DPH offers mothers free bassinets, other resources to protect infants from sleep-related deaths

New mothers will receive free resources to help protect their babies from sleep-related infant deaths under a new statewide initiative.  Georgia’s 77 birthing hospitals are participating in the state’s “Safe to Sleep” program and are providing every mother and newborn an infant gown with “This Side Up” messaging to remind them and caregivers that babies sleep safest on their backs. The mothers also will receive a “Safe to Sleep” book reminding them about the importance of safe sleep practices.

Travel bassinets will be given to Medicaid and uninsured families for babies who weigh up to 15 pounds or are four to six months old. The bassinets can be used in another room in the home or when the baby is being cared for outside the home.

First Lady Sandra Deal helped the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to launch the initiative, along with the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Georgia Hospital Association and Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society.

Georgia has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Sleep-related infant deaths occur suddenly.Every week, three infants in Georgia die as a result of sleep-related problems.

To learn more about the campaign and how to properly put infants to sleep, visit www.GeorgiaSafetoSleep.org.