The Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition (FKHSC), in partnership with the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, is providing families with free “Welcome Baby” Bags to give them tools to help keep their new baby healthy and safe.
The bags are delivered to each family after they head home with their newborn from the hospital as part of an initiative to reach 100% of the new babies born to families living in the Keys. Each kit includes safe sleep resources such as a swaddle sack provided by the county health department and “Sleep Baby – Safe and Snug” board books from Charlie’s Kids Foundation. Families receive other useful items such as a wet bag for soiled clothing or cloth diapers provided by The Gabriel Project, an infant car seat shade by UPPAbaby and a pack of diapers thanks to the Miami Diaper Bank. The bags also contain supplies and information to support breastfeeding moms, like disposable nursing pads, nipple cream and information about upcoming donation-based breastfeeding classes.
In addition to these items, parents receive resource guides, information about services throughout the Keys and educational materials on parenting and family well-being. These baby supplies help keep parents and children safe and healthy, and the resource guides inform them where to turn if they need additional support. When families are supported from the very beginning, parents and children are prevented from more serious well-being challenges down the road.
More information is available at 305-293-8424 or keyshealthystart.org.
