Hundreds of expectant parents are to receive a range of supplies for their new arrival under a pilot scheme beginning in Dublin and Waterford.
The so-called "baby bundle" will include toys to encourage early communication, items to help the safe bathing of infants as well as a range of household supports to help new parents after the birth.
300 families from the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin and 150 families attending Waterford University Hospital were invited to take part in the pilot.
The items will be delivered to the homes of participating parents at a time of their choosing.
Parents taking part in the initiative will subsequently be asked to share their views and experiences of the baby bundle and its contents.
The Government has said this feedback will inform the development of proposals for a wider national roll-out of the scheme.
Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman has said that he hopes this will provide a "real sense... of how well the scheme works".
He added that the Government has seen "how well this scheme works in other jurisdictions".
A similar scheme is already in place in Scotland.
