Infant Abandonment
In recent years, concern has risen related to a perceived (but undocumented) increase in infant abandonment rates across the US. This site reports on recent legislative efforts related to infant abandonment devices (IADs). IADs are modern versions of the foundling wheel. The first foundling wheel was installed in a church wall in 1198 to address the high rates of abandonment and infanticide in Rome. By the 1400s, the practice spread across Europe but was phased out in the 1800s.
Currently, IADs are found throughout the world but largely concentrated in regions with limited access to contraception and abortion. IADs are discouraged by the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. Most countries with IADs have limited numbers of the devices, but Germany has approximately 100 and the United States has approximately 250. Most countries with IADs have alternative methods to decrease infant mortality, including face-to-face surrender within hospitals and fire stations, confidential birth policies within hospitals, and safe haven surrender laws.
Map of Infant Abandonment Devices in the US
Legend
Deaths and Surrenders Associated with US Infant Abandonment Devices
| Totals | Location | |
|---|---|---|
|
Surrenders to IADs: infants alive |
51 | Across US; see map below |
| Infant death: Deceased infant found in IAD | 1 |
Idaho; see US News & World Report |
|
Maternal death: Mother dies of overdose hours after surrendering her child to an IAD |
1 | US; unknown state. See Safe Haven Baby Box post |
Infant Abandonment Devices in the US
The following table summarizes the presence and usage of infant abandonment boxes, recent legislative efforts, and rising birth rates across the US.
|
State |
IADs present? |
Received Infant(s)? |
Legislative Status |
Rising birthrates [1] |
|
Alabama |
Yes |
Yes |
Legally permissible [2] |
Yes |
|
Alaska |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Arizona |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [3] |
No |
|
Arkansas |
Yes |
Yes |
Legally permissible [4] |
Yes |
|
California |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Colorado |
No |
No |
IAD bill proposed and failed in 2024 [5] |
No |
|
Connecticut |
No |
No |
IAD activism underway for 2025 IAD bill [6] |
No |
|
Delaware |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Florida |
Yes |
Yes |
Legally permissible [7] |
No |
|
Georgia |
No |
No |
IAD bill failed in 2024; new bill anticipated in 2025 [8] |
No |
|
Hawaii |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Idaho |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [9] |
Yes |
|
Illinois |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Indiana |
Yes |
Yes |
Legally permissible [10] |
No |
|
Iowa |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [11] |
No |
|
Kansas |
IAD bill passed, but none installed |
No |
Legally permissible [12] |
No |
|
Kentucky |
Yes |
Yes |
Legally permissible [13] |
Yes |
|
Louisiana |
IAD bill passed, but none installed |
No |
Legally permissible [14] |
Yes |
|
Maine |
IAD bill passed, but none installed |
No |
Legally permissible [15] |
No |
|
Maryland |
IAD bill passed, but none installed |
No |
Legally permissible [16] |
No |
|
Massachusetts |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Michigan |
No |
No |
IAD bill proposed and failed in 2024 [17] |
No |
|
Minnesota |
No |
No |
IAD bill proposed and failed in 2024 [18] |
No |
|
Mississippi |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [19] |
Yes |
|
Missouri |
Yes |
Yes |
Legally permissible [20] |
Yes |
|
Montana |
IAD bill passed, but none installed |
No |
Legally permissible [21] |
No |
|
Nebraska |
No |
No |
IAD bill failed in 2024; new bill anticipated in 2025 [22] |
No |
|
Nevada |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
New Hampshire |
IAD bill passed, but none installed |
No |
Legally permissible [23] |
No |
|
New Jersey |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
New Mexico |
Yes |
Yes |
Legally permissible [24] |
No |
|
New York |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
North Carolina |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [25] |
No |
|
North Dakota |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Ohio |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [26] |
No |
|
Oklahoma |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [27] |
Yes |
|
Oregon |
No |
No |
IAD activism underway for 2025 IAD bill [28] |
No |
|
Pennsylvania |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [29] |
No |
|
Rhode Island |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
South Carolina |
No |
No |
IAD bill failed in 2024; new bill anticipated in 2025 [30] |
No |
|
South Dakota |
No |
No |
IAD activism underway for 2025 IAD bill [31] |
Yes |
|
Tennessee |
Yes |
Yes |
Legally permissible [32] |
Yes |
|
Texas |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [33] |
Yes |
|
Utah |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Vermont |
No |
No |
None |
No |
|
Virginia |
IAD bill passed, but none installed |
No |
Legally permissible [34] |
No |
|
Washington |
No |
No |
IAD bill failed in 2024; new bill anticipated in 2025 [35] |
No |
|
West Virginia |
Yes |
No |
Legally permissible [36] |
Yes |
|
Wisconsin |
No |
No |
IAD bill proposed and failed in 2024 [37] |
Yes |
|
Wyoming |
No |
No |
IAD bill proposed and failed in 2024 [38] |
No |
[1] Dench D, Pineda-Torres M, Myers C. The effects of post-Dobbs abortion bans on fertility. Journal of Public Economics. 2024;234:105124. doi:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105124
[2] Relating to the surrender of infants, HR, 473, AL State Legislature, 2023. https://legiscan.com/AL/text/HB473/id/2822288
[3] Safe haven for newborn infants, A.R.S. Title 13, Chapter 36, § 13-3623.01. https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03623-01.htm
[4] Delivery to medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or in newborn safety device, AR Code § 9-34-202, 2023. https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-9/subtitle-3/chapter-34/subchapter-2/section-9-34-202/
[5] Relinquishment of Child in Newborn Safety, S, 83, CO State Legislature, 2024. https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb24-083
[6] Moore, Jake. Safe Haven Baby Boxes are Saving Lives (Trending with Timmerie). Relevant Radio. July 11, 2024. https://relevantradio.com/2024/07/safe-haven-baby-boxes-are-saving-lives-trending-with-timmerie/
[7] An act relating to surrendered newborn infants, S, 870, FL State Legislature, 2023. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/870/BillText/c1/PDF
[8] Domestic relations; safe place for newborns; revise provisions, HR, 1030, GA State Legislature, 2024. https://legiscan.com/GA/text/HB1030/id/2902080
[9] Relating to the Idaho Safe Haven Act, S, 1272, ID State Legislature, 2024. https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2024/legislation/s1272/
[10] Termination of parental rights, S, 345, IN State Legislature, 2023. https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/senate/345/details
[11] A bill for an act relating to the release of custody of a newborn infant under the newborn safe haven Act, HR, 425, IA State Legislature, 2023. https://legiscan.com/IA/text/HF425/2023
[12] Expanding legal surrender of an infant to include newborn safety devices, HR, 2024, KS State Legislature, 2023. https://legiscan.com/KS/text/HB2024/id/2780266
[13] Relating to abandoned infants, K.R.S. § 405.075. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes//statute.aspx?id=55560
[14] Authorizes the installation and use of newborn safety devices at infant relinquishment sites designated in the Safe Haven Law, S, 414, LA State Legislature, 2024. https://legiscan.com/LA/text/SB414/id/2986337
[15] An Act to Amend the Safe Haven Laws, HP, 405, ME State Legislature, 2021. https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0405&item=3&snum=130
[16] Courts – Immunity From Liability – Maryland Safe Haven Program, S, 873, MD State Legislature, 2024. https://legiscan.com/MD/text/SB873/id/2992063
[17] A bill to amend 1939 PA 288, HR, 5407, MI State Legislature, 2024. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2024-HB-5407
[18] Relating to health; modifying Safe Place for Newborns provisions, HR, 3873, MN State Legislature, 2024. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF3873&type=bill&version=0&session=ls93&session_year=2024&session_number=0&format=pdf
[19] An act to amend sections 43-15-201, HR, 1318, MS State Legislature, 2023. https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2023/pdf/history/HB/HB1318.xml
[20] Infant Safe Haven Laws, M.O. Ann. Stat. § 210.950, 2021. https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/infant-safe-haven-laws-missouri/
[21] Revise the Montana Safe Haven Newborn Protection Act, HR, 200, MT State Legislature, 2023. https://legiscan.com/MT/text/HB200/2023
[22] Amendments to LB, 876, NE State Legislature, 2024. https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=54932
[23] Relative to expanded safe haven protections, HR, 1607, NH State Legislature, 2024. https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB1607/id/3005690
[24] Relating to children, HR, 327, NM State Legislature, 2023. https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/23%20Regular/bills/house/HB0327.HTML
[25] Safe Surrender of Infants, N.C. Gen. Stat. Article 5A § 7B, 2024. https://casetext.com/statute/general-statutes-of-north-carolina/chapter-7b-juvenile-code/subchapter-l-abuse-neglect-dependency/article-5a-safe-surrender-of-infants
[26] Implement infant mortality recommendations, S, 332, OH State Legislature, 2017. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/131/sb332
[27] Maternal and child health; providing for relinquishment of child by newborn safety device, S, 960, OK State Legislature, 2021. https://legiscan.com/OK/bill/SB960/2021
[28] Moore, Jake. Safe Haven Baby Boxes are Saving Lives (Trending with Timmerie). Relevant Radio. July 11, 2024. https://relevantradio.com/2024/07/safe-haven-baby-boxes-are-saving-lives-trending-with-timmerie/
[29] An Act to amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statuses, in offenses against the family, further providing for newborn protection, S, 267, PA State Legislature, 2023. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2023&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=267
[30] To amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending section 63-7-40, relating to infant safe havens, so as to allow for the use of newborn safety devices, and for other purposes, HR, 4687, SC State Legislature, 2024. https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/4687.htm
[31] After dead baby found at recycling center, South Dakota Right to Life advocates to install ‘safe haven’ baby boxes. Catholicvote. August 12, 2024. https://catholicvote.org/after-dead-baby-found-at-recycling-center-south-dakota-right-to-life-advocates-to-install-safe-haven-baby-boxes/
[32] To amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36 and Title 68, relative to newborn safety devices, HR, 2067, TN State Legislature, 2024. https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB2067&GA=113
[33] Relating to emergency possession of certain abandoned children by designated emergency infant care providers, S, 780, TX State Legislature, 2023. https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB780/2023
[34] To amend and reenact §§ 8.01-226.5:2, 16.1-228, 18.2-371, 18.2-371.1, 40.1-103, and 63.2-100 of the Code of Virginia, relating to save haven protections; newborn safety device, S, 175, VA State Legislature, 2022. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?221+ful+SB175
[35] Concerning newborn safe transfer, HR, 1888, WA State Legislature, 2023. https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1888&Year=2023&Initiative=false
[36] To amend and reenact §49-4-201 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to defining a newborn safety device, HR, 3559, WV State Legislature, 2023. https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb3559%…
[37] Relating to: newborn infant safety devices under the safe haven law, S, 369, WI State Legislature, 2023. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2023/proposals/sb369
[38] Newborn safety device funding for safe haven providers, HR, 155, WY State Legislature, 2024. https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2024/HB0155
Last Updated August 31, 2024