What in the world? This new idea makes me seriously wonder at the direction our society seems to be heading. Although this article comes to us from Germany, the safe haven frenzy has hit the U.S. as well. Think we would never consider such a thing as a baby box? Think again, read this article in an Ohio newspaper. Seems Italy has also embraced the idea of drop boxes for babies.

Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates said a local baby slot is an option she doesn't like but it may be worth discussing.

All this hype about mothers wanting anonymity is pure crap in my mind. If birth mothers who choose adoption want to remain anonymous so badly, why is the trend towards open adoptions so strong? Why are so many birth parents searching for their children, or signing up on registries? Do you hear any birth mothers who crave their privacy? Rarely can you find a single birth mother who feels a need to be protected from her child. Why is there an assumption that being found by your own child will be harmful to a birth parent?

I digress though - I intended to discuss baby drop boxes. Does anyone seriously believe that dropping a baby off at a safe haven or drop box is only a desire for anonymity? Isn't it a desperate need to avoid reality altogether? How about instead of ignoring why some women feel the need for anonymous abandonment trying to figure out why they feel as they do?

Here's how it works. A person leaves a baby in a heated box in the outside wall of a hospital. The weight of the baby triggers a sensor which activates a signal to the hospital workers. Conveniently, the signal gives the baby dumper time to make a quick getaway. Of course, like safe havens, that means anyone can dump a baby. It could be the mother, a grandparent, a boyfriend or spouse or ANYONE!

For all the hype about safe havens, I think the reason that they rarely work is overlooked. Abandoning a baby is not a rational act. Therefore, someone who has a baby that they feel that they must not keep is highly unlikely to think of using a safe haven. If they were thinking straight to begin with, they would use a conventional method to transfer custody of their child, like adoption, or they would ask a family member for help to parent.

On a lighter note, check out a surprise that was in store for the maternity staff in one baby box!