Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (from courierpostonline.com) – Delta Children and First Candle, nonprofit group team to prevent SIDS in military families and donate free cribs to both pregnant service women and civilian spouses of servicemen at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
In honor of the men and women in the military, President Joseph Shamie of Delta Children, a children's furniture company, teamed with the nonprofit First Candle organization to host demonstration events at military bases across the country.
Several pregnant military moms and pregnant civilian spouses received free cribs this week as part of an outreach program aimed at reducing crib deaths.
Mr. Shamie said military families experience a higher rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) than the national average. He said a key factor is co-sleeping with parents. Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents are five times more likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep in their own crib.
He told expectant mothers this week it is important to keep a crib free of clutter. "No pillows, blankets, toys ... nothing should be in the crib," he advised. He showed how a baby monitor cord can strangle an infant left unattended.
First Candle is a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to safe pregnancies and the survival of babies through the first years of life.