Baby Box Scotland: What's in It and How to Get One

Every baby born in Scotland receives a Baby Box — a large cardboard box containing clothing, bedding, healthcare items and books, delivered to your home before (or shortly after) birth. It's completely free, regardless of income, and comes with a mattress so the box can be used as a safe sleeping space for a newborn.

What's in the Baby Box?

The contents are refreshed periodically by the Scottish Government. As of 2026, the box typically contains around 50 items across several categories:

Clothing

• Bodysuits (short and long sleeve) in newborn and 0–3 months sizes
• Sleepsuits (footed, newborn size)
• Scratch mittens
• Hats
• Cardigan or jacket

Bedding and sleep

• Fitted cotton sheets (sized for the box)
• Cellular cotton blanket
• Foam mattress with waterproof cover (meets safe sleep standards)

Bath and skincare

• Baby bath thermometer
• Soft bath towel
• Cotton wool
• Reusable nursing pads
• Toiletry items (fragrance-free)

Health

• Digital thermometer
• Vitamin D drops
• Dental care items

Learning and development

• Board books
• Play mat or activity items
• Muslin cloths

How to register

Registration is through your midwife, health visitor, or directly via mygov.scot/baby-box.

As part of the registration process, you complete a short online learning programme covering:

• Safe sleep guidance
• Breastfeeding information
• Early childhood development

This takes around 20–30 minutes. The programme is not a test — it's informational, and everyone who completes it receives the box.

1. 1

   Register from around 20 weeks pregnant

   Go to mygov.scot/baby-box or ask your midwife to register on your behalf at your next appointment. You'll need your name, address and due date.
2. 2

   Complete the learning programme

   You'll receive a link to the online learning module. It covers safe sleep, infant feeding and development. Takes 20–30 minutes and can be done in sections.
3. 3

   Confirm your delivery address

   The box is delivered by courier, usually 4–6 weeks after registration. Delivery is to your home address. If you're in a rural area, allow extra time.
4. 4

   Receive your box

   A large box (about the size of a cot mattress) arrives by courier. Sign for it, open it up, and put the mattress inside — it's ready to use as a sleep space straight away.

What the Baby Box doesn't include

The Baby Box is a starter kit, not a complete baby equipment list. You'll still need:

• A pram or pushchair
• A car seat (required to take your baby home from hospital)
• A cot or Moses basket for when the box becomes too small (usually 3–4 months)
• Feeding equipment (bottles, steriliser if bottle feeding; nursing pillow if breastfeeding)
• Nappies and nappy cream

Other Scottish benefits for new parents

The Baby Box is one part of a wider package of support for new families in Scotland. You may also be entitled to:

Best Start Grant — Pregnancy & Baby Payment A one-off payment of £796.65 for a first child or £398.35 for subsequent children, available to families receiving qualifying benefits (Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, etc.). Apply from 24 weeks pregnant. Full guide →

Best Start Foods A prepaid card loaded with £22.40 every four weeks during pregnancy, rising to £44.80 every four weeks once the baby is born (under 1). Used to buy milk, formula, fruit, vegetables, pulses and eggs. Means-tested on qualifying benefits. Full guide →

Scottish Child Payment £28.20 per week per child under 16, for families receiving qualifying benefits. Apply as soon as your child is born. Full guide →

Delivery and timing

The box is typically delivered 4–6 weeks after registration. Register as early as possible after 20 weeks to ensure delivery before your due date. If you register late in pregnancy or after birth, the box is still delivered — it just may arrive after the baby does.

Twins and multiples receive one box per baby. Let the registration team know at the time of registration if you're expecting more than one.

For the full picture of what Scottish families can claim when a baby arrives, use our benefits wizard or read the Best Start Grant guide.

What to do if items are missing or damaged

Baby Boxes are inspected before dispatch, but occasionally items arrive missing, damaged, or not as described. If this happens, contact the Baby Box Scotland helpline as soon as possible after delivery:

• Phone: 0800 030 8060 (free to call, Monday to Friday)
• Online: via the contact form at mygov.scot/baby-box
• Through your midwife or health visitor, who can also report issues on your behalf

Keep the original packaging if you can, as the team may ask for a photograph of the damaged item. Replacements for missing or faulty items are sent out at no charge. If a clothing item arrived in the wrong size or a book was substituted, the helpline can advise on whether a replacement is available from the current stock.

The Baby Box as a sleeping space: safe sleep guidance

The Baby Box is designed and tested as a safe sleeping space for newborns. Its firm, flat foam mattress with a waterproof cover meets the safe sleep standards recommended by The Lullaby Trust and endorsed by NHS Scotland. Many families use the box as a primary sleep space for the first four to six weeks, and as a secondary downstairs option beyond that.

Current NHS safe sleep guidance (2026)

The core NHS guidance on reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) applies equally whether your baby sleeps in the Baby Box, a Moses basket, or a cot:

• Back to sleep, every time. Always place your baby on their back to sleep — not on their side or front. This is the single most effective thing you can do to reduce SIDS risk.
• Feet to foot. Position your baby with their feet touching the foot of the sleep space so they cannot wriggle under any bedding.
• Room temperature 16–20°C. Overheating is a known SIDS risk factor. A room thermometer is included in the Baby Box. Aim for 16–20°C and dress your baby in light layers rather than heavy tog sleeping bags in warm weather.
• Keep the sleep space clear. No pillows, bumpers, loose blankets, or soft toys in the sleep space. The cellular blanket in the Baby Box can be used tucked firmly under the mattress — or use a well-fitted infant sleeping bag instead once your baby is large enough.
• Same room for the first six months. NHS guidance recommends your baby sleeps in the same room as you for at least the first six months, whether day or night naps.

Does the Baby Box mattress meet current standards?

Yes. The foam mattress supplied in the Baby Box meets the British Standard BS EN 16890 for infant sleep products and is assessed against The Lullaby Trust’s safe sleep criteria before being included. It is firm (soft mattresses increase SIDS risk), flat, and correctly fitted to the box dimensions. You should not add an additional mattress on top of the supplied one.

SIDS in context

SIDS affects fewer than 200 babies per year in the UK — a rate of around 0.25 per 1,000 live births, down more than 80% since the Back to Sleep campaign launched in 1991. That reduction is directly attributed to changes in sleeping position and sleeping environment. Following current NHS safe sleep guidance with the Baby Box is safe and evidence-based.

Baby Box for parents who move to Scotland during pregnancy

The Baby Box is available to any baby born in Scotland. If you move to Scotland during your pregnancy, you are entitled to a Baby Box provided you register with a Scottish GP and are under the care of a Scottish midwife at the time of registration.

Registering with a Scottish GP

Register with a GP in your new area as soon as possible after moving. GP registration in Scotland is free and you do not need to provide proof of address — a letter or utility bill can help but is not always required. Once registered, your GP will refer you to community midwifery services and you can then register for the Baby Box through your midwife or directly via mygov.scot/baby-box.

Timing of registration

You can register for the Baby Box from around 20 weeks pregnant. If you move to Scotland after 20 weeks, register as soon as your GP and midwife are in place — the 4–6 week delivery timeline means that if you are already in the third trimester, prompt registration gives the best chance of the box arriving before your due date. If the box arrives after your baby is born, it can still be claimed up to six months after birth.

If you move after claiming but before delivery

If you have already registered for a Baby Box in Scotland but then move address before delivery, contact the Baby Box helpline (0800 030 8060) to update your delivery address. The box is dispatched to the address on record, so an outdated address will cause a failed delivery.