Donor event designed to help provide a safe and secure sleeping
arrangement for all infants

Boulder County, Colo. - Throughout the month of
April, Boulder County’s Department of Housing and Human Services (BCDHHS) will
be collecting monetary donations to help local families purchase portable cribs
for infants up to 12 months old. The Beds for Babies campaign is part of the Family
and Children Services (FCS) Division’s ongoing work to ensure all families are
able to provide safe and secure environments for their children. The
fundraising and education effort is timed to coincide with National Child Abuse
Prevention Month.

BCDHHS is asking
community members to make monetary contributions which will be used to purchase
portable cribs, commonly known as “pack ‘n plays.” The portable sleeping
arrangement can be used wherever the child may be, whether at the home of
parents, grandparents, or other caregivers.

For safety reasons,
BCDHHS is not accepting used
portable cribs. New portable cribs that are approved by the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission and are in unopened boxes are welcome. Monetary
donations are preferred to allow the department to purchase cribs as needed and
reduce storage needs.

To make a donation to
the Beds for Babies campaign, contact Debbie Ramirez, Volunteer Coordinator, at
dramirez@bouldercounty.org or
303-441-1430.

“These donations can reduce
the potential for unintended and accidental infant deaths related to sleep
environments that are less safe,” FCS Division Director Kit Thompson said. “This
campaign is designed to help provide a way for everyone to contribute to the
safety and well-being of the youngest members of our community.”

Ensuring access to
safety-approved portable cribs can help parents follow the American Academy of
Pediatrics’ recommendations for a safe sleep environment. The Academy’s
recommendations include:

• Always
  place your baby on his or her back to sleep, both for naps and at night.
• Use
  a separate, firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib,
  covered by a fitted sheet.
• Keep
  soft objects, toys, crib bumpers and loose bedding out of your baby's
  sleep area.

By providing portable cribs to families in our
Prevention and Child Protection programs, our community can help them create
safe sleeping spaces for their babies and improve their overall well-being. The
Beds for Babies campaign is another example of the department’s community-based,
prevention-oriented approach to child and family safety.