First Candle

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Preventing SUID/SIDS through trusted safe sleep education and empowering communities most at risk.

We also provide compassionate bereavement support for families facing the unimaginable. Programs & Services

The primary focus areas for First Candle are:

Research:
Over the course of the past two decades, First Candle has expended more than $4 million to fund cutting-edge research projects at medical institutions throughout the U.S. Under the auspices of our Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, an internationally recognized body of senior level pediatric scientists, we continue to provide a single, focused outlet for individuals and organizations interested in supporting research to further our understanding of SIDS, stillbirth and other causes of sudden, unexpected infant deaths (SUID). Education and Awareness:
We supply comprehensive, quality assured information on infant health and survival to expectant parents, grandparents and the general public through a toll-free information hotline and our website. We also provide technical assistance and risk reduction education and training to professional and community organizations interested in infant health. Last year alone, we distributed more than 200,000 brochures and fact sheets. Family Support:
First Candle provides bereavement services to help families through the difficult time after the loss of a child. Through the distribution of grief packets, peer support training, conferences, referrals to local support services and our web site, we help families connect and share experiences. Bilingual crisis counselors are also available 24-hours per day, seven days per week through our toll-free crisis hotline. In just one year, First Candle reached more than 13,000 people devastated by the tragedy of infant death.

10/12/2026

As we recognize Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, First Candle remains committed to helping hospital teams provide compassionate, trauma-informed support to families following infant loss.

Tomorrow, join us for When a Baby Dies: Trauma-Informed Bereavement Support for Hospital Teams.

Led by Barb Himes, Director of Education and Bereavement, this live virtual training will provide nurses, social workers, physicians, chaplains, and other hospital professionals with practical tools for compassionate communication and family support following infant loss.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026
12:00 to 2:00 p.m. ET
$75 per person
Certificate of completion included

Registration is still open. Scan the QR code to register, or visit the link in our bio.

Please share this training with colleagues who support families following infant loss.

10/09/2026

tRegistration closes tomorrow!

Sign up now for the 5th Annual National Wave of Light Candle Lighting Ceremony for Pregnancy and Infant Loss taking place October 15th at The Constitution Gardens in Washington DC.

First Candle will be there to gather with families, honor babies gone too soon and break the silence surrounding pregnancy and infant loss.

Register here 🩵 https://give.thetearsfoundation.org/event/2026-national-walk-or-washington-dc/e757570

The TEARS Foundation

10/08/2026

We’re excited to launch First Candle’s Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign!

Reaching our goals takes teamwork, and that’s where you come in. Your generosity is what keeps our mission moving forward.

Create your own fundraising page and invite your friends, family, and community to support First Candle’s mission with you.

Make it personal. Honor a baby you love, celebrate a milestone, take on a challenge, or create an idea of your own.

Funds raised support First Candle’s work to help save babies’ lives through education, as well as compassionate bereavement support for families after loss.

Ready to get started? https://fc.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/first-candle-peer-to-peer-fundraising-campaigns

10/07/2026

Join us tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET for the second session in our October Professional Learning Series: From Silos to Support.

First Candle affiliates will explore how data, universal home visiting, healthcare, doulas, and community referral systems can work together when families’ needs are identified, but the systems surrounding them are not connected.

📆 Thursday, October 8st | 12 to 1 p.m. ET
💻 Free!
👉 Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f8y0cCSKT9y43i3jyN2geA?fbclid=IwY2xjawUzWk5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUs4a0d5a3dxejBtaWluOU5zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeRik4A8Qto9Ai2_LAVHEO_lmBzf_kHND-GmL4N1MHHwjvq0EsI4c1yE57EHc_aem_ITxImJuwHRiaVea-k2OPFw #/registration

This session is for professionals and organizations serving families.

10/05/2026

October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month, a critical time to reinforce life-saving infant sleep practices.

A CDC report analyzing 4,861 sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) cases found that 73% had unsafe sleep factors present.

The report found:

78% involved soft bedding in the sleep environment.
75% involved a sleep surface other than a crib.
59% involved sharing a sleep surface.
46% of infants were found in a position other than on their back.

With approximately 3,400 SUIDs in the U.S. every year, placing baby Alone, on their Back, and in a Clear Crib on a firm, flat mattress can help reduce the risk.

For trusted safe sleep guidance and caregiver resources, visit FirstCandle.org. Please share this information with anyone who cares for an infant.

10/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for "From Recommendations to Reality," the first session in our October Professional Learning Series.
Three First Candle affiliates shared what families face when trying to put safe sleep guidance into practice, and what helps:
Angielena Williams, Edna Martin Christian Center: "Meet families where they are."
Clarissa Edmondson, Adlena's Embrace: "Sometimes it's all in who delivers the message."
Kiana Ayers, Ready, Set, Push: "Just don't be judgy. Be a soft place for them to land."
Next up: Session 2, "From Silos to Support," on Thursday, October 8 at 12 p.m. ET. It's free. See the flyer for details and register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f8y0cCSKT9y43i3jyN2geA #/registration

10/01/2026

October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month!
Safe sleep practices at every nap and bedtime can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep related infant deaths. Remember the ABCs of safe sleep:
🔹 A, Alone: Give baby their own crib, bassinet, or portable play yard in the same room where parents or caregivers sleep.
🔹 B, Back: Place baby on their back for every sleep.
🔹 C, Clear Crib: Use a firm, flat mattress covered only by a fitted sheet. Keep blankets, pillows, bumper pads, and toys out of baby’s sleep space.
We challenge you to spread the word! Share the ABCs with everyone who cares for an infant.

09/30/2026

Join us tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET for From Recommendations to Reality, the first session in First Candle’s October Professional Learning Series.
First Candle affiliates will discuss what families face when putting safe sleep and other maternal and infant health recommendations into practice. Together, we’ll explore how professionals can offer guidance that is practical, respectful, and responsive to families’ lives.
📅 October 1 | 12 to 1 p.m. ET
💻 Free
This session is for professionals and organizations serving families. Register using the QR code on the flyer or register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UeQp3QLXQqKr78l997lLiA

09/29/2026

You are not alone. 💙

The loss of a grandchild through infant loss or stillbirth brings a unique and profound grief. First Candle works to ensure that no family navigates this loss alone, walking alongside families with compassion, respect, and understanding.

Join us for a live support session created specifically for grandparents to find a safe space, a listening ear, and a shared understanding.

🗓 Date: Wednesday, September 30th, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST
💻 Location: Live on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85176101333)
👥 Audience: Grandparents who have experienced the loss of a grandchild through infant loss or stillbirth

This program is made possible through funding from the Andrew Henley Sullivan Memorial Grant. For immediate support or inquiries, First Candle's Grief Line is available at 800-221-7437.

09/19/2026

Awareness is where change begins. 💜

Every conversation about stillbirth helps break the silence, reduce stigma and brings attention to a tragedy that affects more than 20,000 families in the U.S. each year.

By sharing our stories, educating our community, and advocating for better resources, we help create a future where more babies celebrate their birthdays.

On National Stillbirth Prevention & Awareness Day, please join First Candle in raising awareness, honoring every baby gone too soon and inspiring action that can help save lives. Visit bit.ly/AdvocateforChange to get involved.

Address

21 Locust Avenue
New Canaan, CT
06840

Telephone

+12039661300

Website

http://www.firstcandle.org/

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