Nicola Sturgeon’s universal Baby Box programme marks its eighth anniversary
Baby boxes save expectant parents around £400.
Over 350,000 Baby Boxes packed with essential items for newborns have been delivered across Scotland, saving expectant parents around £400.
The Scottish Government’s universal Baby Box programme, the only one of its kind in the UK, is offered to all parents of newborn babies, saving them around £400.
Backed by almost £8m funding in 2025-26, the Baby Box is designed to ensure 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.
Marking the eight year anniversary of the programme, First Minister John Swinney will meet expectant mother Mairi Morrison and her partner George Waddington at Western Isles Hospital in Lewis to deliver their Baby Box.
The First Minister, pictured right, 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.”
The Scottish Government’s universal Baby Box programme opened for registration on June 15, 2017 with boxes being delivered in August 2017.
Since the start of the programme, 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 includes items which support breastfeeding, such as breast pads and a leaflet with top tips on breastfeeding and how to access support.
The 2025-26 Programme for Government includes 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.