WEE HELP: It’s Safe Sleep month for babies
Assistance League® of Southeastern Michigan
program helps fight infant mortality all year long
ROCHESTER, Michigan, Thursday, October 20, 2022: Along with the hope and joy that comes with the birth of a child, new mothers also worry about baby’s health once at home, particularly when they’re asleep. With some Wee Help, though, new moms can worry a little less.
Earlier this month, Michigan declared October “Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month.”
From 2009-2019, 1,436 babies died in Michigan from sleep-related deaths. In 2019 alone, 149 babies died due to unsafe sleep environments.
Babies from birth to a year old can be safer while sleeping at night and during naps when American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines are followed. Recommendations include:
= Placing baby on their back, on a non-inclined sleep surface, such as a crib, bassinet or Pack ‘n Play, with no other people.
= Using a firm mattress with a tightly fitted sheet.
= Keeping baby’s sleep space clutter-free without pillows, blankets or toys.
Low-income mothers often have no separate place for their baby to sleep, so they sleep with mom. Having a Pack ‘n Play starts the education for mom about the importance of a separate bed for baby and placing them on their back.
That’s exactly where Wee Help, a philanthropic program of the Michigan Assistance League chapter, comes in.
Wee Help provides Safe Sleep packages to limited-income mothers for their newborns. Each package contains a new Pack ‘n Play, sheet and wearable blanket.
“Statistics show about 3,500 infants die in the U.S. each year from sleep-related illnesses. Assistance League provides Safe Sleep packages to help prevent tragedies like this, and we do it all year long,” said Dar Laskowski, the chapter’s VP of Philanthropic Programs.
Clients of Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) providers in the tri-county area to support safe sleep habits and to reduce infant mortality. MIHPs are state-licensed businesses that take only Medicaid moms-to-be as clients.
Since 2017, the Assistance League chapter has distributed 939 Safe Sleep packages to 15 MIHPs in the tri-county area.
Also, since 1994, Wee Help has provided 14,234 newborns with Layette Kits, which contain a new receiving blanket, clothing, diapers, bottle, pacifier, bib, washcloth, baby book and knitted hat.
In addition to Wee Help for infants, the chapter’s established philanthropic programs also include Operation School Bell for school children, Assault Survivor Kits for victims of abuse and Nourishing Neighbors for those with food insecurity.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Wee Help co-chairs, Ruth Williamson and Deb Eggleston, along with liaison Carole Berry, deliver a Safe Sleep Package to Jennifer Shepherd, director of Great Start Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) in Macomb County. Assistance League provides 150 of these packages annually to MIHP facilities.
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About Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan
Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan, founded in 1993 and serving Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), hands-on, all-volunteer organization whose mission is transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs. ReSale Connection is Assistance League's nonprofit, upscale resale store in downtown Rochester, offering high-quality, new and gently used merchandise at a great value. With no paid staff, funds raised remain in local Michigan communities, helping thousands of people in need throughout the year.
For more information, please call or visit our store:
ReSale Connection
P.O. Box 80932
204 S. Main St.
Rochester, MI 48307
248-656-0414
(Federal Tax ID#: EIN 38-3181336)
AssistanceLeague.org/southeastern-michigan
Media contact:
Laurie Alkidas, VP Marketing/Communications
Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan
248-765-6998
lalkidas@hotmail.com
