COURTESY OF BABY BOX CO.
Forget about buying that expensivecrib right away. ABaby Box will do.
Credited with providing asafe sleep environment, Baby Boxes – made from a durable cardboard with afirm mattress and used asababy’ s bed for the first monthsoflife – have helped reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death syndrome( SUIDS). This is great news to hear as an estimated93percent of infantfatalities associated with SUIDS were related to sleep and sleep environments in 2016, according to the Child Fatality & Near Fatality Review Board.
The Baby Box Co., created by entrepreneurs MichelleVick and Jennifer Clary, was started to support parents and improve infant health care. The company recently rolled out the Baby Box University program that allows expectant and new parentstoreceive afree Baby Box with the completion of an online educationprogram. New Jersey was the firststatetoprovide this program to its residents.
“ I’ m so proud to share the Baby Box Universityprogram with expecting and new parents in New Jersey,” Jennifer Clary, CEO of The Baby Box Co., says.” Every parent has aright to the necessary tools to care for their infant and every child deserves asafe and supported start inlife. New Jersey officials and health professionals have come togetherinacollaboration which embodies this truth, ensuring that basic child-care resources and education are universally accessible to families statewide.”
All expectant parents living in New Jersey are eligible to receive a Baby Box, which includes newborn essentials such as Pampers Swaddlers diapers, Pampers baby wipes, Vroom activity cards from the Bezos Family Foundation, Lansinoh breastpads and nipple cream for breastfeeding mothers, aonesie and more.
Currently, Bergen Family Center in Englewood, Cresskill Library, Little Falls Public Library and Program for Parents in Montclair are the Baby Box distribution centersinthe our area.
BEST FOR BABY The Baby Box Co. is offering Baby Boxes, made of durable cardboard with a firm mattress, to expectant and new moms to help reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death syndrome.
“ The Cresskill Library Board of Trustees and the staff are thrilled to be providing this wonderful service,” Rita Browning, the library director, says.“ So far we have gotten great feedbackfrom the mothers. One expectant mother is due in aweek and was so thrilled to get the baby box in time for the arrival of her baby.”
Maggie Kastas of Hawthorne picked up abox at the library in anticipationof the arrival of her son.
“ After readingupon itIwas hooked,” she says.“ This is such agreat idea, plus the website has amazing videosand tips for new moms. I am very excited to have the baby box and utilize all the recourses of the Baby Box Universityprogram.”
The use of Baby Boxes has been credited with helping Finland achieve one of the world’ s lowest infant mortality rates. Every expectant woman in the country is able to claim afree Baby Box once she receivesprenatal care and parenting information from ahealth care professional. The success of the Baby Boxes inspired Vick and Clary to adapt the program outside of Finland. The Baby Box Co. is working with nonprofits, hospitals and government agencies to provide an enhancedmultimedia parenting curricula through Baby Box University, along with the free Baby Boxes, toas many American families as possible.
“ Through greater awareness and education, and by working together, we can make sleep time safe time for babies,” says Commissioner Allison Blake of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. ●
HOWNEW JERSEY PARENTS CAN GET THEIR
FREE BABYBOX
1
Register for free online at babyboxuniversity. com as aNew Jersey resident. Be sure to include your correct contact information, including mailing address.
2Watch the 10-15 minute New Jersey syllabus at babyboxuniversity. com. After taking a short quiz, you will receive acertificate of completion and be able to select local pick-up or direct delivery of your Baby Box.
3If you select direct delivery, your Baby Box will ship to the address you provided when you registered on Baby Box University. If you select local pick up, bring your Baby Box University certificate to the closest participating distribution partner to collect your Baby Box.
( 201) FAMILY | AUGUST 2017 17