Safe Cribs for Missouri Program
The Safe Cribs for Missouri program provides portable cribs and safe sleep education to low-income families who have no other resources for obtaining a crib. The program is administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) within the Office of Childhood, through federal funding from the Maternal Child Health Services Block Grant (Title V) and state funding from the Children’s Trust Fund. The overall goal of the program is to support families and reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths.
Sleep-related infant death is the leading cause of infant mortality from one month to one year of age. Sleep-related infant death can result from unintentional suffocation/strangulation, or from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a complete investigation. The best way to prevent sleep-related deaths is for all parents and caregivers to provide a safe sleeping environment for infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published its most recent recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. For a summary of the AAP guidelines on safe sleep, click here. For the complete AAP guidelines on safe sleep, click here.
- Geographic Availability/Contact
- Data and Reports
- Eligibility/Enrollment Criteria
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- Client is a Missouri resident who is 35 weeks gestation to three months postpartum
- Client is eligible for WIC, Medicaid, or has income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level
- Family has no crib and no other resources for obtaining one
- Family agrees to participate in two individual safe sleep education sessions
Call 800-TEL-LINK (800-835-5465) to find a provider near you.
- Safe Cribs for Missouri Brochure
- How can you make a safe sleep environment?
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Always place baby on his or her back to sleep for all sleep times, including naps.
Room share - place your baby’s crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard in your bedroom, close to your bed. Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch, or on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else.
Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or portable play area, covered by a fitted sheet.
Don't let baby get too hot during sleep. Dress your baby in no more than one layer more of clothing than an adult would wear to be comfortable. A one-piece sleeper or wearable blanket can be used.