New Jersey is the first state in the U.S. to hand out "Baby Boxes" to new mothers as part of a statewide effort to reduce infant mortality.

The sturdy cardboard boxes, slightly larger than a newborn baby, have a mattress lining the bottom. The boxes are for babies to sleep in for up to the first six months after birth, with the intention of preventing SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Far too often, unsafe sleeping practices cause SIDS. Poor sleep environments that can put a baby's life in danger include sleeping on a soft surface. According to the Mayo Clinic lying face-down on a fluffy comforter or a waterbed can block an infant's airway. Draping a blanket over a baby's head also is risky.

Sleeping with parents can also prove deadly. While the risk of SIDS is lowered if an infant sleeps in the same room as his or her parents, the risk increases if the baby sleeps in the same bed—partly because there are more soft surfaces to impair breathing.

New Jersey parents can sign-up online to receive the free baby boxes. In order to get one, they must pass a quiz based on a short video about proper childcare, which includes instruction on proper sleep methods, such as placing the baby on its back and clearing its bed of any loose items such as toys and blankets.

In addition to the box itself, new moms also receive baby supplies valued at $150, such as clothes and diapers. The baby box program uses a grant from the CDC and involves the distribution of over 100,000 boxes full of supplies.

In Finland, baby boxes have been distributed to every expectant mother in Finland for the last 75 years, according to the company, along with prenatal care and parenting education. Finland's infant mortality rate has dropped from 65 deaths for each 1,000 children born in 1938 to three deaths per 1,000 births in 2013.

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