State offers free portable cribs during Safe Sleep Awareness Month

Safe sleep practices reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and other sleep-related infant fatalities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 3,500 sudden unexpected infant deaths annually in the United States.

Source: N.M. Department of Health

SANTA FE – October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month, and the New Mexico Department of Health is highlighting the importance of creating a safe-sleep environment for infants – including offering free portable cribs for families in need.

Safe sleep practices reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death and other sleep-related infant fatalities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 3,500 sudden unexpected infant deaths annually in the United States.

In New Mexico, sudden unexpected infant death is the third leading cause of infant deaths behind congenital malformations and perinatal conditions. From 2020-2024 New Mexico reported an average of 110 infant deaths per year.

“Every infant in the state deserves a safe start in life, and there are simple steps everyone can take to ensure that happens,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, Chief Medical Officer for the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH).

To keep babies safe while sleeping, NMDOH suggests:

• Always place infants on their back for sleep.
• Use a firm, flat surface designed for infant sleep.
• Keep pillows, toys, loose bedding and other objects out of the baby sleep space.
• Encourage supervised tummy time when infants are awake.
• Babies should sleep in the parent’s room in their baby-approved, clutter-free, sleep space for the first 6 months of life.

To get a free portable crib from NMDOH:

1. Go to safesleepNM.org.
2. Complete the free Safe Sleep training. 
3. Save your completion certificate.
4. Fill out the request form on the website and upload your certificate. 

About 2,400 New Mexicans have taken the Safe Sleep training and received portable cribs to date.

For more information, please visit safesleepNM.org or call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773). You can also text the helpline at 66364 (NMDOH).