Oost-Nederland's 1st safe haven where parents can give up their baby opens at Radboudumc

A “protected cradle” room, where desperate mothers who see no way to care for their newborn can safely relinquish their child, opened at Radboudumc in Nijmegen on Tuesday. It is the first such room in the Oost-Nederland region, the hospital reported.

The protected cradle room is a joint initiative by Radboudumc’s Amalia Children’s Hospital and Stichting Beschermede Wieg. The room is intended for women who have just given birth but find it difficult to seek conventional support services.

The door is always unlocked. The room is equipped with an intercom, should the mother decide she wants to talk. It also contains a letter for her, encouraging her to seek medical care for herself, with instructions on where to find help. It also asks her to leave her name if she can bring herself to do so, explaining that it will be deeply important for her child to know their parentage. The room also contains a two-piece puzzle. The mother can take one piece, while the other stays with the child, to symbolize their connection.

When a baby is placed in the cradle and the mother leaves, nurses in the obstetrics department are alerted. They will immediately care for the child, who will be placed with a foster family through official channels within 48 hours.

“Ideally, we hope that this room—though warm and welcoming—is never actually used,” said Jan Peter Rake, Medical Director of the Radboudumc Amalia Children’s Hospital. “But we believe it is our social responsibility to ensure that such a space exists.”

“Parents who leave their child behind have the option to provide their contact details or come forward at a later time,” he continued. “They are also welcome to stay with their child in the room. In such cases, we work alongside Stichting Beschermde Wieg to provide support for both the child and the parents.”

In addition to the room in Nijmegen, there are other protected cradle rooms at various locations across the Netherlands, as well as a mobile unit.