UC Davis Children's Hospital is named gold safe sleep champion by National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program

UC Davis Children’s Hospital has been recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a gold safe sleep champion for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. 

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created by Cribs for Kids®, the only national infant safe sleep organization. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Cribs for Kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. As a Nationally Certified Safe Sleep Hospital, UC Davis Children’s Hospital is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and providing training programs for health care team members and family caregivers. 

“Sleep-Related Death (SRD) results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, neonatologist and medical director of research at Cribs for Kids®. “We know that modeling safe infant sleep in the hospital and providing education to families has a significant effect on infant mortality. The Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is designed to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.” 

A baby dies every other week within Sacramento County related to unsafe sleep environments. Half of these infants are African American.   

“We are committed to preventing these tragedies and teaching safe sleep practices to all of our new mothers in our hospital,” said Judie Boehmer, executive director of patient care services at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “Our team is proud to receive this new hospital certification.”

The National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program was created in partnership with leading infant health and safety organizations such as All Baby & Child, The National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths, Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments.

“The certification program launched in 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA, home of the Cribs for Kids® national headquarters. Hundreds of hospitals across the US are certified. We welcome UC Davis Children’s Hospital to this expanding group of committed hospitals,” said Judith A. Bannon, executive director and founder of Cribs for Kids®.  “This will have a profound effect on  saving babies’ lives.”

For more information on the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification program, visit https://cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification/