Scotland's Baby Box pilot: development research

2. Aim and Objectives

The aim of this research was to inform the Scottish Government's development of a 'Baby Box' for newborn babies in Scotland that will positively impact on the outcomes for each child.

The two overarching objectives were to explore:

1. Baby Box Contents - specifically, how the Scottish Government can ensure the contents of Baby Box are the most useful they can be

2. Baby Box Communications - specifically, how and when parents should hear about, sign up to, and receive the Baby Box

To meet these two objectives, research question areas were:

• Which proposed items should be included in the Baby Box and how would parents use these? (From a large selection of bed and bedding, clothing, bathing and health, feeding, and other miscellaneous items)
• To what extent would parents use the box as a sleeping space, and why?
• How and when should parents be informed about Baby Box? What information do they require?
• How can communications encourage sign up and usage?
• How could parents best find out more information about Baby Box?
• What would parents' ideal mechanism and time-frame be, to sign up and receive the Baby Box? How would they expect, or want, this to happen?
• What are parents' reactions to a range of potential methods and timings? (Via a health professional, self-registration - signing up online, using a reply card, email or text message, delivery by post or courier, collection from an agreed point)
• Can the Baby Box be received prior to birth, or are parents superstitious?