Northland's safe sleep programme for babies has received a warm boost just as winter starts to bite.
Northland Red Cross donated 27 knitted blankets to the Northland District Health Board programme on Thursday at Te Puawai Ora.
Team leader community maternity services Sam Harris said families are going to be blown away.
"It's definitely going to be a cold winter. These are going to provide that extra warmth and peace of mind to mums and dads."
Harris said families who have Sudden Unexplained Death of an Infant (SUDI) risk factors are given either a wahakura or pepi-pod.
Those risk factors include smoking in the whanau or during pregnancy, drugs or alcohol in the home, pre-term babies, low birth weight and young mums. Maori also have a higher risk.
"One of those factors combined with bed sharing, your chances are much higher," Harris said.
Harris said the pepi-pod or wahakura provide a safe sleep space with a well-fitted flat mattress. The space is clear around the face and baby sleeps on its back.
Now when parents chose the pepi-pod or wahakura, they can choose a blanket too.
Harris said the blankets were beautifully made and would be keepsakes for the families who receive them.
"We're very grateful, these are going to go to some needy homes."
Red Cross Northland community services manager Nancy Kareroa-Yorke said the blankets were knitted by volunteers from across Northland.
Thursday was the first donation, but it won't be last, with Kareroa-Yorke telling Harris to let them know when they need more.
"Our knitters are really keen to keep knitting."
There are about 35 volunteer knitters in Kerikeri, Paihia and Whangārei, who knit booties, large bed blankets and knee rugs for various Red Cross programmes.
Kareroa-Yorke said the idea to support the safe sleep programme came from Red Cross Christchurch helping with a weaving programme for wahakura in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake.
The Northland branch looked to wahakura here, and decided to help by knitting baby blankets.
The blankets were folded and tied neatly with a ribbon and packed up with a poem written by one of the volunteers.