Join the Nursery of Hope — a partnership between The Little Fox – Toby’s Foundation and Foundations across the nation — as we pay tribute to the precious little ones who have passed away prematurely of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUIDS). We invite parents, families, and friends to plant a “Legacy Tree” during the month of October to honor babies gone too soon.
According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), nearly 3,500 infants die each year for causes unknown. These deaths include Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and other unknown causes occurring in infants under one year of age.
“This project is very important to us. It signifies that our son, Toby, and other infants who have died from SIDS live on,” said Katie Stern, Toby’s Mom and Executive Director of The Little Fox. “They are still here. They are remembered every single day by us, their parents and their families. It represents the love that took root in our hearts when they were born and just because you cannot see them now, does not mean that our love for them is not there, because it is. It continues to grow and Toby will continue to be a part of our lives, forever. By planting this tree, we want parents, grandparents, siblings, and anyone else grieving the loss of an infant to be able to see this tree or visit this spot and remember their son or daughter and feel the love of others in their community supporting them.”
Anyone who has been impacted by SUID is invited to participate. Here’s how:
- Plant any type of tree*
- Take a picture of the tree which includes a photo of a baby lost to SUID
- Share the picture on social media with the hashtag #nurseryofhope
*If you are unable to purchase a tree due to financial constraints, we suggest asking a local nursery for a donation. Owlet may also reimburse tree purchases up to $50.
Those who would like to join this effort are encouraged to follow the Instagram account @nurseryofhope. All photos tagged with #nurseryofhope will be displayed along with a story of each family affected.
Through this initiative, the Nursery of Hope looks to raise awareness of SIDS/SUID and to educate parents in its prevention. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) the best way to reduce the risk of SUID is to follow safe sleep guidelines, which include the ABC’s of Safe Sleep: placing the baby Alone, on their Back and in a Crib.
For more information about this project and SIDS/SUID, please go to nurseryofhope.com.
About Nursery of Hope
Nursery of Hope is a collaboration of corporations, nonprofit entities, parents, families and friends impacted by SUID. We seek to bring awareness, educate parents on the risks involved, and provide a means to memorialize those precious lives taken too soon from SUID. For more information about how you can get involved, go to nurseryofhope.com.
