In January, New Jersey launched the nation's first baby-box initiative, beginning at Cooper Hospital in Camden.
A simple cardboard box, unadorned and free of blankets, pillows and stuffed animals, could save the lives of countless infants. But too few parents apparently are getting the message.
New Jersey lawmakers want the Department of Children and Families to better publicize an initiative that distributes free "baby boxes" to prevent crib death among the state's newborns.
Legislation passed by the Assembly last week would require that the department post a link to an educational program that distributes the boxes, and would also ensure that new parents have access to information about safe-sleeping techniques.
While acknowledging that researchers do not know the exact cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges parents always to place babies on their backs to sleep, and to keep soft objects such as pillows and loose bedding out of the sleep area.
Baby boxes will keep sleeping New Jersey infants safe
Have the baby share your room, not your bed, the agency cautions: Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch, or on a chair with you or anyone else.
In January, New Jersey launched the nation's first baby-box initiative. It began at Cooper Hospital in Camden, offering the boxes as low-cost, low-tech bassinets designed to provide a portable space for caretakers to place newborns.
The program is a boon particularly to parents with limited resources, who may not have ready access to a crib or a bassinet and whose default option is to bring the baby into bed with them.
Although the state's infant mortality rate is below the national rate, the New Jersey Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board said there were 61 child fatalities in 2014 - the vast majority of them involving sleeping or bed conditions.
Thirty-five of those deaths resulted from a baby's sleeping with adults.
State officials are gearing up to distribute at least 100,000 baby boxes in 2017, enough for all the infants expected to be born this year.
The CDC is kicking in $40,000 for the boxes, which come equipped with diapers, wipes and other necessities, as well as literature designed to help parents prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other fatal conditions.
But even the best of intentions will fail if people don't know about them. That's why the proposed measure making its way through the Legislation makes such good sense.
In addition to requiring the Department of Children and Families to trumpet the initiative on its site, the bill calls for the agency to ensure that all other departments in the state include the updated information online as well.
Such small gestures, such enormous impact.
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