Baby boxes in demand

A second Prague baby box, a place where mothers can leave unwanted newborns anonymously for care and adoption, has been opened at náměstí Míru.

The box was commissioned March 8, International Women's Day and, coincidentally, the birthday of the project's founder in the Czech Republic, Ludvík Hess.

The first baby box came into service in Hloubětín gynecological center (Prague 9) on June 1, 2005.

The Czech Republic now has 33 boxes, and there are plans to more than double the total to 70. Each box costs 250,000 Kč, and all are financed by donations.

Since 2005, 29 babies have been left in boxes across the country, with 15 in Prague, figures Hess says is evidence of a desperate social situation.

The most recent box came about as a result of a Prague district mayor being moved by the plight of a baby left at Karlovo náměstí.

"This baby, Terezka, was actually found by workers from a cleaning firm," Hess said, "When the mayor of Prague 2 heard about it, she decided there should be a box in the city center. The cleaning firm decided to sponsor this baby box itself."

Prior to the baby boxes' introduction, at least five abandoned babies died annually in the Czech Republic, Hess said, though he suspects that figure is conservative.

"It is hard to generalize. There are many mothers who do not want to go to the authorities, for example, illegal foreigners, so the number of fatalities was probably much higher."

The actual concept is not unique to the Czech Republic; many countries provide similar services.

"Baby hatches or foundling wheels [revolving cribs in church walls] have been here since the Middle Ages," Hess said. "Remnants of one still exist in Prague at the corner of Voršilská and Národní streets."

However, the current model - including temperature control, ventilation and an electronic connection to nearby hospitals - is the project of me and my partner Michal Čumperlík. 'Baby box' is my trademark."

The box offers a safe, secure environment for the child and provides a desperate mother with an alternative. She can rely on the kindness of medically trained and competent strangers.

"Leaving a child in a baby box is much better than dropping it in the park or train station in a dirty shopping bag, which used to happen," said Zuzana Baudyšová from Our Child Foundation, an NGO that looks after the welfare of children.

Mothers abandon babies for different reasons, but usually it "stems from a relationship breakdown, drug or alcohol abuse, domestic violence, financial pressure or rape," she said.

There are 119,570 children born annually in the Czech Republic, and, according to the Single Mothers' Web site, every fourth child lives with just one parent.

Maternity benefits for single mothers, if they were employed, last 28 weeks after birth and consist of 69 percent of their former salary.

- Assem Alpysbayeva contributed to this report.

Klára Jiřičná can be reached at
kjiricna@praguepost.com