Baby boxes handed out free to new mums are being dumped in charity shops, it has emerged.
Natasha Earle, who started the charity Birth Baby Beyond, said she has been swamped with unused boxes that have been donated by well-meaning mothers.
A Scottish Government scheme has handed out more than 50,000 boxes in its first year at a cost of £8million.
Eighty-five per cent of new mothers have registered to receive the packs.
But Natasha said the boxes are arriving largely unused at her shop in Partick, Glasgow.
She said: “The contents are good but in our storage room they’re piled high.”
Natasha said while the box is good for some people, they are “not a solution”.
She added: “They don’t work in the way the Scottish Government think they do.
“Parents don’t use them as beds and the items inside are only for the early days when babies need less at that time anyway.
“While something had to be done to try and address the issues that families are facing, baby boxes aren’t fixing the bigger problem.”
The baby box scheme was launched last year and a survey found the most popular items were the room thermometer, the ear thermometer and the sling.
Natasha said most mums she spoke with hadn’t used the box as a bed, as was intended.
She added: “The boxes are for the first three months so they’re useful for that time. But it’s not a pram or a cot.
“People who got them said they were happy with the contents but the reality is you won’t be using the box after six months.
“They weren’t using the box for the baby to sleep in.
“The baby box is a gesture but it’s not a policy. Vulnerable mums are still being left without vital supplies.”
Since opening in 2012, Birth Baby Beyond have helped 1300 mothers with starter packs.
The group provide a mix of new and used items such as prams, moses baskets, monitors, nappies and clothes.
Since September, every starter pack includes a pram, cot or Moses basket.
They have also offered individual items to more than 30,000 hard-up new mums in Glasgow and surrounding areas.
But Natasha added that there are still thousands of families who need their help.
She said: “We rely on referrals coming from proactive social workers or health visitors.
“But I know there are a lot not getting to use our service.”
Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd said: “Baby boxes are one of a number of measures that will help tackle deprivation, improve health and support families.
“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We are helping families in other ways with the first Best Start Pregnancy and Baby Payments providing £600 on the birth of a first child, beginning before Christmas, and the Best Start Food smartcard to help buy healthy foods by summer 2019.
“While baby boxes are available to all families, it does require registration with a midwife so there is no need to receive it if you don’t feel it will be used.”
