Need a crib for your baby? This Safe Sleep Awareness Month, the New Mexico Department of Health is giving out free portable cribs to families who need one.
NMDOH said following safe sleep practices can lower the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and other sleep-related fatalities.
“Every infant in the state deserves a safe start in life, and there are simple steps everyone can take to ensure that happens,” Dr. Miranda Durham, NMDOH chief medical officer, said in a statement.
Sudden unexpected infant death ranks third among New Mexico’s infant deaths after congenital malformations and perinatal conditions. The state recorded an average of 110 infant deaths each year from 2020 to 2024.
How to Keep Your Baby Safe While Sleeping
NMDOH shared tips to help you keep your baby safe while asleep.
The agency recommends placing infants on their backs every time they sleep. Have your baby sleep on a firm, flat surface designed specifically for infant sleep.
NMDOH advises keeping pillows, toys, loose bedding, and other items out of your baby’s sleeping area. The department encourages parents to give their babies supervised tummy time while they’re awake.
For the first six months, NMDOH recommends keeping your baby in your room and giving them a safe, clutter-free area to sleep.
How to Get a Free Crib
To receive a free portable crib from NMDOH, visit safesleepNM.org and complete the free Safe Sleep training. Save your completion certificate, then fill out the request form on the website and upload your certificate.
So far, an estimated 2,400 New Mexicans have completed the Safe Sleep training and obtained portable cribs.
