North Carolina hospital giving starter kits to new parents

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina hospital is equipping new parents with a starter kit to help keep their babies safe as they sleep.

WFDD-FM in Winston-Salem reports that Women’s Hospital in Greensboro is offering kits that include a “baby box,” which consists of a firm mattress appropriate for a newborn. It can be used as a sleeper for babies up to five or six months, depending on the child’s size.

The boxes are modeled after a program in Finland dating back more than 80 years.

Cone Health pediatrician Dr. Kaye Gable says the keys to safe sleeping are to place a baby on its back and to provide a clear area without pillows or blankets.

Boxes are provided by Family Support Network of Central North Carolina.

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Information from: WFDD-FM.