Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. Baby Boxes are being cited as a way to tackle this tragic problem. Jennifer Clary, CEO of Baby Box Co., explains how it all works.
The use of Baby Boxes has been credited as a key way of reducing infant mortality in Finland, where the tradition has been in play for over 75 years.
In Ireland, a programme was introduced to Limerick Maternity Hosptial last September, with plans to further expand in April with Wexford General Hospital.
RTÉ LifeStyle spoke with Jennifer Clary, CEO of Baby Box Company, on how her work is proving a success with parents.
The Baby Box Company
"We launched The Baby Box Co. in 2013 after learning about the 75-year-old tradition in Finland" Clary explains, "where the government provides every parent in the country with a Baby Box, along with support and resources for new parents."
"We were deeply inspired by the concept of such a simple, affordable program that could have a long-lasting impact on public health", she adds.
"Since our founding, it has been our mission to provide new parents everywhere with Baby Boxes and crucial parenting education that will help them ensure the very best start in life for their children."
The Success of The Finnish Tradition
"Because all Finnish parents receive a Baby Box, all Finnish infants have a safe place to sleep, reducing the likelihood that they will sleep in an unsafe space such as a couch or adult bed."
"Which in turn reduces the likelihood that they will succumb to a sleep-related death, such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)" Clary explains.
The risk of SIDS is significantly reduced when infants are put to sleep:
- Alone
- On their back
- On a firm mattress
- And in a crib or Baby Box (or other safe-certified sleeping space), without any items such as loose blankets, plush animals, or pillows.
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Other ways to reduce this risk include:
- Having a non-smoking household
- Breastfeeding
- Receiving the recommended vaccinations
"By providing parents with safe sleeping spaces for their infants along with education on the important steps that must be taken to decrease the risk of SIDS, we strive to reduce the number of these tragic and potentially preventable infant deaths" Clary adds.
Educating Parents is Key
"But what is even more important than the Baby Box itself is the fact that Finnish parents receive parenting education and support at their doctor appointments, which they are required to attend in order to receive their Baby Box.
"This is why we developed our own parenting education platform, Baby Box University, which is an integral part of our programs." Clary explains. "Before becoming eligible for a free Baby Box, parents first complete a syllabus on BabyBoxUniversity.com so that they are educated on a number of important topics."
"When these parents are armed with information on safe sleep rules, infant brain development, car-seat safety, breastfeeding, milestones, and more from day one, this can have a significant impact on the child’s entire life."
"We do believe that the general concept of our Baby Box programs can be applied almost everywhere."
with baby Leah at University Maternity Hosptial, Limerick in September
3) Reception
How have you been received from your programmes?
"We have been thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response to all of our Baby Box programs.
"Even in communities where there may have initially been some scepticism, new parents have wholeheartedly embraced the program as a terrific way to help keep their baby safe and ensure that he or she has the best start in life."
5) Features of the Baby Box.
What are they made of?
- They are made of cardboard which means it is lightweight and eco-friendly.
- Can easily be repurposed as a toy box, memory or storage box. Or recycled at the end of its' lifespan.
- Has a water-resistant coating, meaning you can easily wipe clean with a damp rag for spills and accidents.
"On average, babies in first world nations outgrow the Baby Box as a sleep space between 5-6 months of age, though of course children develop at different rates", Clary explains.
"Most SIDS deaths occur in babies between 1 month and 4 months of age, and the majority (90%) of SIDS deaths occur before a baby reaches 6 months of age."
"Therefore, our product functions as a calculated risk reduction tool rather than an ongoing physical solution."
Life-Long Effect of Education
"Regardless of when the baby outgrows the Baby Box, there is no expiration date on the education that the parent received through Baby Box University, which will help to give the child the best start in life."
"As an education company first and foremost, this is our emphasis."
For more information on The Baby Box Company, visit their website here. And for more parenting articles, follow RTÉ LifeStyle on Twitter, on Facebook and on Instagram.
