LVMC Earns Cribs for Kids Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Recognition

Lompoc Valley Medical Center is proud to announce it has achieved certification as a Silver-level "Cribs for Kids” National Safe Sleep Hospital.

“This certification recognizes our hospital’s commitment to best practices in infant safe sleep, ensuring the highest standards of care for our youngest patients,” said LVMC Perinatal Services Manager Angela Fichtner.

Cribs for Kids® is a national safe sleep initiative dedicated to reducing infant mortality. The Pittsburgh, PA-based organization is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) or accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed, as well as unsafe sleep injuries.

LVMC was previously designated as a “Bronze” level Safe Sleep Hospital. The hospital was awarded Silver level status after implementing quality improvement measures based on compliance audits and adding the gifting of wearable “sleep sacks” or blankets for infants born at LVMC.

By earning this certification, Lompoc Valley Medical Center demonstrated that it adheres to rigorous guidelines established by the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program. According to Cribs for Kids®, Lompoc Valley Medical Center is the only hospital in Santa Barbara County with Cribs for Kids® Safe Sleep certification.

“Sleep related deaths are the number one reason we lose our babies each year – 3,400 infants annually,” said Michael H. Goodstein, MD, neonatologist and medical director of Cribs for Kids. “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 Cribs for Kids program recognizes hospitals making this commitment.”

Safe sleep includes ensuring babies are always put to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface and that all soft bedding, bumpers and toys are removed from the sleep space.

The certification program started in 2015 in Pennsylvania and hundreds of hospitals are certified nationwide.

As a national certified Safe Sleep Hospital, LVMC is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and providing training programs for healthcare team members and family caregivers.

“Our team has worked diligently to meet the requirements to earn this advanced certification,” Fichtner said. “It underscores our dedication to providing safe sleep care for our babies. We are committed to ensuring that every newborn and infant at LVMC received the highest level of care, including promoting safe sleep practices that align with the guidelines of Cribs for Kids®.”

Judy Bannon, CEO and founder of Cribs for Kids®, noted that there are more than 500 infant safe sleep certified hospitals in the nation and beyond.