EXPERTS have raised fresh concerns about the Scottish Government’s baby box scheme amid calls for it to be extended across the UK.

In a letter to the British Medical Journal, 12 experts warned the cardboard boxes should not be “promoted as a safe alternative” to traditional cots, bassinets or Moses baskets.

The group - from the UK, US, Israel and New Zealand - raised concerns about air flow and parents being unable to see their child in a baby box because of its high sides.

The lead author, Dr Peter Blair, professor of epidemiology and statistics at Bristol Medical School, has previously raised concerns with the £9m-a-year scheme in Scotland.

The parents of more than 52,000 children have received free baby boxes since they were introduced in August last year, with overall satisfaction levels running near 100%.

Based on a scheme which has run in Finland since the 1930s, the boxes includes a mattress, sheets, clothes, thermometers, books and a sling.

The Royal College of Midwives has called for roll-out across the UK.

However the authors of the BMJ letter raised concerns about the box doubling as a crib because of a lack of evidence that it was safe.

They wrote: “Any government or charity that is willing to provide a box full of free unbranded infant care items should be applauded.

“But we have three concerns: the scarcity of observational evidence that the cardboard baby box can be used safely (and no evidence that it reduces Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), the lack of safety standard regulations in place, and that promotion of the cardboard baby box could serve to undermine current safety messages.

“Commonly, SIDS deaths occur unobserved, so we encourage parents to sleep in the same room as infants at night and to be in the same room for daytime sleep for at least the first six months.

“Importantly, cots (with their bars and raised surface) and bassinets or Moses baskets (with low sides) allow infants to be easily seen by parents and may also facilitate air flow.

“Whereas the cardboard box (with its higher opaque sides) does not—carers can see the infant only if they are looking from directly over the box.”

A recent Scottish Government report admitted there was little evidence to suggest baby boxes in themselves improved child health or reduced infant mortality.

It said: “Evidence for the effectiveness of Baby Boxes and similar interventions for improving child health and development in countries comparable to Scotland is scarce.

“Researchers acknowledge that any impact from the Boxes cannot be separated from other factors such as increased use of antibiotics, other improvements in healthcare, and the development of the wider welfare system.”

The Scottish Tories said the Scottish Government should reconsider its guidance to parents.

MSP Annie Wells said: “Surely the SNP would lose nothing by ordering an assessment of the guidance provided to new parents to ensure that it is appropriate?

“It would be astonishing if the SNP was to dismiss this expert advice.

“The SNP has a responsibility to all new parents using these boxes, all of whom want to keep their babies safe.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The baby box was introduced to help tackle deprivation, improve health and support parents.

“There is no evidence to suggest the baby box is unsafe and we are in discussions with Peter Blair about his concerns.

“It meets British safety standards and was awarded British Standard accreditation as a crib for domestic use.”