The government will issue care packages worth €300 to new parents in a pilot scheme launching in February 2023.
Details about ‘The Little Baby Bundle’ first emerged during the summer when Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman announced its inception. The welcome gift will include items such as thermometers, nappies, baby monitors, alongside resources for early communication and baby bonding.
The pilot scheme mirrors similar initiatives in countries such as Scotland and Finland, where expectant parents receive ‘baby boxes’ from the State to support the wellbeing of new families. The project will be rolled out initially in both the Rotunda and University Hospital Waterford, although it is hoped that the pilot scheme will expand to other care facilities if successful.
