Infant safely surrendered at Missouri fire station’s baby box marks nearly 200 babies helped in US since 2017

An infant was safely surrendered at a Safe Haven Baby Box in St. Charles County, Missouri, last month – one of four babies surrendered nationwide in a two-week stretch.

It was also the first safe surrender at the O’Fallon Fire Station No. 3; the station’s box had been operational for under 60 days before its use on Sept. 13. 

“It gave our guys and gals an opportunity to take part in saving this baby’s life,” Assistant Fire Chief Andy Parrish told Fox 2 Now. “From our understanding, this baby is doing well. It’s in state custody at this time… This is huge. This is a positive for this baby.” 

St. Charles County in eastern Missouri near St. Louis and has nearly 417,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Nationwide, over 200 babies have been safely surrendered since 2017, says Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Box. 

“Anytime a baby box is used for the purpose that it was intended, it’s a good thing,” said Kelsey, according to Fox 2. “A mother chose this. Basically saying, ‘I want what’s best for my child and it’s not me.’ And that’s heroic. And it’s selfless. It is a good day when a mother keeps her child safe.” 

The Missouri incident was the fourth baby in two weeks surrendered in the U.S. using a Safe Haven Baby Box. 

Baby boxes usually cost around $20,000 each, according to Stateline. 

Texas enacted the first safe haven law in 1999, which it called the Baby Moses law. Former President George W. Bush was the state’s governor at the time and signed it into law. By 2008, every state had a safe haven law. 

Missouri’s Safe Haven law allows a parent safely give up a newborn up to 90 days old without facing criminal charges, as long as the baby has not been abused and is left with an approved professional or in a Safe Haven Baby Box. Parents can also use the law as a legal defense if they safely give up a baby up to 1 year old. The goal is to keep newborns safe and give parents a judgment-free option in crisis, according to the state’s website. 

The National Safe Haven Alliance runs a call and text hotline for anyone considering a safe surrender at 888-510-BABY (2229).