According to the Chicago Tribune, "Saint Anthony Hospital in the Lawndale neighborhood has a surprising new tool in its fight against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: the cardboard box."

If you have never heard of this disorder, it's exactly what it sounds like.

"Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs. Although the cause is unknown, it appears that SIDS might be associated with defects in the portion of an infant's brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep," according to MayoClinic.org.

The Chicago Tribune reports that, "The hospital has partnered with The Baby Box Co., a for-profit Los Angeles company that provides free education and cardboard boxes for newborns to sleep in. The no-frills boxes, which are outfitted with a mattress, offer a flat surface that is also portable."

For the most part it allows the parents to carry the child from room to room. Allowing the parent to watch the infant while he or she sleeps rather than the infant sleeping unsupervised.

It also keeps things like toys, which could be very dangerous to a young infant, away from the child. Unlike a crib.

So far, Saint Anthony is the first and only hospital in Illinois with the program but it is currently being administered in 10 different states. If there is one thing we can all agree on, it's the health of our children. If that means handing out cardboard boxes then so be it.

It seems to be working, but until the death count reads zero. We still have work to do.

 

 

 

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