An example of the Baby Box that would be distributed in D.C. (Photo by the office of Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau)

A bill introduced yesterday by Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau would provide all new parents in D.C. with a “baby box” in hopes of encouraging safe sleeping practices and reducing the District’s infant mortality rate. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the third leading cause of infant mortality, and unsafe sleep placement can be a contributing factor.

“Providing a safe place for infants to sleep as well as resources for new parents will help District newborns grow up healthy and strong,” Nadeau said in a press release. “I want all new parents in the District to have the tools to ensure their infants are sleeping in the safest way possible. Baby boxes are a simple idea that could make a real difference in cutting infant mortality in the District.”

The boxes, which are lined with a firm mattress and a fitted sheet, serve as a bassinet for infants and will come with essential items that could include diapers, wipes, and onesies. Nadeau’s office says the bill is modeled after the well-known program in Finland and a recent initiative in New Jersey, which became the first U.S. state to offer them to new parents earlier this year. Ohio, Texas, Alabama, Colorado, and Virginia are also rolling out similar programs.

Nadeau’s bill also provides for education for new parents on safe sleeping arrangements for infants. Her office says the training would be done online through an online platform called Baby Box University. The District Department of Health would work with local hospitals and with the foster system to ensure that those who need the boxes get them. Her office says it is unclear at this point what the initiative would cost.

In 2014, the latest year for which there is national data, D.C. had an infant mortality rate of 7.6 per 1,000 live births, several points higher than the 5.8 national average. Within those numbers, there is a significant racial disparity (as is the case with other health outcomes); the death rate for D.C. babies born to non-Hispanic, black mothers was significantly higher, at 10.5 per 1,000 live births.

Data from 2016 shows that 17 recorded infant deaths in D.C. were attributed to co-sleeping, bed-sharing, or unsafe sleeping environments specifically.

Nadeau’s bill provides for funding to collect data on the program to gauge its effectiveness. In Finland, where the Baby Box has been in place since 1949, the infant mortality rate is 2 per 1,000 live births, though it’s not clear how much of this is attributable to the boxes .

The bill was co-introduced by Councilmembers David Grosso, Robert White, Kenyan McDuffie, Anita Bonds, Elissa Silverman, Mary Cheh and Charles Allen, and co-sponsored by Trayon White.