Baby boy surrendered at Safe Haven Baby Box in Abilene, TX

Officials in Abilene, Texas have announced the safe surrender of a child in a Safe Haven Baby Box located in one of the city's fire stations. The surrender marks just the second time a baby box has been utilized in the state.

Key Takeaways:

• An infant was surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Abilene, TX in January.

• The baby, a two-month old boy, was legally surrendered in accordance with Texas law.

• The surrender marks the second time a Safe Haven Baby Box has been utilized in the state since lawmakers approved the devices in 2023.

The Details:

Fire officials say the baby box, located at Abilene Fire Station 7, was used on Tuesday, January 13. When officials responded to the alarm, they found a baby boy 60 days old inside. Texas law permits the anonymous surrender of infants 60 days or younger if a parent feels they are unable to care for their child.

Fire Chief Cande Flores said that firefighters followed protocol in retrieving the infant and transporting him to the hospital to be checked out, where he received a clean bill of health. "They were glad, above all, that the baby was healthy and that everything turned out well,” said Flores.

“They did exactly what they were supposed to do,” Flores added. “It was an outstanding job caring for that infant and following the procedures.”

Zoom In:

Though Texas has had a safe haven law for years allowing a parent to legally surrender a newborn, it was only in 2023 that lawmakers approved the use of newborn safety devices, often referred to as "baby boxes," for anonymous surrender. The first infant surrendered in a Texas baby box was in December.

Most of those safety devices are installed through the Safe Haven Baby Box organization, whose mission "is to prevent illegal abandonment of newborns by raising awareness, offering a 24-hour hotline for mothers in crisis and offering the Safe Haven Baby Boxes as a last resort option for women who want to maintain complete anonymity."

The baby boxes are climate-controlled and equipped with a silent alarm, which is triggered as soon as an infant is placed inside. Emergency responders retrieve the infant within minutes. In many states, the baby is soon placed for adoption.

The Bottom Line:

Safe Haven Baby Boxes are especially important in a state like Texas, which has had a spate of infant abandonments in recent years. Parents who are in crisis need to know that there are safe, legal options for infant surrender.