The Florida Healthy Babies initiative is a state-wide effort of the Florida Department of Health to address infant mortality at the county level. Although there has been a decline in the infant mortality rate in Pinellas County during the past decade, every two months an infant dies because of unsafe sleep practices.
To prevent infant deaths, Florida Healthy Babies in Pinellas County continues to educate families and providers on safe sleep practices, such as always following the ABC’s of placing baby to sleep:
- Alone: Infants should sleep alone with no other items with them.
- Back: Infants should be placed on their backs.
- Crib: Infants should sleep in their crib.
With a strong focus on breastfeeding, safe sleep, and improved access to resources, DOH-Pinellas aims to significantly reduce infant deaths and improve health outcomes for all babies. Thanks to a collaboration with the Tampa Bay Breastfeeding Task Force-Pinellas Chapter, Juvenile Welfare Board’s Preventable Deaths campaign, and support of numerous partners, the Florida Healthy Babies in Pinellas County has been able to make great strides over the last four years.
Meetings for Florida Healthy Babies are held quarterly in Pinellas County. If you are interested in attending or getting involved, please contact HealthyBabies@FLHealth.gov.
Additional Accomplishments
- 12 childcare centers received the Breastfeeding Friendly award
- 11 employers have been awarded as a Breastfeeding Friendly Employer
- 4 college campuses now have pumping accommodations for staff and students
- More than 120 childcare facilities and home childcares trained on the importance of breastfeeding
- More than 250 physicians and nurses trained on breastfeeding and safe sleep
- More than 10,000 participants have been trained in safe sleep practices for infants
- 20% increase in access of infant-related resources through Tampa Bay 2-1-1
- 30% increase in access of lactation resources posted on the DOH-Pinellas website
- 50% increase in lactation referrals through the Department of Health’s home visiting programs
- More than 20,000 magnets and License to breastfeed cards have been distributed to mothers to promote free lactation support and the right to breastfeed in public
- 30,000 Tampa Bay Baby Magazines distributed throughout Pinellas County featuring important education on breastfeeding and infant safe sleep
- 3,000 Breastfeeding Welcome Here window clings have been distributed to local businesses, childcare centers and doctor’s offices