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The Christ Hospital Health Network has achieved Gold Certification as a National Safe Sleep Hospital by Cribs for Kids. This certification acknowledges the hospital's adherence to best practices in infant safe sleep, aimed at providing optimal care for infants.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains a significant concern, being the leading cause of death among infants aged one month to one year. While not entirely preventable, measures can be taken to reduce its risk. These include placing babies on their backs to sleep, avoiding co-sleeping with them, providing supervised "tummy time," and using safety-approved cribs with firm mattresses.
"Our team has worked diligently to meet the requirements to earn this certification and underscores our dedication to providing safe sleep care for our babies,” said Leanne Olshavsky, MD, Director of Women’s Health at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “We are committed to ensuring that every newborn and infant at both the Mt. Auburn and Liberty Birthing Centers receives the highest level of care, including promoting safe sleep practices that align with the guidelines of Cribs for Kids.”
Cribs for Kids is a national initiative focused on reducing infant mortality through safe sleep education. Michael H. Goodstein, MD, neonatologist and medical director at Cribs for Kids, highlighted the impact of hospital practices on parental behavior: “Sleep related deaths are the number one reason we lose our babies each year—3,400 infants annually. We know that parents do at home what they see done in the hospital so modeling safe sleep and providing education to families will have an impact on infant mortality."
The Christ Hospital Health Network is also affiliated with Cradle Cincinnati, an organization working towards ending infant mortality in Hamilton County. Between 2019 and 2023, sleep-related deaths accounted for 23% of all infant deaths in the county.
“The National Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program launched in 2015,” stated Judy Bannon, CEO and founder of Cribs for Kids. “It is rooted in the Safe Sleep Recommendations made by American Academy of Pediatrics and the research that demonstrates families do at home what they see done in the hospital." Bannon expressed pride in welcoming The Christ Hospital Health Network into their program.
For further details about Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program, visit www.cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification.
The Christ Hospital Health Network operates multiple facilities across Cincinnati and has been serving its community for over 130 years with a mission focused on affordable healthcare excellence.
