Missouri promotes infant safe sleeping through free crib program

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Missouri is one of the worst states for infant mortality, with over 400 infant deaths each year, according to the CDC.

This Infant Safe Sleeping Awareness Month, the state is working to combat infant death by investing in programs that help low-income families with cribs. The state has increased its funding for maternal health research and outreach in the past few years, allocating over $7 million for this fiscal year.

Safe sleeping for infants is not common knowledge. The most recent Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services report on infant mortality shows that 74% of non-medical infant deaths in Missouri are related to an unsafe sleep environment.

The latest recommendations are that there is nothing in the crib with the baby, no blankets or toys. Also, have the baby sleep on their back to avoid choking. Remember ABC: Alone, on their Back and in a Crib.

Shanna Herd oversees the Safe Cribs for Missouri program. This statewide program provides low-income families with free cribs and safe sleeping education. This year alone, it has helped over 600 Missouri families.

“We’re going to provide a crib for you, we’re going to provide a safe space for your baby to sleep every night, and we’re going to educate you a little bit on safe sleep,” Herd said. “We can take that burden off of those, those new parents, the young parents, the parents who have found themselves in a situation they never thought they’d be in.”

To qualify for a free crib, the mother must be a WIC recipient, eligible for Medicaid, or 185% below the poverty level. You can learn more about the program online.

First-time Cape Girardeau mom Dr. Rina Patel-Jerls had to learn a lot quickly when her son came just 11 weeks ago; one of those things was how to put him down for a nap safely.

“It is a learning experience for me, because you get those conflicting ideas of our grandparents and parents that never had to deal with SIDS as much as we do now,” Patel-Jerls said.

Patel-Jerls now leans on the Missouri group It Takes a Village for support and answers to questions about parenting.

“I was panicking. It was my first baby. I had so many questions,” Patel-Jerls said.

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