8 February 2023

From today, expectant parents from the Rotunda Hospital Dublin and Waterford University Hospital will be invited to participate.

Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, today met with the first group of expectant parents at Waterford University Hospital to participate in the First 5 Little Baby Bundle Pilot Initiative.

The Little Baby Bundle will be delivered to the homes of 500 participating families at a time of their choosing in the coming months. Expectant parents participating in the initiative will subsequently be asked to share their views and experiences of the Little Baby Bundle and its contents, which will inform the development of proposals for wider national roll-out.

The First 5 Little Baby Bundle will be filled with a range of useful items, including play items to encourage early communication and bonding, household items for help with safe bathing and safe sleep, as well as a range of other items to support new parents after the birth. This welcome gift, from the State for a new arrival, to a family acknowledges this very significant and special moment for parents.

Commenting on reaching this exciting milestone in this Initiative, Minister O’Gorman said: “It’s great to be in Waterford today to meet with the first group of expectant parents that will participate in this initiative and to hear first-hand about how much they will value the types of supports this Little Baby bundle will offer them as they navigate those special first few weeks and months in their child’s life.

I look forward to hearing the views and experiences of all parents participating in this initiative. Their feedback will be instrumental in developing proposals for wider roll-out”.