Stephenie Ochsenbine and James Woods have been reunited with their newborn, Abigale, who was kidnapped after a knife attack, but the ordeal has brought safety issues surrounding birth celebrations to national attention.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recommends the following measures to ensure a joyous celebration of a baby's arrival does not turn into tragedy:
- Birth announcements in the newspaper or online should never include the family's home address, and should only include the parent's last names, not their first names.
- Outdoor announcements like signs, balloons, and floral wreaths are not recommended as they could draw unwanted attention to the presence of a newborn in your home.
- Do not let anyone in your home who isn't well-known to you, especially if they are people you meet after becoming pregnant or giving birth.
For more information, visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.