Scotland’s baby box Is shaking up maternity support—Here’s what the U.S. can learn
In America, when a woman has a baby, she gets literally… nothing. No federal paid leave, no guaranteed financial support, no universal services. If she’s lucky, her employer might offer some paid maternity leave—but that’s not a given. Most working mothers are left to rely on just six weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), if they qualify. That’s right: unpaid, and only available to those who have worked long enough at a company big enough to be covered.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Enter: Scotland.
The baby box that broke Instagram
A viral Instagram video recently showed Scottish mom Kamila Dziegielewska unboxing her government-issued Baby Box—and American moms had questions. Scotland provides every newborn with a Baby Box packed with essentials:
Clothing (0-6 months)
Books
Maternity sanitary products
Thermometer
Towel & changing mat
A poem and lullabies from Scotland’s National Orchestra
Yes, you read that right—every baby, regardless of their parents’ income, receives these items for free. It’s part of a broader commitment to supporting mothers and babies from day one.
More than just a box
Scotland’s Baby Box is just the beginning. New mothers in Scotland also receive:
Paid maternity leave: Up to 39 weeks, with 90% of earnings paid for the first six weeks.
Universal child benefit payments: Parents receive £26.70 per week per child to help cover basic costs.
Free healthcare and postnatal care: Midwife visits, lactation consultants, and home visits are standard.
In the U.S., new moms are lucky if they can piece together vacation days just to recover from childbirth.
Related: U.S. moms lose an average of $9,500 thanks to unpaid maternity leave
Why this should be the norm
Every baby is a celebration. Every mother deserves support. And yet, in America, we continue to treat maternity leave as a privilege rather than a right. Paid leave shouldn’t be a perk—it should be a guarantee.
Countries like Scotland recognize that supporting mothers isn’t charity, it’s smart policy. When moms get the support they need, children thrive, families are stronger, and the economy benefits. Research from the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows that paid leave reduces maternal stress, improves infant health, and even boosts workforce retention.
The viral Baby Box video didn’t just spark admiration—it ignited a wave of reactions from parents around the world, especially in the U.S. where maternity support is starkly lacking. Here’s what some had to say:
“Show me your country values families and children and is pro-life without telling me…” – @anne65
“It’s the condoms that they put in that gets me ‘Congrats on learning how to have a baby… just don’t do it again’ ”
�� �� �� �� �� – @nicoletucker_23
“I love that the box becomes a bed for babies whose parents might be unhoused or moving from place to place and don’t have furniture.” – @true_heart_titanic
“USA—here’s a bill for several thousand dollars, also you need to leave the hospital tomorrow morning. And let’s get you back to work in 6 weeks.” – @garden_mamapanda
“It’s nice to see a country that cares about their people. Meanwhile in the US…” – @msguidedbits
“Cries in American ”
�� – @bionic_jellyfish
Scotland’s maternity policies prove that another way is possible. The U.S. is the only wealthy country without a national paid leave policy. American moms deserve better.
If a Baby Box, paid leave, and universal support can be the norm in Scotland, why can’t they be here?
Because every mom, and every baby, matters.
Related: Postpartum depression rates have doubled—and moms still aren’t getting the support they need
Sources:
Parental leave systems. OECD. Parental Leave Systems.
Maternity pay and leave. gov.uk. Maternity pay and leave.
