SNP minister boasts about Nicola Sturgeon's flagship baby box despite it failing to improve child health

May 20, 2023

Junior health minister Maree Todd lavished praise over the £90m baby box project despite research finding that it had failed to improve the health of babies despite Scottish Government boasts.

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An SNP minister has boasted about the "small but significant positive impact on health” Nicola Sturgeon's flagship baby box has had, despite the same research showing it had failed to improve infant health. The former First Minister claimed the £90m initiative was one of her "proudest achievements" during her time in power.

Research published in the Lancet last month written by Glasgow University researchers found that baby boxes has not saved lives like the Scottish Government claimed it would. In fact, they only had a limited positive impact on new mothers and infants.

They found "no evidence of changes" in hospital admissions for babies or their mums or "infant sleeping position" which can be a factor in cot deaths following the introduction of the policy six years ago. When it was launched, Ms Sturgeon claimed it would “reduce infant mortality and improve child health”.

Despite this damning evidence, junior health minister Maree Todd took to social media to boast about the expensive project. She was in charge of the scheme for much of its existence and said: "Fascinating to see this study report a small but significant positive impact on health from Scotland’s Baby Box. An excellent investment to welcome all new babies!"

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The "positive impact" Ms Todd is referencing is the link to a small reduction in primary carers smoking and children being exposed to second-hand smoke, and a slight increase in younger mothers breastfeeding. However, researchers concluded that the "absolute effects were small."

During Ms Sturgeon's farewell tour before stepping down as First Minister, she highlighted the baby box as one of her "proudest achievements" during her time in charge. However, it is an expensive initiative, with each one costing £160.

Inside, the boxes contain clothes for newborns, as well as items such as a thermometer, baby books and a toothbrush. They are designed to be used as a makeshift crib with a mattress, fitted sheet and a blanket included.

It was copied from Finland where it was introduced in the 1930s, with the SNP bringing it in without any evidence to back up claims that adopting it would bring health benefits to Scottish children. Numerous nationalist figures have said that it would save babies' lives, with Angus Robertson saying that they would "reduce infant mortality."

The researchers examined 182,122 births in Scotland in the two years either side of the scheme starting. They found that "there was no evidence of changes in infant and maternal all-cause hospital admissions or infant sleeping position." It added that it was unable to include infant mortality as an outcome due to low case numbers.

The Scottish government said repeatedly that improving child health and cutting infant death rates was the “primary focus” of the policy, which is available regardless of income. A Scottish government spokesman said: “Every child born in Scotland should have the best start in life and the baby box provides a number of essentials to ensure both child and parent can be supported."

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