If you’ve been on Facebook (or the internet, really) for any length of time, there is a good chance you’ve heard about the famous Finnish Baby Boxes.
The concept is simple, the Finnish Government provides all new parents with a box full of essentials to care for their new baby, for FREE! The aim of this program is to help ensure as healthy a start to baby’s life as possible, while trying to take some of the overwhelming work-load of new parents, off their shoulders.
So many Canadians I’ve talked to have all said the same thing, “why don’t we have a program like that here?!?” “I could’ve used that when I had my child”.
Well, I’ve got good news for Parents-to-be, Baby Boxes are now in Canada! Although, they are run a little bit differently.
Currently, Saskatoon offers baby boxes but at a cost. And just in January of 2016, the Alberta Government announced it’s plans to distribute 1500 FREE Baby Boxes as a “Welcome to Parenthood” pilot project.
And now, new parents can register to receive a FREE box of goodies from Baby Box Canada! This brand-new program is a not-for-profit organization that is not government funded. They have sourced sponsorships and donations from companies who want to support this initiative.
Full list of items included in Baby Box Canada:
- Assorted Teethers and/or Rattles from Fisher-Price
- Baby Bee Tear Free Shampoo & Body Wash from Burt’s Bees
- Bamboo Baby Sensitive Wipes from Aleva Naturals
- Body & Bum Spray from luv child
- Booby Boons Lactation Cookies from Stork and Dove
- Disposable Night Breast Pads from Philips Avent
- Gentle Saline Wipes from Boogie Wipes
- “Healing Mix” nutritional support for mom from Now for Mothers
- Receiving Blanket from Kushies
- Snuggle ‘n Shake Pal from Bright Starts
- Stain Remover Stick from BunchaFarmers
- Stretch Mark Cream from Aleva Naturals
- Sudocrem diaper cream from Sudocrem
- Tender Care Hydrogel Pads from Medela
- Tender Care Lanolin Cream from Medela
- Today’s Parent Magazine
Currently, Baby Box Canada is only shipping to new parents in Ontario, as a test. But aim to expand Canada-wide on a province-by-province basis, according to demand. So even if you’re not in Ontario, register NOW to make your interest known! Plus you never know, you could receive a surprise box just for being an early registrant! Baby Box Canada plans to begin distributing boxes in April will begin shipping in mid-May, having them arrive 2 – 3 months before expected due dates.
**UPDATE FROM BABY BOX CANADA: We began sending out emails early May to obtain mailing addresses. Boxes are being shipped and we’ll continue beta testing the program throughout the summer. For the summer, we’re shipping based on a range of criteria to test various aspects of the program and selection is random.
What does random mean? It means the system selects registrants from all across the province who registered from day 1 of pre-registration to today.
We will then begin shipping en masse throughout Ontario beginning later this fall, with a goal to begin shipping nationwide by year-end.
If you’re sent an email to receive their box during the beta-testing phase and do not reply, you will be sent a personal follow-up email from one of our team members. This way we can ensure the email was received.
If by chance you do not receive your box as we beta-test, or if your baby is already born or outgrown the items included in the Baby Box, we’ve still got your back! We will be delivering milestone boxes for those who miss out on the first Baby Box run.
It is also important to note, these Free Baby Boxes are intended to be distributed to ALL parents – not just those who would qualify for charity.
**UPDATE October 31, 2016
Baby Box is now officially launched in Ontario, Manitoba & Alberta!
If you are expecting – sign up now to claim your box. Know someone who is? SHARE this post with them!
