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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Parenting Issues / News / Language Baby Boxes: Yay or Nay?

Posted by Anna Minard on Tue, Jun 26, 2012 at 3:26 PM

Or, today in humorously overwritten articles...

This BBC piece on the controversy (imagine that all British-like, con-TRAH-versy) surrounding "baby boxes" (public receptacles in which one can deposit a baby) is mostly straightforward:

Boxes where parents can leave an unwanted baby, common in medieval Europe, have been making a comeback over the last 10 years. Supporters say a heated box, monitored by nurses, is better for babies than abandonment on the street—but the UN says it violates the rights of the child.

Then it ends on this gem of a paragraph:

There is no clear right or wrong in this. It is an argument between well-meaning people. The one voice never heard is that of the mother who walks the path with the baby she bore secretly hours earlier, to return without the bundle. Her tears can barely be imagined.

Either way, pro ("the warmth is safe and reassuring") or con ("The baby hatch is so anonymous, and so removed from the availability of counselling, that it creates a damage and a danger to the mother and child."), who doesn't want to read a letter that begins "Dear Mother of a foundling"? A good use of 10 minutes on a rainy afternoon.

Thanks, the Hairpin!

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Comments (7) RSS

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They should make them bomb proof too. You know, like if you find an unattended package or baby you can throw it in the nearest box, and it's all good. Could do triple duty with compostables, because landfills.

Posted by Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn

on June 26, 2012 at 4:16 PM

I would rather be left in a baby box than left with a parent/s who weren't up for the job of parenting.

I do, however have reservations about the shoot where babies are then sent into a pit full of other dumped babies for disposal.

Posted by doloresdaphne on June 26, 2012 at 4:47 PM

I think a spouse box would get more use.

Posted by TVDinner

on June 26, 2012 at 5:01 PM

I'll try anything once. Can you hold the slaw and upgrade me to curly fries instead?

Posted by Fred Casely on June 26, 2012 at 5:23 PM

Is it not common in Britain to be able to surrender unwanted babies at a hospital? I mean, what's the alternative to the box? Better than a baby dumpster.

Posted by Nitidiuscula on June 26, 2012 at 7:43 PM

"A Haaaannnnnnd baaaaaaaaaag!?!?"

Posted by yerbamatty on June 26, 2012 at 9:51 PM

They did this in a pilot program in Japan several years ago; I don't know if it continues. It was supposed to be anonymous, but it seemed like they always tracked the parent down in the end. One of the first "babies" left in a box was a mentally challenged toddler (or 5-year-old? much older than the original intention of the box, regardless.)

Posted by muffinprincess on June 26, 2012 at 9:52 PM