as well as a safe space to sleep.

The box includes items which support breastfeeding, such as breast pads and a leaflet with top tips on breastfeeding and how to access support.  Among other items the Baby Box contains 2 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, a redeemable voucher for a reusable nappy and liners and many other useful items for mother and baby.

The box therefore saves expectant parents around £400 on such products. It is clear that this universal offer has been hugely successful with 89% of all parents with newborn babies registering for a box – benefiting around 41,000 families annually.

Since the start of the programme in 2017, well over 350,000 Baby Boxes have been delivered across Scotland, including over 25,000 here in Tayside.

Inspired by Scotland’s example, other countries like Ireland have since followed in the our footsteps.

Scotland’s Baby Box strongly signals the SNP’s determination that every child, regardless of their circumstances, should get the best start in life. 

The 2025-26 Programme for Government included a commitment to enhance the contents of the Baby Box by March 2026, building on feedback from parents and frontline practitioners working with families, which will strengthen support for early child development and to mitigate the impact of poverty on babies.