Remember those baby boxes Finland started giving out to parents of newborns for free?
They're boxes with basically everything you need to keep an infant alive, healthy, and happy: clothes, a towel, a quilt, diapers, bibs, a book, a toy. The kit even comes with a mattress, so the box itself can be used as the baby’s first crib.
Since its introduction in the late 1930s, the country has seen the infant mortality rate plummet, something experts partly attribute to the box. (National health care and a centralized hospital system played a role, too.) It’s one of those genius but simple ideas that can really improve and even save lives.
Now Canada is picking up on the trend too.
The University of Calgary is launching a study to see if new parents in Alberta could also benefit from these "baby starter kits."
The study is part of the University of Calgary’s Welcome to Parenthood program, which has previously offered parent coaching and parenthood packages, including a guidebook and a dry-erase board for parents to list the help they need.
An example of a baby box. Photo from Welcome to Parenthood.
Here’s how the study works: New moms will pick up the baby boxes from Parent Link Centers a couple months before their due date. While they’re there, they’ll also fill out a questionnaire and get connected with another parent mentor in their community. Researchers will follow up with the new parents after they give birth to see how they’re adjusting to life with a baby.
Karen Benzies, the lead researcher for the study, told the Calgary Herald that they hope the boxes and mentorship will help parents gain their footing during a time of transition. "You’re going to be successful, but every parent needs a little help," she said.
The period shortly after birth can feel lonely for new parents.
New babies require a lot of attention, and it can be overwhelming and isolating to suddenly be responsible for another human life. Particularly for moms struggling with postpartum depression, a support system (like the baby box) could be super valuable during this time.
Canada’s baby box isn’t just going to be a huge help to parents, either.
Researchers think that having better access to parenting resources will help the kids themselves in early childhood, too.
Plus, the boxes could be coming to the U.S. soon, too.
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They're such a good idea that a U.S.-based baby box mission is headed to Texas in the form of a pilot study, according to WFAA. And even though the U.S. doesn’t offer free baby boxes to most new parents just yet, you can also purchase your very own right here.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
Ha! DD slept in a bureau drawer in the family cottage one night. We pulled the drawer out and lined it with blankets. Any option in a storm! The storm in this case is the whole extended family was together and I had no portable crib.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
The gooberment. BUT, in Finland it started because the infant mortality rate was so high. When they handed them out it came way down.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
You already get a bunch of "gifts" when you leave the hospital with a new baby.
At least you do here.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
Proctor & Gamble and Kimberly Clark pay the hospitals and give them the diapers for free.
But the hospitals buy the baby blankets. I was selling them for (I think) about $3 in the early 1970's.
-- Edited by ed11563 on Friday 22nd of January 2016 09:56:20 PM
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
You already get a bunch of "gifts" when you leave the hospital with a new baby.
At least you do here.
Formula and diapers from which ever manufacturer pays the hospital the most for the privilege. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
People usually keep buying the same diapers and formula the hospital gave them.
When DD finally was released from the NICU, I was given a beautiful baby quilt and hat made by volunteers. Nothing else no diaper fit her, not even the preemie diapers, she was so small. Those volunteers were my life line to feeling hope. I donate to them every year now.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
What the????
No.
I'm talking about going home gifts.
With each baby I got one of the small diaper bag, formula, diapers, a t shirt, pacifiers, blankets and wipes.
There were coupons and gift cards too.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
You already get a bunch of "gifts" when you leave the hospital with a new baby.
At least you do here.
Formula and diapers from which ever manufacturer pays the hospital the most for the privilege. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
People usually keep buying the same diapers and formula the hospital gave them.
Well yes, of course it was advertising.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Oh and there were slippers, lotion, bath gel, and some other things for me.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
What the????
No.
I'm talking about going home gifts.
With each baby I got one of the small diaper bag, formula, diapers, a t shirt, pacifiers, blankets and wipes.
There were coupons and gift cards too.
They get that too. And if they ask their doctor they can get another gift. And there's a magazine that if you send in the card they'll send you a bunch of stuff.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
What the????
No.
I'm talking about going home gifts.
With each baby I got one of the small diaper bag, formula, diapers, a t shirt, pacifiers, blankets and wipes.
There were coupons and gift cards too.
They get that too. And if they ask their doctor they can get another gift. And there's a magazine that if you send in the card they'll send you a bunch of stuff.
Yeah.
Are trying to say this is bad or good?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
It would be a lot more help if grandma was around to help the new mom, like in the good old days.
Bot, god forbid MIL helping..
So which daughter in law peed in your rice crispies?
I wasn't referring to my DIL, DS's DGF is amazing to me. I should have made that an "in general" comment. Because you know how women love to hate their MIL's.
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I drink coffee so I don't kill you.
I quilt so I don't kill you.
Do you see a theme?
Faith isn't something that keeps bad things from happening. Faith is what helps us get through bad things when they do happen.
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
What the????
No.
I'm talking about going home gifts.
With each baby I got one of the small diaper bag, formula, diapers, a t shirt, pacifiers, blankets and wipes.
There were coupons and gift cards too.
They get that too. And if they ask their doctor they can get another gift. And there's a magazine that if you send in the card they'll send you a bunch of stuff.
Yeah.
Are trying to say this is bad or good?
I'm not trying to say this is good or badd. Just different. When I had my kids I didn't expect anyone to support them but me. I see a lot of younger moms here now that kind expect others to give them everything. Maybe like a sense of entitlement I guess? Maybe the new generation? I don't know. Not saying it's right or wrong but I see a lot of young women wanting everything free. From the crib to the diapers.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
What the????
No.
I'm talking about going home gifts.
With each baby I got one of the small diaper bag, formula, diapers, a t shirt, pacifiers, blankets and wipes.
There were coupons and gift cards too.
They get that too. And if they ask their doctor they can get another gift. And there's a magazine that if you send in the card they'll send you a bunch of stuff.
Yeah.
Are trying to say this is bad or good?
I'm not trying to say this is good or badd. Just different. When I had my kids I didn't expect anyone to support them but me. I see a lot of younger moms here now that kind expect others to give them everything. Maybe like a sense of entitlement I guess? Maybe the new generation? I don't know. Not saying it's right or wrong but I see a lot of young women wanting everything free. From the crib to the diapers.
But that's not what I was talking about.
What I am talking about is basically advertising.
And that it isn't a new practice to give new mom's gifts like these.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Mom told me I slept in a dresser drawer for my first few months.
-- Edited by ed11563 on Friday 22nd of January 2016 10:23:49 PM
My dad was very small when he was born. Like 4 lbs. His mom kept him on a pillow in a drawer for a long time.
Well, not left him in there but that's where he slept.too.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
What the????
No.
I'm talking about going home gifts.
With each baby I got one of the small diaper bag, formula, diapers, a t shirt, pacifiers, blankets and wipes.
There were coupons and gift cards too.
They get that too. And if they ask their doctor they can get another gift. And there's a magazine that if you send in the card they'll send you a bunch of stuff.
Yeah.
Are trying to say this is bad or good?
I'm not trying to say this is good or badd. Just different. When I had my kids I didn't expect anyone to support them but me. I see a lot of younger moms here now that kind expect others to give them everything. Maybe like a sense of entitlement I guess? Maybe the new generation? I don't know. Not saying it's right or wrong but I see a lot of young women wanting everything free. From the crib to the diapers.
But that's not what I was talking about.
What I am talking about is basically advertising.
And that it isn't a new practice to give new mom's gifts like these.
I guess I was going down a different thought process than you. I don't really care if companies give samples to new moms. I don't see it as any different than getting samples at the grocery store or in the mail. A few months ago we were in the grocery store and there was a lady handing out free samples of laundry detergent and fabric softener. I told her we already used that brand and loved it. She said I could take a bunch of samples if I wanted because she had plenty. I took 3-4 of each one. She seemed fine with it. So I don't think the baby samples are any different really. Like ed said, companies give you free samples to get you hooked on their brand.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
Wow. You know some greedy greedy people. I don't think I'd hang out on a sight with people that think that's something to brag about.
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“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.” ― Julia Child ―
I have noticed a lot of mom's who sample shop. They'll get them from the doctor, from the hospital, and from everywhere else. The problem is all the samples are different formula. Then the mom's complain that their kids have upset stomach. I think some of that may come from switching formula's back and forth.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
Like those laundry detergents and fabric softners, those are perfect for when we go on vacation.
I like the samples of coffee, shampoos, teas, soaps.
Geez, any samples really.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
Wow. You know some greedy greedy people. I don't think I'd hang out on a sight with people that think that's something to brag about.
Well, it's a mom sight. I've learned some good things there. Every Friday they put up a calendar of events of all the things going on around town for kids. You can also find out from other mom's who they think is a good doctor. I've learned a lot of information on there. And really? If something is going on in town the women know before the police do! It's kind of crazy but you can find out about wrecks that you might want to avoid or different things going on like that. Once there was a guy who escaped from county lock up and the mom's had it posted before anyone knew. It's not all bad. But yeah, there are bad people in every group, on every site, and in every situation in life.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
We did not get that much stuff from the hospital with either baby. A small diaper bag, a pacifier, one of those blue aspirators, and the outfit and hat they dress them in (although I'm still not sure if we were supposed to keep that) We were told to leave the blanket they use there. You can also take the rest of the small pack of diapers they open for you (not sure what they would do if you claimed to use all of them and asked for a second pack) and the rest of the mesh underwear, the sample sized baby soaps, the Dermoplast, extra pads and Tucks that they put in your room. The nurses told me that they can't use anything that's been opened on another patient so to take it all. If you are formula feeding they send you home with a few samples, and if breast feeding and you use their pump while in the hospital you can take all the tubing and parts you used, because they can't reuse it.
Like those laundry detergents and fabric softners, those are perfect for when we go on vacation.
I like the samples of coffee, shampoos, teas, soaps.
Geez, any samples really.
Yes. I agree. I have no problem with it. I said above I agree with that.
Ironically Sam's started giving out free samples. Not just of food but they have these little kiosk's where you slide your card and it dispenses a sample. We've gotten free dish detergent and some licorice once. LOL One time this guy was getting a dog biscuit and he had lined up everyone near to him and they were all sliding their cards and giving him the free dog biscuit to take home to his dogs.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
I never needed this, but this company also has a baby food maker where you put in your chopped fruits or veggies, walk away, and it cooks them and mashes them up to your desired consistency. It's $100. If I have another baby I might get it.
The only "mom group" I ever belonged to included my mom, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and friends.
I tried to do some of those "baby and me" classes, gym and swimming and a playgroup, but they just were not for us.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Hahahaha. I have. I call it the baby espresso maker. DN is a coffeeholic. I told her I was buying her first kid a baby espresso maker.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
I'm thinking of joining a mom group. I have lots of mom friends, but they are all done having kids and I need some more friends with younger kids so DD1 can have play dates too.
It's $25/year and they basically have an activity every day and you pick and choose what to go to.
The only "mom group" I ever belonged to included my mom, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and friends.
I tried to do some of those "baby and me" classes, gym and swimming and a playgroup, but they just were not for us.
It's just a FB page for mom's in my town. It's not like some secretive club or anything. It's just a page you join. Given that all kinds of people can join. I've made some IRL friends from it. It is what you make it. Sometimes I read the drama, sometimes I don't. I don't usually post on it. Once in awhile.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
I'm thinking of joining a mom group. I have lots of mom friends, but they are all done having kids and I need some more friends with younger kids so DD1 can have play dates too.
It's $25/year and they basically have an activity every day and you pick and choose what to go to.
That sounds cool. And per your hospital, that is pretty much the rule about if it comes in your room and they can't sterilize it going out then you keep it. Yes, things like thermometers are not disposable but the cover is. That's pretty much the rule. All hospitals throw out things like kleenex and other little things. I used to work in this one hospital that had really cheapy phones. The patients could take them home when they left. LOL They were junk.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
I never needed this, but this company also has a baby food maker where you put in your chopped fruits or veggies, walk away, and it cooks them and mashes them up to your desired consistency. It's $100. If I have another baby I might get it.
I wasn't able to breast feed any of my kids. I tried but one thing or another happened that caused me to have to stop.
This would have made life SOOOOOOO much easier.
I did make my own baby food though.
That isn't hard.
What ever I was having, they had.
I hardly ever bought it from the store.
It was too expensive and they didn't really like any of it beside the banana or the blueberry buckle.
I did keep some prunes on hand.
One or two bites of that and constipation was over.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Actually the FB group is kind of nice now that I think about it. I guess we tend to remember the drama rather than all the nice normal stuff. But again. I think that's kind of normal too. Once, when I was working at the crisis pregnancy center this lady gave me a bunch of diapers her baby outgrew. He was so cute. She let me donate them to the center to give to girls who came in and needed stuff. Every time her baby out grew whatever size she'd call me and I'd go over and pick them up. She said her baby was the only grand baby on both sides and was so spoiled. They didn't even have to say diapers and one of the grand parents would be bringing them over. The last time I saw her she told me she was pregnant and so was her sister. I guess there was no need to give away those diapers anymore! She was really sweet.
There's some nice women who will just give away all their baby stuff to people who need it. They don't want to haggle over the price. Sometimes they'll give away all their babies out grown clothes too. Usually they separate them into smaller batches though. We've had a problem with a tiny few amount of people asking for free things and then reselling them. That's a no no. And a lot of them want to split it up so it can benefit more than one family.
One lady organized a SS for the women on the page this past Christmas. I thought about going but most of them had small children so I didn't really feel like I belonged. She organized the whole thing. What an undertaking. They even did a SS gift. I think they had a ten dollar limit and there were some guidelines they had to follow. It wasn't that bad though.
Currently they're trying to work on a couples meeting. There's a lot of married couples that seem to not have a lot of friends that also have kids. They're trying to set up a time and place for people to meet up. All in all it's not that bad. Totally worth joining. Just every once in awhile you get the strange people.
I guess my own personal frustration and pet peeve is the people who have multiple children and constantly want more/newer stuff. Honestly, some of them are unreal. My friend that had the baby a few months ago has a two story house. She has two of everything. Pack and play, bassinet, swing, bumbo, four bouncy seats, car seats, walkers, jumpers, and play blankets. She keeps one set upstairs and one set downstairs. And she has a crib upstairs and another bouncer/sleeper type thing upstairs. Some of it seems a bit excessive sometimes.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
What the????
No.
I'm talking about going home gifts.
With each baby I got one of the small diaper bag, formula, diapers, a t shirt, pacifiers, blankets and wipes.
There were coupons and gift cards too.
They get that too. And if they ask their doctor they can get another gift. And there's a magazine that if you send in the card they'll send you a bunch of stuff.
The magazine is "Parenting". Anyway, when DS was born a long time ago, the waiting room near the nursery also double as a supply room, supplies of diapers, pads, etc . I saw lots of family members of other patients walking off with these items. It was disgusting as it does drive up the costs for everyone, on the other hand, the hospital should not make these items accessible.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
I didn't get much either. A formula sample, a few diapers, and that was it. Like flan said, certainly nothing for me. Oh, the blue nasal aspirator was given to us too. No goodie bags.
DD was in the hospital for overnight observation at age 9 months. It was the children's hospital in town. They didn't have the right formula for her (she needed a soy formula as she was allergic to regular). DH had to run home and get some. Soy formula is actually a relatively common need, so not sure why they didn't have anything. Also, they only had the cheapest diapers on the market, and she was allergic to those. We had to supply our own diapers too. They kept half heartedly apologizing for the inconvenience. Our doctor was furious. She said our requests were pretty common, it wasn't like what we were asking for was unusual. I decided right then that if I knew she had to go to the hospital again we would drive the 1 1/2 hours to the Cleveland Clinic if it wasn't an emergency. Thankfully we didn't need to follow through.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
You get them here too. And the women tell each other how to get more stuff. How to take all the diapers in the baby cart off and put them in the diaper bag so they'll refill them and you can take them too. And to take the blankets and stuff. And how to get formula. I see it on the mom site all the time. It's been a big deal because people are getting caught selling their WIC stuff.
What the????
No.
I'm talking about going home gifts.
With each baby I got one of the small diaper bag, formula, diapers, a t shirt, pacifiers, blankets and wipes.
There were coupons and gift cards too.
They get that too. And if they ask their doctor they can get another gift. And there's a magazine that if you send in the card they'll send you a bunch of stuff.
The magazine is "Parenting". Anyway, when DS was born a long time ago, the waiting room near the nursery also double as a supply room, supplies of diapers, pads, etc . I saw lots of family members of other patients walking off with these items. It was disgusting as it does drive up the costs for everyone, on the other hand, the hospital should not make these items accessible.
Very likely, the hospital was getting them free from Kimberly Clark, or from Proctor & Gambol.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
For Finland they worked well. I wonder if we could mange that over here with out different values.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou