I've spent the last few days helping shoot a short documentary/news clip about maternity packages Finnish government hands out to all expectant mothers, and I got to play about with them. (the URL is http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/english.nsf/NET/180408150632HS?OpenDocument)

The package is a sturdy box large enough to be used as a crib full of baby clothes, cloth diapers and a few tools and guides to help a new mother.

Chatting with the workers who assemble the kits, they said this idea is almost exclusive to Finland, which surprised me. Thought I'd share, as I think it's a pretty neat thing for a government to do. (A silent huzzah for paying proportionately more taxes than most).

The link is to last years model, as I'm not allowed to show any photos of this years model before it's published. I even had to sign a confidentiality agreement.

-jh

That's brilliant juhirvon! It's even got a snowsuit! Add a couple of bottles, some formula, water and maybe a vitamin supplement and you'd be set for bug-in or out for a while, especially with those cloth diapers.

(Disclaimer: I have no interest in engaging in a "breast is best" argument. All I'll say is that sometimes the breast might not available and sometimes it doesn't work.)

No argument at all. Breast feeding is obviously superior to getting up at 3 AM and heating formula. I have often supported breast feeding in those circumstances.

No doubt that would be the first choice for ALL GUYS. That way, we can be excused from participating in the midnight feedings... and get a good nights sleep. That is until mommy gives you the elbow or kick for not getting up in sympathy with her.

One of my daughters couldn't nurse due to a medical condition. It was pretty neat to be able to feed her myself. We had a different relationship when she was a baby than I did with my other daughters.

Keep in mind, nothing prevents mom from pumping and having dad bottle feed with breast milk. It gives mom the chance to get some sleep and gives dad the chance to feed and bond.

Pete

That's what we did with Daughter #2. I'm told that it's important to not offer bottles or pacifiers to nursing babies until after the nursing relationship is well-established, as it can lead to nipple confusion. Once they'd been nursing for a while Daughters #1 and #3 categorically refused to have anything to do with bottles.

I don't want to engage in the breast feeding wars, but here's my hubby's input: you have redundancies for every other supply on every preparedness list. Why wouldn't you have a back-up plan to feed an infant, especially when they only have 2 options for eating?

Because Mom is always there....

Actually, that is what the baby formula and bleary eyed Dad are for on a dark and stormy night. Send in the clown! Just be sure he knows to check the temperature with his wrist. Been there,done that.

There is a reason kids have two parents.