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Parents from New Jersey will be receiving baby boxes for their infants
BEACON TRANSCRIPT – New parents from New Jersey will now receive “baby boxes” for their newborns. These boxes contain infant essentials and can also serve as beds for the babies.
New Jersey followed the example of Finland. Since 1930s, Finnish parents receive these boxes containing everything they need for their child. This initiative helped in preventing infant death in Scandinavia and the officials hope it will do the same in New Jersey.
Those who offer the baby boxes are the Baby Box Company in collaboration with New Jersey’s Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board (CFNFRB). Parents can find anything in them, from diapers, baby clothes, wipes, breast pads, to a small mattress that allows the cardboard box to be used as a first bed for the baby.
All new and soon-to-be parents can now register online to Baby Box University to receive a box. They need to complete an “educational” program that is meant to teach parents about the essentials of newborn care. They will learn about safe sleep spots, breastfeeding, and other services.
After the parents have finished watching the educational videos, they have to take a short quiz based on the material and then they are ready to receive they free box. They can either pick up the box from a distribution point or choose to have it delivered to their home.
The CEO of the Baby Box Company, Jennifer Clary, declared that they aim not only to offer guidance for the new parents, but also physical and material means so that they can take care of their baby.
The contains of the box are valued at approximately $150. CFNFRB received funding from the Center for Disease Control to implement the program. Further funding will be provided by the Baby Box Company and their sponsors.
New Jersey is the first state to implement such a program. About 105,000 families from all over the state are expected to receive baby boxes this year.
The main aim of this program is to combat infant deaths caused by SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Almost 93 percent of these deaths are caused by the sleep environment of the baby. Thus, they want to make parents careful with the safety of their children’s sleeping spots.
Giving baby boxes to new parents is a great initiative that offers precious help to people in need and makes parents aware of how they should be taking care of their babies.
Image Source: Pixabay
