DENVER – Becoming a parent for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience but a new program coming to Colorado aims to give all new parents in the state a helping hand.
Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation, Denver Health, Lansinoh and several other local health organizations are teaming up with the Baby Box Company to provide free baby boxes for the estimated 66,500 children who will be born in the state this year.
Each baby box comes with items that new parents will need: Diapers, baby wipes, a onesie, nursing pads, activity cards and more. The box, made out of sturdy cardboard, can also be used as a bed during the baby’s first months.
The baby box idea is based on a similar program from the Finnish government that provides every new mother with a box full of important starter items and prenatal care and education. The program is credited with drastically reducing the country’s infant death rates.
“Unfortunately babies don’t come with a manual but our hope is that Baby Box University can serve as a helpful starting place to glean expert information and coaching on how to support your child in infancy and beyond,” said Baby Box Company co-founder and CEO Jennifer Clary.
To get a baby box, parents first have to complete a 10-15 minute education course at BabyBoxUniversity.com. Parents can then pick up a baby box or have it delivered to their home.
Colorado is now the fifth state to offer the program to new parents, joining Alabama, Ohio, Texas and New Jersey.
The Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation is holding a kickoff event to celebrate the launch of the baby box program. The event is scheduled for Thursday, July 13 at 10 a.m. at the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation, 5394 Marshall St. in Arvada.
To learn more, log on to babyboxuniversity.com.