4 ms·

tl;dr: It's not because the cardboard boxes are significantly better than cribs and other sleeping methods, it's the fact that the box comes with almost everyth

by fao_ 10y ago

tl;dr: It's not because the cardboard boxes are significantly better than cribs and other sleeping methods, it's the fact that the box comes with almost everything a new parent needs to look after kids, which means they don't have to shell out $foo-money to be able to take care of the children properly, and aren't left worried that they left something out.

giarc 10y ago
And also because the parents need to visit a doctor to get the box.
- geon 10y ago
  That makes no sense. How does the requirement to visit a doctor imply that the babies sleep in a box? Wouldn't they sleep there if the box was given out without a visit to the doctor?
  - ceejayoz 10y ago
    The doctor's visit gives the doctor an opportunity to establish a relationship and do a bit of education for the new parents.
  - chrissnell 10y ago
    You would be surprised at how many babies are born in western countries without prenatal care, simply because the mothers-to-be didn't know that it was something that was available and needed. Encouraging new moms to visit the doctor is a fantastic thing. Besides check-ups, it encourages vaccinations and can help with early identification of congenital problems.
  - djrogers 10y ago
    Pre and Post-natal care are two of the largest factors in lower infant mortality. By using the box to get Moms in to a doctor's office at least once, many difficulties can be found and overcome.
  - giarc 10y ago
    The box is used for bait. New parents want the box, it's free and full of great stuff. To get the box, they need to visit a physician. As others pointed out, a single visit to a physician can help to identify issues with not only baby but also mom.
- ptaipale 10y ago
  To be precise, not really a doctor: the pre-natal care program is generally handled by dedicated professionals whose training is that of a nurse plus some specific to pregnancy. The job title translates "midwife". The system is called "neuvola", literally "place of advice". It's actually a word devised for this very purpose. This system was established in 1940's and that's also when the baby packages were first given out. But expecting mothers don't really see a doctor/physician during the pre-natal period unless they are actually ill somehow. Pregnancy is not an illness.
snuxoll 10y ago
While you are correct the boxes aren't necessarily "better" than cribs, they are just as effective and there are many poorly designed cribs and lots of parents that don't know how to properly furnish one (there's still plenty of parents that use solid crib bumpers that can be suffocation hazards, overly soft crib mattresses, or load it with blankets). Sleeping in a plain box eliminates so many potential issues that new parents can cause themselves with cribs that it's a great idea, and if I wasn't gifted a crib when my daughter was born I probably would have done the same thing.
- titanomachy 10y ago
  How do solid crib bumpers cause suffocation? By trapping air in the crib or something? If we assume that's possible, wouldn't a cardboard box have the same problem?
  - snuxoll 10y ago
    The bumpers are usually made of soft material, the idea behind them is to "protect" infants from injury by hitting their heads against the side of the crib, also because prior to regulation changes in the 70's crib bars were often spaced far enough apart that limbs could get caught between them. Soft material is the problem, as an infant may roll into the bumper and the material will shape itself around the face and mouth causing asphyxiation. Cardboard boxes are not malleable, obviously, and even if an infant rolls on their side right next to the wall of the box it is impossible for them to do so in a manner that would hinder their ability to breath (the nose will get in the way, or they will retain the ability to breathe through the sides of the mouth even if they manage to completely put their mouth against it).
    - titanomachy 10y ago
      That makes more sense, I was picturing wooden boards or something.
patja 10y ago
The cardboard box may actually be better than many cribs, at least from the perspective of reducing the risk of SIDS: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sts/about/risk/Pages/reduce.aspx https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sts/about/risk/Pages/reduce.aspx

by fao_ 10y ago

giarc 10y ago

And also because the parents need to visit a doctor to get the box.

geon 10y ago
That makes no sense. How does the requirement to visit a doctor imply that the babies sleep in a box? Wouldn't they sleep there if the box was given out without a visit to the doctor?
- ceejayoz 10y ago
  The doctor's visit gives the doctor an opportunity to establish a relationship and do a bit of education for the new parents.
- chrissnell 10y ago
  You would be surprised at how many babies are born in western countries without prenatal care, simply because the mothers-to-be didn't know that it was something that was available and needed. Encouraging new moms to visit the doctor is a fantastic thing. Besides check-ups, it encourages vaccinations and can help with early identification of congenital problems.
- djrogers 10y ago
  Pre and Post-natal care are two of the largest factors in lower infant mortality. By using the box to get Moms in to a doctor's office at least once, many difficulties can be found and overcome.
- giarc 10y ago
  The box is used for bait. New parents want the box, it's free and full of great stuff. To get the box, they need to visit a physician. As others pointed out, a single visit to a physician can help to identify issues with not only baby but also mom.
ptaipale 10y ago
To be precise, not really a doctor: the pre-natal care program is generally handled by dedicated professionals whose training is that of a nurse plus some specific to pregnancy. The job title translates "midwife". The system is called "neuvola", literally "place of advice". It's actually a word devised for this very purpose. This system was established in 1940's and that's also when the baby packages were first given out. But expecting mothers don't really see a doctor/physician during the pre-natal period unless they are actually ill somehow. Pregnancy is not an illness.

snuxoll 10y ago

While you are correct the boxes aren't necessarily "better" than cribs, they are just as effective and there are many poorly designed cribs and lots of parents that don't know how to properly furnish one (there's still plenty of parents that use solid crib bumpers that can be suffocation hazards, overly soft crib mattresses, or load it with blankets). Sleeping in a plain box eliminates so many potential issues that new parents can cause themselves with cribs that it's a great idea, and if I wasn't gifted a crib when my daughter was born I probably would have done the same thing.

titanomachy 10y ago
How do solid crib bumpers cause suffocation? By trapping air in the crib or something? If we assume that's possible, wouldn't a cardboard box have the same problem?
- snuxoll 10y ago
  The bumpers are usually made of soft material, the idea behind them is to "protect" infants from injury by hitting their heads against the side of the crib, also because prior to regulation changes in the 70's crib bars were often spaced far enough apart that limbs could get caught between them. Soft material is the problem, as an infant may roll into the bumper and the material will shape itself around the face and mouth causing asphyxiation. Cardboard boxes are not malleable, obviously, and even if an infant rolls on their side right next to the wall of the box it is impossible for them to do so in a manner that would hinder their ability to breath (the nose will get in the way, or they will retain the ability to breathe through the sides of the mouth even if they manage to completely put their mouth against it).
  - titanomachy 10y ago
    That makes more sense, I was picturing wooden boards or something.

patja 10y ago

The cardboard box may actually be better than many cribs, at least from the perspective of reducing the risk of SIDS: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sts/about/risk/Pages/reduce.aspx https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sts/about/risk/Pages/reduce.aspx