Children, Clothes, and Life: Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes
 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 govenment-is available to all expectant mothers
 It contains bodysuits, a sleeping bag. outdoor gear, bathing products for the baby, as well as
 nappies, bedding and a small mattress
 With the mattress in the bottom, the box becomes a baby's first bed. Many children, from all
 social backgrounds, have their first naps within the safety of the box's four cardboard walls
 Mothers have a choice between taking the box, or a cash grant, currently set at 140 euros, but
 95% opt for the box as it's worth much more
 The tradition dates back to 1938. To begin with, the scheme was only available to families on
 low incomes, but that changed in 1949
 Infant mortality in Finland, 1936 to 2010 per 1,000 births
 100
 90
 80
 70
 60
 50
 40
 30
 20
 10
 0
 1935 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 2000 05 10
 Source: Statistics Finland
 