MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE
by Michael Wolraich
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Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes
By EmmaZahn on Tue, 06/04/2013 - 11:52pm |
For 75 years, 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 some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates.
It's a tradition that dates back to the 1930s and it's designed to give all children in Finland, no matter what background they're from, an equal start in life.
The maternity package - a gift from the government - is available to all expectant mothers.
URL:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22751415
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Comments
This was just plain fun to learn about.
by artappraiser on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 2:33pm
I remember being told about the baby box when I was in high school taking a mandatory home management class for a semester. This was in the 1960's. It is nice to know they are still doing it. The northern counties bordering Florida has a high infant mortality rate in the last decade. Some as high as 20 per 1000 births but average between 7.5 to 15. These are high poverty areas and very little access to women's health care. This info has been making rounds since Medicaid expansion was turned down. The reddest areas of this state needs it the most.
by trkingmomoe on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 2:17am