Maine’s First Baby Box is Now Open in Rumford

Did you know that Maine already has a Safe Haven law that lets parents legally surrender a baby younger than 31 days old at a hospital, medical spot, or law enforcement agency without have to answer any questions?

Yes, the law was expanded back in 2021 to allow baby boxes like the one we will discuss below to be installed throughout the state, according to WABI.

Maine officially has it’s very own Safe Haven Baby Box, now installed at the Rumford Fire Department, as per WABI.  

The box is for mothers in crisis to surrender their newborn baby. It gives them an anonymous option to surrender their newborn without fear or judgment.  

How it works is once a baby is placed inside this climate controlled box, the door automatically locks and officials are immediately notified. 

As per the reports, 12 newborns have already been voluntarily surrender in Maine since 2021. There are supporters who say it gives another layer of protection both the baby and the parents facing crisis situations.  

This Rumford location was funded through donations mostly, including support from Maine Right to Life.  

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Whether you agree with the politics around it or not, many people are seeing this as a resource focused on safety, anonymity, and protecting vulnerable babies during moments of crisis.