American moms-to-be are joking that they should “get on a plane” to Scotland — after a Scottish blogger’s TikTok unveiling her “baby box” from the federal government went viral.
Scottish blogger Rachel Clenaghan uploaded a video of her unboxing her “baby box” at 36 weeks pregnant earlier this week — to the shock of American mothers.
The box, which has been given to all recent moms since 2017, included reusable diapers, maternity pads, a playmat, a changing mat, toys, a toothbrush, a nail file, and clothing, amongst other items.
It amounts to around a $200 gift to recent parents.
“The purpose within the box is in order that every baby has got the identical start in life,” Clenaghan told her 28,000 followers.
“And the actual box itself is made in order that a baby can actually sleep in it.”
Many American moms were quick to take to the comments to debate the vastly different birthing experience within the US.
“This just blew my American mind. To think, the federal government wants to provide kids a head start,” one shocked parent wrote.
“My American baby box was a $40,000 hospital bill,” one other quipped.
A 3rd mom said it will be life-changing for single mothers within the US, writing: “If America did this I feel like parents especially single mothers would have a way higher start and wouldn’t should worry and struggle as much.”
Others joked they “clearly must get on a plane.”
However it wasn’t just Americans, with several other mothers saying in addition they wished the infant box initiative would come to their countries.
The Scottish government began the Baby Box initiative in 2017 to “be certain that Scotland was the perfect place on the earth to grow up in,” the government website read.
“We consider that each child deserves the perfect possible start of their life. And so, we made a commitment to offer every baby born on or after 15 August 2017 and living in Scotland with a brand recent ‘Baby Box,’” it continued.
“The Baby Box is a pioneering Scottish initiative, with the box itself being jam-packed filled with all of the essentials needed to assist recent parents welcome their bundle of joy into the world — together with a couple of little extra treats.”
Nicola Sturgeon, the previous first minister of Scotland, said the “baby boxes” was her “proudest achievement.”
Nonetheless, despite the good treat for folks and newborns, The Telegraph reported the boxes didn’t reduce infant mortality.
