How to Get a Free Baby Crib If You're a Low-Income Family

Author:
Stove And Home
Updated:
Jun 12, 2024 8:33 PM EDT

Many non-profits and health agencies across the United States offer free cribs to qualifying low-income parents, often in partnership with Cribs for Kids.
Image by Luckyknitter via Pixabay; Canva

How Can I Get a Baby Crib for Free?

If you are a low-income new parent or are expecting a child, and you live in the United States, there are non-profit agencies with programs specifically designed to provide free cribs so your baby has a safe place to sleep. The programs that supply these cribs aim to reduce the incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in the United States.

This article provides the names of non-profit agencies in 49 states that you can contact to apply for one of these cribs for your own infant. Note that most agencies provide the same style of crib under this program: the Graco Pack n' Play, which is a portable crib that can also be used as a playpen.

Income Guidelines and Verifying Your Income Situation

Although each state's agency has its own income guidelines (for example, maximum 140% or 180% of national poverty guidelines), it is sometimes easier to get a free crib if you are already on a federal assistance program like Medicaid, WIC, or the SNAP food stamp program. Having paperwork on-hand that shows you are approved for one of these programs provides easy, trustworthy proof of your income situation.

General Requirements for Qualifying

Make sure you can provide or prove the following:

Mother should be at least 30 weeks pregnant or already have an infant
Proof of residency and identification, such as a driver's license or state ID
Proof of income, such as pay stubs, SSI, unemployment, welfare cash assistance, or a letter of financial support
Proof of need, such as your Medicaid number, SNAP food stamp approval letter, or WIC information

Give baby a safe place to sleep! This image shows a Graco Pack n' Play portable crib, which is what most agencies provide.

How to Apply for a Free Crib

Find an agency in your state from the list below.
Visit their website or contact the agency to familiarize yourself with them.
To get a crib, you will need to fill out and submit an application and any supporting documents. Here is an example of an application for a free crib program for Broward County, Florida: Cribs for Kids application.
After you submit your application and are approved, you will most likely be shown a course on infant sleep safety to prevent SIDS, either in person or online. Between your application time and the time to get your crib, it could take a few weeks, so do not delay your application.
You will receive a portable crib as well as instructions on how to set it up!

What You Will Receive

You'll typically get a Graco Pack 'n Play portable unit, which has the following features:

Removable bassinet
Sleeping pad for safe sleep
Doubles as a playpen
Wheels to make it easy for parents to slide the crib as needed
High rating; this crib is sold in stores and online
Push-button fold-down for easy disassembly
Carrying case

For some moms and dads who are struggling financially, this free crib gives them a head start until they can gather enough funds to get a low-cost crib after their child grows out of this one.

Non-Profit Nationwide Agency List for Free Cribs: Find Your State Below

Alabama

Impact Family Counseling
1000 24th St. South
Birmingham, AL 35206

Alaska

Alaska TEARS Chapter
5631 Silverado Way #F-102
Anchorage, AK 99518
(Please note that the TEARS Foundation is focused on supporting families that have lost a child. However, it is also a partner with Cribs for Kids.)

Arizona

Arizona Department of Health Services
150 North 18th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-1025

More Resources

If you contact a non-profit agency above and they are outside your local area, you can find more agencies by submitting your zip code on the map at the following site: Cribs For Kids: Find a Partner. This will provide you with the contact information of the non-profit agency closest to you that provides free cribs. Some agencies provide statewide coverage, whereas other agencies want you to live in the same city or county that the non-profit resides in.
In addition, some local hospitals, birthing clinics, and departments of health will provide a temporary baby box sleeper for you if you do not have other resources after giving birth. You will take the box home with you the day you are discharged from the hospital with your newborn.
If you are unable to secure a free crib or box from another foundation, call the maternity center where you plan to give birth to ask them if they provide baby boxes or cribs to new low-income mothers.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: I'm in Virginia and I can't find an agency to help?

Answer: Here are a few locations that have the cribs -- A Mother's Love: 111 Hale Street, Brookneal, VA 24528; Urban Baby Beginnings: 1704 W Laburnum Ave. Richmond, VA 23227; Child Health Investment Partnership Roanoke Valley (CHIPRV): 1201 3rd St. SW Roanoke, VA 24016; and Shenandoah Women's Healthcare: 240 Lucy Dr. Harrisonburg, VA 22801. Hope this helps!

How Can I Get a Baby Crib for Free?

Income Guidelines and Verifying Your Income Situation

General Requirements for Qualifying

How to Apply for a Free Crib

What You Will Receive

Non-Profit Nationwide Agency List for Free Cribs: Find Your State Below

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

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