AHN Earns Highest Accolades from Pittsburgh’s “Cribs for Kids” for Safe Infant Sleep Practices

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) today announced it was recognized by the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program as a gold-level health system for its ongoing commitment to best practices and education on infant sleep safety. The designation, earned across the Network’s labor and delivery (L&D) units at AHN West Penn, AHN Forbes, AHN Saint Vincent, AHN Wexford and AHN Jefferson hospitals, was created by Pittsburgh-based Cribs for Kids®, the only national organization focused primarily on infant sleep safety. 

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outlining new guidelines for safe sleep practices; it is the first update from the AAP in over five years.

“The updated guidelines from the AAP reinforce crucial practices we teach our families immediately following the birth of their babies,” said Marcia Klein-Patel, MD, PhD, chair of AHN Women’s Institute. “Our talented clinicians are extremely well-versed in safe infant sleep guidelines and work closely with new parents to ensure baby is positioned appropriately for sleep and has a safe sleeping environment when they go home, among other measures.”

New recommendations released from the AAP also advise parents to avoid the use of inclined surfaces for sleep, sleep monitoring devices that may provide a false sense of security and sitting devices such as car seats or swings for routine sleep in the hospital or home. Alternatively, the organization promotes routine vaccinations, breastfeeding and supervised, awake “tummy time” to reduce the risk of sleep-related deaths or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

“Sleep-related death results in the loss of more than 3,500 infants every year in the U.S.,” said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., 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. Cribs for Kids Hospital Certification Program is designed to recognize those hospitals that are taking an active role in reducing these preventable deaths.”

Pittsburgh-based Cribs for Kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths (SRD) due to accidental suffocation and SIDS defined as the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby under 12 months old. The organization works closely with health systems across the country to help promote safe sleep practices and equip family with the necessary resources, if needed. 

AHN currently deploys a multi-faceted infant sleep safety initiative across its L&D programs in which all clinicians are trained on best sleep practices for newborns, perform routine safe sleep audits on the floors and distribute helpful resources, products, and information to new families. Upon discharge, new families that share they don’t have a safe sleeping environment for baby, receive compliant bassinets and safe sleep “pack & play” kits. Wearable blankets, educational materials and final verbal instruction are also given to all patients prior to leaving the hospital. 

“The labor and delivery programs at AHN provide a solid foundation for new parents when it comes to safe sleep, and the Network’s pediatricians work closely with families during their routine follow-up appointments to reiterate the importance of maintaining these practices in the months ahead,” said Joseph Aracri, DO and chair of AHN Pediatric Institute. “In addition, AHN offers a wide-variety of in-person and virtual prenatal courses that feature safe sleep lessons, and we participate in local outreach programs to educate even more community members. Today’s exciting Network-wide designation, at the highest level, is a testament to our ongoing commitment and dedication to this important effort.”

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, Kids in Danger, Children’s Safety Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids, CJ Foundation for SIDS, and numerous state American Academy of Pediatric chapters and health departments.

For more information on the AHN Women’s Institute or the AHN Pediatric Institute, please visit ahn.org.