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13th Jun 2022

Expectant parents in Ireland to receive ‘little baby bundle’ worth €500 in new scheme

Conor Heneghan

little baby bundle

A welcome gift for new parents in Ireland.

500 expectant parents and newborns in Ireland will receive a ‘little baby bundle’ worth in the region of €500 as part of a new pilot scheme later this year.

Details of the scheme were announced by Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, on Monday, with the government describing it as a “welcome gift from the State for a new arrival to a family – acknowledging this very significant and special moment for parents”.

The pilot scheme is based on similar initiatives in Scotland and also in Finland, where new parents are issued with ‘baby boxes’ packed with a range of key items to support parents after the birth of their child.

The bundle will include more than 30 items, including towels, thermometers, bibs, nappies and baby monitors, as well as items to encourage early communication and bonding, household items for help with safe bathing and safe sleep and a poem to mark the occasion.

All in all, it is believed the bundle will be worth in the region of €500.

As part of a pilot scheme in collaboration with the Rotunda Hospital and University Hospital Waterford, 500 expectant parents and newborns will receive the baby bundle later this year. Potential for a wider rollout from next year will be examined based on feedback from an evaluation partner as well as from those who participate in the pilot scheme.

Commenting on the plans, Minister O’Gorman said: “We’ve seen the success of similar initiatives in Scotland and Finland and so I’m delighted to announce these plans to pilot the Little Baby Bundle, in collaboration with our partners – the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and University Hospital, Waterford.

“The Little Baby Bundle is about giving each of Ireland’s newest little arrivals a welcome gift, while also providing parents with practical supports as they navigate those special first few weeks and months in their child’s life.”

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