From next year all babies born in Scotland will be gifted free 'Baby Boxes' similar to those given in Finland.
Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister, confirmed that the policy which was first announced in April will be effective from New Years Day 2017, when the first boxes will be issued in pilot areas.
She said that the policy would be a "symbol of a belief in a level playing field" for all children, and that the first mothers living in pilot areas would start getting the boxes in January with a full roll-out in the summer.
Finland has been giving out baby boxes full of essential items to all expectant mothers for 80 years, and they have been have been credited with cutting infant mortality and improving life chances.
The boxes given in Finland contain essential items like baby clothes and nappies, and are designed so that they can be slept in as well, ensuring that newborns have everything they need for the best start in life.
"We promised a baby box of all essential items for all newborns. It's a policy borrowed from Finland where it's contributed to the lowest rates of child mortality in the world," she told delegates at her party's conference.
"I'm delighted to give you an update on our plans to introduce it here. Next month we'll launch a competition in partnership with the V&A in Dundee for the design of the box."
Finnish Baby Boxes have been available to buy for some time now, but this move sees them being provided free to parents across Scotland as part of the overhaul of child provision.
What do you think of this move? Is it one that you welcome, and would you like to see in other parts of the UK too? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or over on our Facebook page.
brilliant idea to give new Mums confidence and feel secure. However I worry which budget the funding is coming from and who is suffering beacuse of the cost of the boxes.
most of the items will end up in the bin, I worked in a children's centre and we gave free items to parents, nappy bags car seats etc they didn't want them.