By many measures, Connecticut is one of the best states to have a baby, but an underlying reality is that not everyone has the same chance for a safe and healthy pregnancy, birth, and start to parenthood. The truth is that there are roughly 350 Connecticut families each year who experience severe maternal morbidity (SMM), […]
As was reported in the Washington Post, yesterday the Department of Health and Human Services terminated seven major grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics, grants that supported foundational child health priorities, including reducing sudden infant deaths, rural access to care, mental health, birth defects, early autism identification, and the prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum […]
First Candle was honored to host the International Society for the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death (ISPID) 2025 conference October 8 -10, which brought together more than 340 researchers, medical professionals, advocates, and parents from around the world. This year the virtual conference focused on Fostering Unity for Infant Survival: Collaborative Approaches […]
How Our NICU Let’s Talk Program Improves Safe Sleep Practices: Now Published in Neonatology Today Inside Our NICU Safe Sleep Program: Data, Outcomes, and Clinical Implications Every once in a while, we reach a milestone that reminds us exactly why we do this work. Recently, a white paper on our NICU Let’s Talk Community Chats program, co-authored […]
At a recent UCLA event, California’s Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos made a powerful statement: “We have to remember what happens in childhood does not stay in childhood. It shapes our biology, our behavior, and our health outcomes across the lifespan.” Dr. Ramos was speaking about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—childhood exposure to abuse, neglect, family […]
We’re excited to share that Naturepedic, the leading manufacturer of certified organic mattresses, has joined First Candle as a donor and partner in our mission to ensure every baby reaches their first birthday. As part of this commitment, Naturepedic will: Provide safe sleep guidance with every crib mattress through QR codes and educational infographics created by First Candle […]
First Candle Executive Director and CEO Alison Jacobson released the following statement about the domestic policy bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today and is expected to be signed into law on Friday. The bill contains drastic cuts to Medicaid funding. We are deeply disappointed by the passage of this legislative bill, which […]
June is National Safety Month, and it’s the perfect time to share a few key tips to help keep babies safe while they sleep. At First Candle, we know how overwhelming all the advice can be, so we’re keeping it simple: safe sleep saves lives. Each year, thousands of babies die from Sudden Unexpected Infant […]
A recent case out of Bethel Township, Pennsylvania, has sparked national headlines: a couple has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after their 3-month-old baby died while sleeping on his stomach. Prosecutors allege the parents ignored prior warnings from child welfare workers about safe sleep practices, leading to the infant’s tragic death. This case is heartbreaking—and […]
May is Maternal Mental Health Month—a time to raise awareness about the emotional and psychological well-being of new moms. At First Candle, our mission is to save babies and support families. That includes addressing a critical but too-often overlooked issue: postpartum depression (PPD). Through our Let’s Talk Community Chats, we meet with families in […]
First Candle Offers Guidance on Safe, More Affordable Alternatives With recent tariffs driving up the cost and limiting the availability of essential infant products like cribs, parents across the country are voicing urgent concerns about how to keep their babies safe during sleep. First Candle, the national nonprofit dedicated to preventing Sudden Unexpected Infant […]
At First Candle, our mission has always been to meet families where they are — with empathy, education, and support — especially in communities that experience the greatest risk of sleep-related infant deaths. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our new partnership in promoting the children’s book Bedtime Baby, Safe and Sound. Written by […]
First Candle has initiated a pilot of its innovative Let’s Talk Community Chats program within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. This initiative is designed to educate and support families on safe sleep practices and breastfeeding, aiming to prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)—with SIDS remaining the leading […]
The January 20th Presidential Executive Order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization marks a loss for maternal and infant health in the U.S. and the world. The U.S. was a founding member of the WHO, an agency of the United Nations created in 1948, and has played a major role in programs […]
Declaring that “no pregnant woman in New York should be forced to choose between a paycheck and a check-up,” NY Governor Kathy Hochul has launched the New York State Paid Prenatal Leave Law, which went into effect January 1st and is the first of its kind in the U.S. Now all full- and part-time pregnant […]
Join us Tuesday, December 17th at noon EST, as we host a live webinar and panel discussion unveiling the successes of our first year of Let’s Talk Community Chats hosted in Atlanta in partnership with Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia. We will share data and stories about the impact […]
Focus on Safe Sleep Practices to Prevent Sleep Related Infant Deaths Today First Candle and Dear Fathers announced a strategic partnership to work together to educate and support Black fathers around the country regarding infant safe sleep, breastfeeding support and the proper use of infant products. First Candle is the national non-profit organization addressing […]
First Candle is pleased to announce that Dave Taylor has joined the organization’s Board of Directors. Taylor is highly esteemed in the juvenile products industry, having served as CEO at both Evenflo and Dorel Juvenile Group and CFO at Goodbaby. He also serves on the Board of the Indiana Make a Wish Foundation. Taylor has […]
All of us at First Candle are pleased to announce that Destiny Stokes, MPH has joined the organization as Program Director. She was previously Research Manager at Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia, which has been First Candle’s partner in executing a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority […]
Every year the second Sunday after Labor Day is a special one – Grandparents Day! A time “to honor grandparents … and to help children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance older people can offer.” It’s also a time to acknowledge that the day can trigger bereaved memories for grandparents who may have […]
The death of a baby due to Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is a deeply tragic experience. Knowing what to say to a friend who has lost a baby to SUID or SIDS can feel overwhelming. The right words can offer comfort and show your support during such […]
An article was published this week about Hannah Kinney, the prolific and important SIDS researcher, and her decades long career pursuing the cause of SIDS. At the Harvard Medical School, Professor Hannah Kinney conducted SIDS research on the brainstems of babies who died from SIDS for decades. Her work is likely the most important SIDS […]
It’s an honor for me to introduce to you the newest addition to our Board of Directors, Dr. Swati Johnson, DO, FAAP. Dr. Johnson is a neonatologist at Envision Healthcare and a core team member at Onsite Neonatal Partner where she oversees management and procedures for Level III NICU and is a Quality Initiative Board […]
February 2024 – Citing a “maternal health crisis”, this month the General Accounting Office reported that maternal mortality and other adverse pregnancy- or childbirth-related outcomes “worsened significantly” in 2020/2021 over 2018/2019. This included persistent disparities during the pandemic: the rate for non-Hispanic Black/African American women was around 2.5 times greater than for non-Hispanic white women. […]
This past weekend, CBS ran an updated version of a piece that first aired in April 2023 on the maternal mortality rate in the South. This latest piece, In Louisiana, pregnant women struggle to get maternal health care, and the situation is getting worse, once again highlights the facts surrounding maternal mortality in the US […]
By Sarah Beach In the news this week I found an article in Time that shocked me, as it stood out from all of the tough news we see every day. My work with First Candle, which deals with infant loss through its work to end Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and its support for […]
At First Candle we are committed to promoting activities and practices that help to reduce the rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) One of these is breastfeeding. Not only does breastfeeding reduce the rate of SIDS by 50% and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) but breastfeeding helps mom recover quicker […]
Today, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a study on the rate of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) during the pandemic (2019-2020). The rate of SUID overall remained the same from previous years but the rate among Black infants increased. The rates of SUID for infants born to Black families is now 2.3 times […]
In May 2022 First Candle launched the Let’s Talk Community Chat program, with Harlem as the first site, in partnership with the Hope Center Harlem and with the support of the Ryan Wolfe Kossar Foundation. Let’s Chat is an extension of our educational programming, offering families in the community the chance to discuss and learn about infant […]
A new resource for grieving dads Today, I’m excited to announce the launch of Guys and Grief – a podcast dedicated to helping dads navigate their grief journey. The first episode airs today and you can listen to it here. It’s especially significant as one of the co-hosts of the podcast is Brian Scruton, the […]
The holiday season is a time for gathering and celebrating, but it can also be a difficult time for those who have lost an infant. It doesn’t matter if it was recent or not; even if parents and families have resumed their daily lives, the grief of losing an infant never goes away, whether it’s […]
The holiday season is a time for gathering and celebrating, but it can also be a difficult time for those who have lost an infant. It doesn’t matter if it was recent or not; even if parents and families have resumed their daily lives, the grief of losing an infant never goes away, whether it’s […]
In the 90s, the proverb “It Takes A Village to Raise a Child” took root and became a popular part of our collective culture. More than 30 years later, the sentiment of that proverb remains true: it takes a concerted effort to ensure moms and babies have the access to care, education and support they […]
Yesterday, the March of Dimes issued its 2022 Report Card on U.S. preterm birth rates, and it tells us that the national rate is now 10.5% — a 4% increase over 2021 and the highest recorded rate since 2007, earning a grade of D+. The report also includes a grade and rates for each state […]
Byron Johnson has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors First Candle, it was announced by CEO and Executive Director Alison Jacobson. Johnson is Vice President, Public Affairs at Fleishman Hillard, a global public relations agency with 79 offices in more than 30 countries. An experienced public relations and issues advocacy professional, Johnson’s […]
Today, the new safe sleep recommendations were released by the American Academy of Pediatrics. On Thursday the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s new federal rule goes into effect that states the only products that can be marketed for infant sleep are cribs, bassinets, play yards and bedside sleepers. And last month President Biden signed the Safe […]
As the leading non-profit organization in the fight to end Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), one of our primary responsibilities is to consistently educate parents about the safe and proper use of infant products. We know that many SUID deaths have some element of unsafe sleep, either where the baby is sleeping or something in […]
Safe sleep practices are a safeguard for both Recently, people have started to use two different phrases, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) interchangeably. There is a difference however: SUID is the death of an infant less than 1 year of age that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. There are three […]
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April 20, 2022 – New York, NY – It was announced today that juvenile products company HALO, will partner with the national non-profit organization First Candle, to offer safe sleep and implicit bias training to hospitals across the country. HALO was founded in 1994 by Bill Schmid, following the tragic loss of his infant daughter […]
Come join us on Saturday June 11th in Atlanta, Georgia for an evening of delicious food, great music, and lots of fun! Light the Night in Georgia is an evening to raise awareness and support the survival of Georgia’s babies. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) claims the lives of 3,500 babies every year. Georgia has the 8th […]
First Candle was named an Official Charity Partner for the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon, taking place on November 6. First Candle will be among the 500 official charity partners providing thousands of runners the opportunity to run in the world’s most popular marathon. This year, First Candle has 20 bibs for people who […]
Last week we kicked off our Let’s Talk Community Chat program in partnership with the Hope Center Harlem and the Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership. This program will offer families in the community the opportunity to receive education and support regarding safe sleep and breastfeeding every month at a location that is convenient and accessible. These community events will […]
As I have written over the past several months, First Candle is committed to engaging in conversations with families and providing them with practical information on the importance of safe sleep practices that are not only evidenced based, but reality based. We know that parents want to do what’s best for their baby but are […]
The New York City Marathon is less than two weeks away and we’re so honored and excited to have an amazing group of 16 runners as part of Team First Candle. We have runners who are new to our team and returning runners. We have siblings, aunts, uncles, parents and friends who have experienced the […]
It’s well known that there is a childcare crisis in this country. But this week a new report from Office of Economic Policy lays out how “broken” the childcare system in this country truly is. The report states: Currently, the average family with at least one child under age 5 would need to devote about […]
April 12, 2021, New Canaan, CT – First Candle, the national non-profit committed to ending Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), has announced the formation of a standing Public Health Advisory Committee of health care professionals and advocates to address racial disparity, health equity and implicit bias in maternal and infant health practices and their impacts […]
We thank Lauren McDaniel, a community member in our bereavement support group, for allowing us to repost her blog post. FEBRUARY 2, 2021 BY LAUREN MCDANIEL The day after Maddie died, I remember specifically asking “Will we ever be OK again?” In those first hours, and days, and even weeks, there were so many moments when I […]
Get a head start on Valentine’s Day with an evening of chocolate, music and love. Join us on Tuesday, February 9th at 8P when you and your partner can learn how to make and create three decadent Hot Cocoa Bombs. If you’ve never heard of these before, they’re delicious artisanal creations that are dropped into […]
WHEN: Thursday, December 10th, 7-8:30PM EST Join us for another Zoom event sampling three whiskeys from Woodinville Whiskey Co. accompanied with infused chocolate bonbons and truffles from Yelibelly Chocolates. Renee George will be discussing the history of Woodinville distillery and what led to them earning “Craft Whiskey of the Year” and “Craft Rye Whiskey of […]
Andrew F. Rubenstein, MD, MPH, has joined the Board of Directors of New Canaan-based First Candle, it was announced by CEO Alison Jacobson and Board Chair David Cunningham. Dr. Rubenstein is the newly appointed Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology for the Dignity Health Medical Group at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center (SJHMC) in Phoenix, Arizona. This […]
First Candle, the national non-profit committed to ending Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID), has announced it is undertaking an initiative to collect input from communities of color to and share with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as it updates the Safe Sleep Guidelines, for release in 2021.
First Candle is committed to ensuring that every baby gets to his or her first birthday and beyond. Far too many babies are still dying and sadly a disproportionate number are Black babies. What’s more, Black mothers are 3x more likely to die during or immediately after childbirth. The stress of structural racism is a […]
Join us for a virtual Walk/Run challenge And help us support grieving moms and dads Every year over 27,000 families will experience the death of a baby from Sudden Unexpected Infant Death or Stillbirth. For these families, the support of friends and relatives is what helps them get through this devastating time. Sadly now, […]
Knowledge is still unfolding, but the The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued an advisory on the Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19; here are the excerpts on breastfeeding and pregnancy: Pregnancy: very little is known right now on COVID-19’s effect on pregnant women and infants, and it is not clear if COVID-19 can […]
Needless to say, everyone is nervous about the Coronavirus but there is always a great deal of misinformation that can spread. We asked First Candle’s Board of Director Dr. John Cianella, Director of the Division of Neonatology at Stamford Health to provide us with the facts to share with our community: Human Coronaviruses are a […]
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) has recently issued a 2019 revised protocol around the benefits and risks of bedsharing for breastfeeding mothers and their infants. First Candle realizes this may raise questions for some families, so we would like to put it in context with our approaches to infant safe sleep, which adhere to […]
16 years ago my son died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He was 3 mos. and 24 days old. That day, I wasn’t sure how, or even if, I wanted to survive. I hardly remember anything from the days leading up to his memorial service and even less of the service itself and the sea […]
The United States is often assumed to be one of the safest places in the world in which to give birth. But the truth is, national maternal mortality rates have been steadily climbing for decades. In fact, the prevalence of pregnancy-related maternal deaths has more than doubled in the US since 1987, from 7.2 deaths […]
Longtime donor The Boppy Company has confirmed its 2019 support for First Candle and their mission of reducing the rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other sleep-related infant deaths according to First Candle CEO Alison Jacobson. The national non-profit organization has been leading the way for over 40 years in educating parents and caregivers […]
Once again, Natalie Kroft with Keep Collective has generously teamed up with First Candle and created some very special Mother’s Day jewelry. Various pieces are available that can be inscribed with “Always A Mom.” “For many moms in our community whose baby has died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or other sleep-related infant death or […]
This weekend was an exciting time for our team. Over the weekend we conducted a two-day training with three women who will now be First Candle Ambassadors and conduct our Straight Talk for Infant Safe Sleep Trainings. We are proud to introduce you to Jen Ciannella, Carol Jordan and Dauline Singletary. Each has a public […]
First Candle has once again been named an Official Charity Partner of the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon. The race will take place on Sunday, November 3, 2019. For those runners who did not get a bib through the lottery, they can secure one and become part of Team First Candle running in the […]
We’re pleased to announce that Byron Johnson, a public relations and issues advocacy professional, has joined the First Candle Board of Directors. With nearly 20 years of experience creating and implementing awareness and social marketing campaigns, he brings to First Candle a desire to help families – with an emphasis on African American families and […]
The loss of a child is devastating and leaves parents incapable of functioning for many weeks. They need time to grieve and to begin healing. First Candle is proud to support the Parental Bereavement Leave Act, prompted by The Farley-Kluger Initiative—a movement which began in 2011 to amend FMLA to allow up to 12 weeks […]
New Canaan, CT – The following is a statement from First Candle CEO and Executive Director Alison Jacobson regarding NICHD’s decision to release a strategic plan that excludes resources to battle SIDS. “The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s (NICHD) decision to release a strategic plan that places no priority […]
For those of us who have lost a child the holidays are always a difficult time. Sure, we put on a good act for our other kids and even our family because, to be honest, they couldn’t handle our grief year after year. After several years, we appear “normal” (whatever that means) but the grief […]
New and energetic channels of communications between federal and regional groups opened up on November 5 when First Candle hosted a day-long Safe Sleep and Breastfeeding Forum at Stamford Hospital, fostering new relationships to help advance the Safe Sleep Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The event brought representatives from the Centers for […]
Last week I was at a meeting of my book club – my bookclub is like everyone else’s – we get together so that we talk about everything BUT that book we all didn’t read. Our club is made up of a group of women who are connected kind of peripherally, with some knowing each […]
We at First Candle are reaching out to let you know of a promising piece of legislation now under review by the U.S. Congress, focused on improving resources devoted to improving better understanding and awareness around unexpected sudden death early in life, including SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths. Known as Scarlett’s Sunshine Act (H.R. […]
We ‘re so excited when companies and influencers are willing to help spread the word about infant safe sleep in order to reduce the rate of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths such as accidental suffocation. Halo, a long-time supporter of First Candle has always been committed to safe sleep and in fact was founded […]
Five Companies Earn the Designation by Committing to Only Showing Babies in a Safe Sleep Environment September 12, 2018, New Canaan, Conn. — First Candle, the national non-profit organization committed to ending Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other sleep-related infant deaths, announced today the launch of the Safe Sleep Guardian program, designed to urge […]
Dress Your Baby #Safe2Sleep
In early August Barb Himes, First Candle’s Director of Education and Training, spoke at the 46th annual conference of the National Black Nurses Association, presenting an overview of our Straight Talk for Infant Sleep program, which follows the Safe Sleep Guidelines developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. First Candle launched Straight Talk in 2017, […]
We are thrilled to announce that John F. Ciannella, MD has joined the First Candle Board of Directors. Dr. Ciannella is a fellowship-trained and board-certified neonatologist who since 2008 cares for newborn infants, specifically, babies who are born premature or diagnosed with complex medical and rare conditions and those who are critically ill. Dr. Ciannella […]
Saturday, August 4, 2018 was a beautiful morning for this year’s Bella Rose Strides for Babies 5K held in Cary, NC in memory of Bella Rose Diaz, daughter of Mike and Amy Diaz, who died from SIDS in May 2011. Adults, kids and dogs all lined up at 8:00 a.m. to start the walk/run; while […]
This week is World Breastfeeding Week and at First Candle we are actively working to get the message out about the benefits of breastfeeding. This is something we discuss in our Straight Talk for Infant Safe Sleep programs and were surprised that over 66% of participants in our trainings weren’t aware that breastfeeding can significantly […]
First Candle Presents Overview of Safe Sleep Program at Black Nurses Conference Last week First Candle’s Director of Education and Training attended the National Black Nurses Association, Black Nurses Conference and presented an overview of Straight Talk for Infant Safe Sleep. This program addresses the obstacles and objections parent’s face in following the Safe Sleep guidelines […]
In June 2018, Barbara Himes, our Director of Education and Training, attended the 2018 International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Baby Survival in Glasgow, Scotland, where she presented our program, Straight Talk for Infant Safe Sleep, to a gathering of health care professionals, parents and SIDS researchers from around the world. She stressed Straight Talk’s […]
According to a USA TODAY investigative report released in July 2018, thousands of women every year suffer serious injury or death during childbirth due to ignored safety practices, making it especially important that women take an active interest in their own care. More than 50,000 women a year are injured and about 700 mothers die, […]
Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report announcing that infant mortality rates have dropped by 15% and the rate of SIDS by 29%. That’s a huge success for those of us working in the field of infant health and survival. While this should be celebrated, there’s still a great deal of […]
