SINGAPORE — Practical and commemorative items dominated the list of ideas thrown up by Singaporeans for the Jubilee Baby Gift, with these suggestions making up 70 per cent of 6,500 ideas received by the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) at the close of its call for ideas on Tuesday.
And despite the NPTD making it clear from the start that cash handouts would not be included in the gift pack — as parents of newborns already receive monetary incentives under the existing Marriage and Parenthood Package — the remaining 30 per cent of the suggestions were for monetary items such as childcare subsidies, transport subsidies, cash and vouchers.
A five-member advisory panel, chaired by Families for Life council member Anita Fam, shortlisted 15 items such as a baby sling, diaper bag, baby rattle, family photo frame and a medallion. From now until May 15, Singaporeans can vote for five items from the shortlist that they would like to see in the gift pack at http://www.heybaby.sg/jubilee/. The final items will be announced in the middle of the year.
Since the start of this month, ideas for the gift pack have been gathered from the public through a microsite, feedback booths, focus group sessions and government feedback unit REACH’s online platforms.
On whether the exclusion of monetary gifts might cause some disappointment, an NPTD spokesperson reiterated that the gift was meant for Singaporeans born next year, in celebration of the nation’s 50th year of independence. “The gift’s value lies in its creation through the involvement of Singaporeans putting together a meaningful keepsake of practical and commemorative items. Non-commemorative items … were thus excluded from the shortlist,” she said.
With some hospitals already handing out similar practical items to parents of newborns, the NPTD said of its gift pack: “As far as possible, items will be customised with commemorative elements that will make them unique keepsakes to be treasured and passed on in families.”
In sifting through the thousands of gift ideas, the panel shortlisted those that best embodied three elements: “Care” for the baby; “Celebrate” the baby and family bonding; and “Commemorate” the baby’s birth.
Those that would be consumed quickly or might not be suitable for all babies, such as diapers and milk powder, were left out of the shortlist. Ms Fam said the advisory panel was encouraged by the public’s enthusiastic response.
She added that the suggestions covered a broad range of items that convey hopes and aspirations for the next generation, which was “very much in the spirit of what the Jubilee Baby Gift is all about”.
The NPTD said the panel’s decision also took into account feedback gathered from 14 focus group sessions, which were attended by more than 150 Singaporeans.
Business consultant Ervin Ha was at a focus group discussion held earlier this week. The 37-year-old, who is planning to have a baby next year, said what mattered was not the gift, but the spirit in which it is given. The gift should be “for Singaporeans, by Singaporeans”, he said. For example, should the gift pack include knitted mittens, Singaporeans could come together to knit them at a community club, and those who cannot knit could pack the gift boxes, he suggested. This would help build community spirit among Singaporeans, he added.
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