A London hospital has become the first in the UK to trial Finnish-style ‘baby boxes’ – free starter kits given to all new mums regardless of background said to help reduce rates of infant mortality.

The widely-praised government scheme in Finland has been providing baby boxes to expectant mothers for over 75 years, containing bedding, bathing products and clothing, including a snowsuit for Finland's harsh winters, while the box itself doubles up as a cot.

The Queen Charlotte and Chelsea Hospital, located in west London and part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, has just started handing out boxes to new parents. Made from sturdy cardboard and containing a foam mattress with waterproof cover and a cotton sheet, it's designed for newborns to safely sleep in and come filled with essentials to help aid the transition to parenthood, such as nappies, wet wipes and clothing for newborns.

The boxes also come with educational materials with advice on how to reduce the risk of infant mortality and improve parental bonding.

Bianca Adefarakan-Davies and her husband Robert were among the first new parents in the UK to be given a baby box for their son Jackson. Speaking to ITV News, Bianca said: “Having this and being given those bits and pieces you need once you get home just for your first few weeks is really brilliant. As a bed, something portable like this is actually really good, and he loves it! If you got any old cardboard box you would not put your child in there, but this one does actually work.”

Baby's first bed: Finnish-style baby boxes are now being trialled in the UK