Our Experience with the Baby Box in St. Petersburg

We've been lucky enough to live in St. Petersburg, just an 11-minute train ride away from the city center or a 30-minute bus ride. So, it's no surprise we gave birth to our little one in St. Pete.

When we left the hospital, we were handed a box with all sorts of goodies for our newborn. If you're registered in St. Petersburg, you'll get this box right away, along with your birth certificate. You can also pick it up at a local MFC or the ZAGS office.

Some people think that just because they gave birth in St. Petersburg, they'll automatically get the St. Petersburg box. But that's not the case. The box is only given to families who are registered in the city. If you're registered in the region, you won't get anything, even if you pick up your birth certificate in St. Pete. And if you try to get the box at an MFC in the region, you'll be out of luck.

So, if you gave birth in St. Petersburg, you need to head to the nearest MFC in the region to get your box. I filled out the paperwork through the government services portal, chose the closest ZAGS office, and showed up with my husband at the appointed time. And that's exactly what we got - the box.

So, what's inside this box?

The box is pretty substantial.

It's all about the giraffe theme:
Inside:A flannel blanket with a giraffe design. You can find similar blankets on Avito for around 700 rubles.Pacifiers and a baby toothbrush. (These cost around 860 rubles each.)A fall onesie with zippers and legs. (I couldn't find an exact match for this one, but it's definitely a high-end item, priced between 3,500 and 5,000 rubles.)And, of course, it's all about the giraffe!

<\/a><\/div><\/div>One of the things we've been using nonstop is the corner towel set (it comes with a monkey and a baby washcloth). It's been a lifesaver, especially for bath time. ($1200)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li>The baby wash set, including gel and cream, has been a great addition to our routine. ($1109)<\/li><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li>We also got the newborn nail care set, which is super cool (it's around 926 rubles on WB).<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li>The cozy knitted set (hat, booties, and onesie) was a bit pricey at 3800 rubles.<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li>Moist towelettes have been a game-changer for us, especially during diaper changes. ($345 on WB)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li>We've also been using disposable diaper inserts, which have been a lifesaver for us. ($440)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li>As for diapers, we're still using the 3-6 kg size, which is a bit big for us now. ($710)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li>The set of clothes made from HB fabric has been a great addition to our wardrobe. The 68 size is perfect for this age, and it's been a great value for money at 2153 rubles.<\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li>The baby bedding set has been a great addition to our nursery. It's made from a soft cotton and satin blend, and it's been a great value for money at 1500 rubles.<\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul>Total cost of the newborn set from Len.obl. came out to be 15,000 rubles. The price tag on the autumn onesie is a bit of a mystery to me.

In all, the set has been a great value for money, and we're happy to have received such thoughtful gifts. The quality is decent, but it's the thought that counts, right?

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