Ezra Peterson hit the sack – literally – for an afternoon nap recently.

That sack was a HALO SleepSack, a sort of sleeping bag with arm holes for babies. It keeps the little ones nice and warm as they sleep on their backs. Sleeping on their backs is the recommended position for babies because it greatly reduces any risk of suffocation from excess bedding.

Linking Families and Communities has donated about 1,600 of the SleepSacks to UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge and Stewart Memorial Community Hospital in Lake City. That supply is expected to last a couple of years, and during that time every baby born at the two hospitals will get one for free. Their parents will also get a card listing the various resources available to parents in the area.

Elizabeth Stanek, the executive director of Linking Families and Communities, told The Messenger that donating the SleepSacks was a good way to help new parents while at the same time making sure that their babies can sleep safely.

Young Mr. Peterson, the son of Pam Speck and Andrew Peterson, was the first baby to try one a few hours after he was born Wednesday at UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center. He gave it his sign of approval by promptly falling fast asleep after nurse Becky Yunginger had him wrapped up in it.

New parents have a lot of things to deal with all at once. With this donation, Linking Families and Communities reduced their burden a bit. On behalf of the moms, dads and babies who will benefit, we say thank you.