Gateshead Baby Boxes are a Hit!

A new baby box campaign in Gateshead is proving to be a huge hit!

The Make a Million (MaM) campaign was set up by The Children’s Foundation, with the aim of giving all new parents and their babies in the North East with a free baby box. The campaign has started with a pilot scheme in Gateshead from mid-June 2022, and will roll out to a wider community. As a company based in the North East, this is right on the doorstep of Bump HQ so we're incredibly excited to see local parents and babies benefit from this scheme.

This initiative has gone down superbly with parents who've been able to benefit from a baby box, and with those who agree that the most vulnerable families need some extra support during the cost of living crisis.

Claire Allin from The Children's Foundation shared some more information with us...

"The Children’s Foundation’s new Baby Box is all about supporting babies in the North East to have the best start in life. The Baby Box has a unique focus on baby development and includes developmentally stimulating toys and books helping parents promote the best start through a focus on laughing, playing, reading, singing and counting. Each box provides a safe and comfortable place for a baby to sleep and includes a mattress and bedding. The project has been shaped by parents, midwives, and health professionals. The box is being piloted with Gateshead NHS and Barnardo's. Our goal is that all first time parents can receive a baby box."

Claire Allin - image credit: Newcastle Chronicle

What is in the baby box?

The baby boxes will be full of wonderful developmentally stimulating toys, games, and books around the key themes: love and laugh, play, read, sing and talk and count. The boxes will also include a mattress and bedding, providing babies with a safe sleeping space in close proximity to their parents, which in turn encourages 'bonding and optimal attachment'. We also love that the boxes will be chocked full of essential resources like a sleep sack, change mat, bath towel, first toothbrush, a blanket, thermometer, etc. to get new families started with baby care.

How can I get a baby box?

These boxes are initially available to the most vulnerable families; they're also currently only available as part of the pilot scheme in Gateshead but with an evaluation of the current distribution, evidence from this will then be used to support the criteria for the wider roll-out of the project. Currently, the project is NHS midwife-driven, with Health Visitors also involved in distributing the boxes. First-time mums on one of three maternity pathways in Gateshead may be identified, and then receive a baby box at around 32 weeks pregnant.

How can I help to support this campaign?

If you're a keen supporter of social initiatives and supporting vulnerable people, we're really pleased to reveal that you can actually donate towards this campaign to help the MaM project!

Text MAM to 70450 to donate today- little or large it all helps!

£5 - will buy baby books.
£50 - will buy a sleep sack, stacking cups, books, travel changing mat, and a thermometer.
£250 - will buy an entire baby box packed full of essentials, developmental toys, and books to get families started with baby care.

(Texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message. If you’d like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text MAMNOINFO to 70450)

Organisations/Corporates

There is a pay it forward scheme; if you have an employee/partner or friend going on maternity leave and want to make them feel extra special while helping an amazing cause, then you can pay it forward by buying two boxes. One of the boxes will go to a vulnerable family in the North East, and you'll be having a direct impact and helping to spread awareness.

Our verdict...

This initiative is much-needed and a fabulous way to support the more vulnerable new parents and babies in the North East. We hope that, if you're eligible, your baby box helps to make those early days of parenthood easier, and we also hope to see similar campaigns rolled out across the whole UK!

If you liked this, you might enjoy...