Hundreds of new parents have begun receiving the ‘Little Baby Bundle’ under a new scheme – but how does it help with newborn babies? 

RSM Ireland Consulting Director Dr Rachel Iredale told On the Record with Gavan Reilly 500 new parents received the bundle at the beginning of last month.  

“There's about 50 items in the bundle,” she said. “The items are categorised into different groups of things that the baby might need - scissors, brushes, bath thermometers, baby monitor, changing bag, books.” 

“There's also stuff on self-care for the mother – pads, nipple cream, stuff on learning and development for the baby.” 

Dr Iredale said there is also a poem written especially for the newborn and a QR code linking to a lullaby by the National Orchestra.  

Each box is worth approximately €500. Parents selected for the scheme were not means-tested. 

The Government plan to monitor the wellbeing of the families who receive the bundle and compare the results to families who did not receive the bundle to assess the future of the scheme.  

"A gift from the Irish State"

Dr Iredale said those chosen for the scheme are not limited to Irish citizens. 

"Two thirds of those women are Irish-born women giving birth here, but a full third of the women weren't born in Ireland,” she said. “They come from 35 different countries around the world.” 

“It's a real challenge for the translation of services, for thinking about those cultures absorbing into Irish society.” 

“This bundle is a gift from the Irish State to make things fairer for all babies going forward.” 

"Social cohesion"

Dr Iredale said the bundle is only going to heterosexual couples who were registered to give birth at Irish hospitals, posing challenges for the evaluation of the scheme.  

She said the scheme will be evaluated over the next six to eight weeks to decide if Ireland will follow other countries and make the bundle universal.  

“Similar initiatives have taken place over the last few years found that one of the most important things for parents was that feeling of social cohesion,” she said.  

“In Finland, this has been going since 1938, I think, and it's a real cherished tradition there.” 

You can listen back here: