St. Mary’s Health Center is launching a new program to educate parents about safe sleep practices for their newborns to help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Starting this month, every baby born at St. Mary’s will wear a HALO SleepSack, a wearable blanket that replaces blankets in the crib that can cover a baby’s face and interfere with breathing, during their hospital stay. Parents are encouraged to take a sleep sack home for their baby.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of wearable blankets to reduce the risk of SIDS. The St. Mary’s HALO SleepSack program was made possible through the St. Mary’s Foundation and the efforts of Alan and Kimberly Atnip in honor of their son, Garrett, who died from SIDS.

To launch the sleep sack program, St. Mary’s will hold a reception Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 5:30 p.m. in the OB family waiting room, second floor of the hospital. Sleep sacks are also available for purchase in the St. Mary’s Gift Shop during normal business hours.  

For more information about this program or the St. Mary’s Foundation, contact Dianne Lowry at (573) 761-7198, or dianne_lowry@ssmhc.com.