New mothers to be given Finnish-style baby boxes for the first time to reduce cot deaths

The sturdy cardboard boxes - complete with a foam mattress, waterproof mattress cover and cotton sheet (inset) - will be given to mothers at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London. 


The boxes can act as a bed for a baby (main picture) up until the age of eight months. In Finland, the baby boxes were introduced in the 1930s when cot deaths were high - and it is thought their introduction contributed to the reduction in the infant mortality rate in the country. It is thought the small size of the box prevents the infant rolling on to their stomachs - which experts believe may contribute to sudden infant death syndrome.