Hospitals - Care of Infants After Discharge (Safe Sleep Act of 2024)

This bill, known as the Safe Sleep Act of 2024, requires hospitals in Maryland to provide specific safety instructions to parents before discharging newborns. The law mandates that hospitals offer both oral and written guidance on creating a safe sleep environment, avoiding shaken baby syndrome, and managing infant crying, which may include instructional videos. Additionally, hospitals must ask parents about their home sleep arrangements, inform them of the risks associated with unsafe sleeping, and have them sign a form confirming they received this information. If a parent cannot currently provide a safe sleep setup, the hospital must supply a list of local resources to help them obtain necessary items like a crib. The Maryland Department of Health is also tasked with creating and updating a statewide list of resources available to parents by January 1, 2025.