09 Oct Community Baby Shower to Support New and Expecting Parents
McPHERSON — The McPherson County Community Baby Shower will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Eisenhower Elementary School. The event is free and open to the public.
Now in its third year, the Community Baby Shower gives new and expecting families the opportunity to learn safe practices for raising infants.
The event, part of the KIDS Network Safe Sleep initiative, is an interactive gathering that brings together parents, their support networks, and community service providers for an educational “baby shower.”
Sierra Behrens, an LPN with the McPherson County Health Department (MCHD), said the initiative was introduced to McPherson after proving successful in neighboring counties. The Local Interagency Coordination Council (LICC) first learned about the concept from a Harvey County representative.
A major focus of the event is promoting safe sleep habits for newborns. New and expecting families who attend will receive a portable crib that meets Safe Sleep standards and is designed for infants 9 months old or younger.
Funding for the cribs is provided by KIDS Network Safe Sleep. Since the event began in 2023, MCHD has distributed more than 40 cribs to local families and expects to have up to 30 available for the 2025 event.
Behrens said community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Most parents tell us they change habits based on the demonstrations,” Behrens said. “Almost everyone is grateful for the opportunity.”
Behrens added that the event is also valuable for frequent caregivers, including babysitters, childcare workers, and grandparents.
Partnering organizations participating in the Community Baby Shower include the McPherson Police Department, GraceMed, McPherson Public Library, Prairie View, McKids, and Infant Toddler Services of Kansas. These partners will share information and provide services during the event.