I imagine there aren’t many people who don’t know that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Wills and Kate) are due to have their first child shortly. So they are receiving masses of presents. Not so much a “baby shower” as a “baby thunderstorm”. But the one that caught my eye comes from the Finnish Government.
In Finland they have the brilliant idea of giving expectant mothers a baby box, with a wide range of clothing and accessories the new baby and parents might need: babygrows, romper suits, nappies, towels, wash cloth, teething toy etc. And the box itself has a fitted mattress and can act as the baby’s first cot.
The Finns have sent one of these baby boxes to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a gift. Their baby is a future king or queen – third in line to the throne. So the question is this: Will the baby sleep in a cardboard box?
Of course, everyone expects the answer to be No. A royal baby? In a cardboard box?? But it got me thinking. At least the cardboard box is new. It hasn’t been pre-used by a bunch of hungry animals. But that’s the “unsuitable” first bed of the most royal baby ever – the King of kings.
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2 v 6-7
Alison Mitchell is a Senior Editor at The Good Book Company, where she has worked on a range of products including Bible-reading notes for children and families, and the Christianity Explored range of resources. She is the best-selling author of The Christmas Promise and the award-winning Jesus and the Lions' Den.
