Baby boxes emerged in Finland in the 1930s in
response to an alarming infant mortality rate -
nearly 1 in 10 children died under the age of 1.
The boxes were originally intended for low-
income mothers. Since then, Finland’s infant
mortality rate has plummeted and now the
country’s infant mortality rate is only 2 deaths
per 1,000 live births. Baby boxes are designed to
be safe and comfortable places for babies to
sleep on their backs and breathe freely.