Safe Havens: Where To Drop Off Babies After Being Forced To Give Birth

Now that Roe v Wade has been overturned, several states have already stopped allowing access to necessary abortions. This, obviously, is going to leave a lot of women and young girls in danger of so many things, but most importantly it’s going to leave a lot of children in the hands of women who do not want them. If you’re living in a state that has stripped you of your rights and you find yourself in a forced birth situation, the following places serve as legal safe havens for you to drop off the baby(ies).

Alabama

You can relinquish your baby and any parental rights at any hospital with an emergency room as long as your infant is under 72-hours-old and has not been harmed or abused in any way. Do not abandon your baby at a fire department or police station, or anywhere else, otherwise you might face criminal prosecution.

Alaska

If you wish to drop off your baby after giving birth in Alaska, your infant must be no older than three weeks old (approx. 21 days). You can drop your baby off at any location that has an emergency official on duty so that they may take the child and assure that it’s safe. Fire departments, volunteer fire departments, emergency rooms and police stations are safe havens in Alaska.

Arizona

Arizona has multiple safe havens for unwanted babies as long as they’re unharmed and under 30-days-old. Many hospitals have safe haven baby drawers so you can drop them off without any issues. Churches, fire departments and any CPS location also works.

Arkansas

Much like Arizona, you can drop off your baby at any Arkansas safe haven as long as they are under 30-days-old and unharmed. Infants can be dropped off with any medical professional or police official including hospitals, police departments, emergency rooms or any public service place where an officer or medical professional is on staff.

California

While abortion rights are protected in California, there are still safe haven laws in place. You can request a safe haven kit in the state of California and leave your baby at any approved location that has medical staff or police officers. Hospitals, police stations and fire departments are ideal safe havens.

Colorado

You can legally leave your baby at any hospital, police department or fire station in Colorado — as long as the infant is 72-year-old or younger, as well as unharmed.

Connecticut

You can relinquish parental rights, and your infant, at any emergency room. The infant must be 30-days-old or younger.

Delaware

Infants 14-days-old or younger can be relinquished in a hospital with emergency staff.

Florida

Infants seven-days-old or younger can be relinquished at any 24-hours emergency EMT or hospital location.

Georgia

You can give up your infant in Georgia as long as it is under 30-days-old, to any emergency volunteer or police official. Hospitals, fire departments or police stations are ideal safe haven locations.

Hawaii

Infants under 72-hours-old can be left with any fire department, hospital or police station without fear of prosecution.

Idaho

Any infant under 30-days-old that has been unharmed can be relinquished to any emergency responder or police official. Hospitals, EMTs, police stations and fire departments are ideal safe havens.

Illinois

Babies under 30-days-old that are unharmed can be left anywhere that a medical or emergency worker is present. Hospitals and police stations are ideal.

Iowa

Infants under 30-days-old can be given to hospital workers or emergency officials. You are also permitted to call 911 and give the baby to a first responder without fear of prosecution.

Kansas

If your baby is 45-days-old or younger, you can relinquish it at any emergency or medical location.

Kentucky

You can give up your 30-day-old (or younger) infant in Kentucky at any hospital, fire department, police station or participating church. Not every church is a safe haven, so be sure you call and ask bef0re dropping off the baby.

Louisiana

Infants up to 60 days old can be given up at child advocacy centers, emergency rooms or police departments. Parents can also call 911 and have a first responder take the newborn.

Maine

Infants under 31 days old can be given to a first responder, emergency room or police department as long as the parent doesn’t express the desire to come back for the kid later.

Maryland

Babies 10 days old and younger can be given up anonymously at emergency rooms, police stations and fire departments as well as other designated safe haven locations.

Massachusetts

Infants under a week old can be relinquished at fire departments, police station or emergency rooms.

Michigan

Infants no older than three days old can be handed off at any emergency room, police station or fire department.

Minnesota

A child 7 days old or younger can be given up to an emergency room, police station or 911 first responder.

Mississippi

Any child under 72-hours-old can be relinquished at an emergency room or police station.

Missouri

Infants under 45-days-old can be given up at an emergency room or police station, or staffed fire department. Call around for other safe haven locations.

Montana

Babies under 30-days-old can be relinquished at a hospital, fire department, police station or other emergency service.

Nebraska

Babies under 30-days of age can be given to a hospital worker or police officer if the parent wishes to give up parental rights. The law used to allow teenagers to be dropped off as well, but that has unfortunately changed.

Nevada

Babies under 30-days-old can be given up at hospitals, police stations or other safe haven approved locations.

New Hampshire

Babies up to a week old can be surrendered at a hospital, police station or other staffed emergency service.

New Jersey

Babies up to 30-days-old can be surrendered at hospitals, fire departments and police stations.

New Mexico

Infants under 90-days-old can be given up at an emergency room, police station or staffed fire department.

New York

Infants 30-days-old or less can be relinquished at hospitals, police stations or through emergency services.

North Carolina

Babies up to one week old can be handed over at hospitals or police stations.

North Dakota

Babies up to one year old can be given to any safe haven location such as a hospital or police department.

Ohio

Infants up to a month old can be left a police department, hospital or fire station.

Oklahoma

Babies up to a week old can be given over to a hospital worker, police officer or fire station employee.

Oregon

You can give a baby up to 30-days-old to any hospital worker or police officer. There are also other safe haven locations in the state, but you must call to find what they are.

Pennsylvania

Infants up to 28 days old can be given over at a hospital or police station.

Rhode Island

Babies up to a month old can be given to any hospital or police station for safe haven.

South Carolina

Infants up to 60-days-old can be given to a hospital or police station.

South Dakota

Infants up to 30-days-old can be given to a hospital or police station as well as child services.

Tennessee

Babies up to two-weeks-old can be given to a hospital worker or police officer.

Texas

Infants up to 60-days-old can be relinquished at a hospital or police station as well as other safe haven locations.

Utah

You can hand over your baby to a hospital worker or police officer in Utah as long as the baby is no older than 72-hours-old.

Vermont

Babies up to a month old can be handed to a hospital worker, police station or other first responder.

Virginia

Babies under 14-days-old can be given up to a hospital, police station or fire department without the parents facing procesuction.

Washington

Babies up to three days old can be given over to any safe haven location.

West Virginia

Babies up to a month old can be given to any 24-hours medical facility for safe haven, or a police station.

Wisconsin

Babies up to 72-hours-old can be given over to a hospital or police station.

Wyoming

Babies up to two-weeks-old can be given to a hospital worker, police officer or other emergency first responder.

Conclusion

Giving up an unwanted baby is easy, and in most cases can be done anonymously. Furthermore, in most states you can simply refuse to take custody of the baby as soon as you give birth. Just ask the nurses to take the baby away and you’re not taking custody of it. Since most hospitals are safe havens, this should come with no consequences.