Safe Sleep for Baby Program

A note to our partners:

HMHB has received questions regarding modifications to the process of ordering, installing and distributing cribs and car seats given current social distancing recommendations to help limit the spread of COVID-19. HMHB will continue distributing car seats and safe infant sleep kits as normal, but we know that distribution on your end has likely changed.

HMHB trusts our partners will do their best to ensure a seat is properly installed or a crib is properly set up with a goal of increasing child safety.  We think doing your best also includes protecting your clients from COVID-19. We trust you to decide how clients may receive needed safe sleep kits without in-person guidance and set up demonstration. Please continue ordering as needed and when social distancing recommendations have passed, we know you’ll return to providing in person guidance on safe infant sleep and SIDS prevention.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns during this period of rapid change. We are always available at this email hmhb@hmhb-mt.org Sending huge virtual hugs to everyone out there. ❤️  We are so thankful for all of your great work for kids and families in Montana.               ~The HMHB Team

The safest place for babies to sleep is on their back, in a crib, in the same room as their parents. Following these precautions helps protect against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). See our recommendations to parents for keeping babies safe while they sleep.

To ensure that all Montana families can create safe sleep environments for babies, the Safe Sleep for Baby Program provides families with portable cribs at no cost.

Family support organizations, including local health public departments, distribute the cribs. Families may also receive education about SIDS and shaken baby syndrome, including how to cope with a crying baby.

How to order Safe Sleep Kits:

Referrals for safe sleep items must come from a public health department or other family support organization.

To order safe sleep items for your patients or clients:

  1. Place the Order. Complete the Safe Sleep Kit Order and Release Form and submit them via email to hmhb@hmhb-mt.org or by mail to:

Healthy Mothers, Health Babies—The Montana Coalition
318-20 N. Last Chance Gulch, Suite 2C
Helena, MT 59601

  1. Deliver the crib. At delivery, an expert from your organization must demonstrate how to set up the crib and review the educational materials included.
  2. If possible, have the family complete a photo release form and send us a photo or video of them so we can share their success story. Please make sure the file is in JPG/JPEG format with good resolution (around 72 DPI, with the file size between 50 and 200 KB).

Safe Sleep Public Messaging Campaign

As part of the State of Montana’s First Years Initiative, HMHB partnered with the Department of Health and Social Services to create new materials with safe sleep information. This includes information for grandparents, professional, friends, and more, as we heard Montana families when they said people other than parents may help put baby to sleep. There is also information around safe sleep products, safe bed-sharing, and traditional sleep positions.

View the Safe Sleep Campaign Materials