TMH Earns Cribs for Kids® Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification

TMH is the only facility in the Big Bend region to earn this level of certification

Tallahassee, Fla. (April 1, 2026) - Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) has achieved recertification for its fifth consecutive year as a Gold Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital. The certification recognizes TMH's commitment to best practices in safe infant sleep, ensuring the highest standards of care for its youngest patients and demonstrating adherence to rigorous guidelines established by the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program.

"Sleep-related deaths are the number one reason we lose our babies each year-3,400 infants annually," said Michael H. Goodstein, M.D., Neonatologist and Medical Director at 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."

In 2024, Florida reported 195 cases of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, which includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), unknown cause, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. Five of these deaths occurred in the Big Bend.

"This certification reflects our team's unwavering commitment to modeling and educating families on safe sleep practices, ensuring every newborn has the safest possible start both in our care and at home. Our team has worked diligently to meet the requirements to earn this certification," said Kim Outlaw, Women's and Children's Service Line Administrator at TMH.

To achieve this certification, TMH implemented a comprehensive, hospital-wide Infant Safe Sleep Program that includes a formal policy, staff and family education, and community outreach. The hospital provides caregiver training, discharge guidance and resources, while also connecting at-risk families with safe sleep support. Ongoing quality improvement efforts help maintain high standards and promote safe sleep practices.

Judy Bannon, CEO, and founder of Cribs for Kids explains, "The National Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program launched in 2015. 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. There are over 500 infant safe sleep certified hospitals across the country and beyond. We are proud to welcome Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare to our program. It will have a profound effect on saving babies' lives."

For more information about infant safe sleep, visit TMH.ORG. For more information about Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program, visit, CribsforKids.ORG.