Cedar Weaving & Co-Sleeping Safety: A Parenting Class for Expectant Coast Salish Parents

Abstract

This proposed intervention is a parenting class that combines co-sleeping safety information and cedar baby basket weaving instruction for the Pacific Northwest's Coast Salish population. Parents will weave cedar baskets to provide their baby with the safest sleeping space in the adult bed. Parents learn to weave cedar, and understand the safety advantages provided by the basket simultaneously. This project pairs community values with the latest scientific research and safety advice to provide an intervention that addresses the disparity in infant injury and death in Native America without sacrificing cultural practices. This research/project would not have been possible without the initial input from three Coast Salish mothers. They wish to remain anonymous and retain the cultural information shared in the information report segment. My hands go up to you three, thank you.