Joe O'Brien - Green Party
Councillor Karen Power and Minister Joe O’Brien welcome details of plan to pilot the ‘Little Baby Bundle’ – A gift from the State for expectant parents and newborns
15th June, 2022
- Little Baby Bundle to be piloted with 500 expectant parents and newborns later this year, in collaboration with the Rotunda Hospital and University Hospital Waterford.
- Request for Tenders published today to appoint the Little Baby Bundle Managing Agent.
- Request for Tenders to appoint the Little Baby Bundle Evaluation Partner to be published later this Summer.
Green Party Councillor Karen Power and Minister Joe O’Brien T.D. have warmly welcomed details of the plan to pilot the ‘Little Baby Bundle’ with 500 expectant parents and newborns later this year. The pilot will be undertaken in collaboration with the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and University Hospital, Waterford.
The Little Baby Bundle – an initiative under First 5, A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 – is a welcome gift from the State for a new arrival to a family – acknowledging this very significant and special moment for parents.
The Little Baby Bundle will be filled with a range of key items, including play items to encourage early communication and bonding, household items for help with safe bathing and safe sleep, as well as a range of other items to support new parents after the birth.
The pilot is expected to begin this Autumn.
Designed to promote the health and well-being of newborns and help parents in the first days and weeks of a baby’s life, the Little Baby Bundle is inspired by similar successful initiatives in Scotland and Finland.
Councillor Karen Power welcomed The Little Baby Bundle plan saying:
“The Little Baby Bundle is about giving each of Ireland’s newest little arrivals a welcome gift, while also providing parents with practical supports as they navigate those special first few weeks and months in their child’s life”.
Commenting on the plans, Minister O’Brien said:
“We’ve seen the success of similar initiatives in Scotland and Finland and so I’m delighted to announce these plans to pilot the Little Baby Bundle in collaboration with our partners – the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and University Hospital, Waterford. I am delighted to see the involvement of the Rotunda Hospital which will benefit expectant mothers and new babies in Fingal.
A procurement process for the Little Baby Bundle Managing Agent is now underway, with the publication of the Request for Tenders on www.etenders.gov.ie. A Request for Tenders for the Little Baby Bundle Evaluation Partner, who will examine whether the Little Baby Bundle is suitable for wider roll-out, will be published later this Summer.
The Little Baby Bundle pilot is funded under the Dormant Accounts Fund.
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Notes to editors:
Full list of items to be included in the Little Baby Bundles:
Blanket
Hooded Bath Towel
Digital/Smart Thermometer
Bath & Room Baby Thermometer
Bath Sponge
Baby Grow
Vest
Muslin Cloth Squares
Socks
Mittens
Nappy Cream
Reusable Nappies (or Reusable Nappy Voucher)
Reusable Nursing Pads
Reusable Wipes
Maternity Pads
Nipple Cream
Manual Breast Pump
Sling
Baby Toothbrush
Feeding Bib
Dribble Bib
Teething Ring
Play Mat
Travel Changing Mat
Soft Ball
Changing Bag
Nasal Sucker
Soft-bristle Hair Brush
Baby Monitor
Children’s Books (in English or Irish according to family preference)
The final version of the Baby Bundle will include a large envelope with information on breast feeding, safe sleep and post-natal depression. A resource to inform parents about accessing the National Childcare Scheme will also be provided.
The final Baby Bundle will also include:
A booklet with helpful information and advice for expectant parents, including links to online parenting resources e.g. MyChild.ie.
A library card, to encourage families to build a relationship with their local library, and to encourage reading and parent-infant bonding.
An Irish poem.