In a recent announcement, the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption said the country is planning to set up baby hatches in 18 more regions. Baby hatches are places where mothers can leave unwanted newborn babies anonymously.

China’s first baby hatch was introduced in June 2011, in Shijiazhuang, the capital of north China’s Hebei province. There are currently 25 baby hatches in 10 provincial regions across China.

A standard baby hatch consists of a temperature-controlled room equipped with a baby’s cradle and an incubator. Once dropped off anonymously, an alarm is sounded and a welfare worker attends to the child minutes later. Since opening, many baby hatches have been overwhelmed with abandoned infants.

Officials say the facility significantly reduces the mortality rates of abandoned babies and provides a safe, warm environment with immediate care. However, there are also criticisms saying it could encourage parents to give up unwanted infants more freely.