Holy Cross Health Earns Cribs for Kids® Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification

Silver Spring, MD – February 6, 2025 – Holy Cross Silver Spring and Holy Cross Germantown are proud to announce that they have achieved Gold Certification from the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program. This certification recognizes our healthcare team members’ commitment to best practices in infant safe sleep, ensuring the highest standards of care for our youngest patients. By earning this certification, Holy Cross Health demonstrates adherence to rigorous guidelines established by the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program. 

Cribs for Kids® is a national safe sleep initiative dedicated to reducing infant mortality. "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®. "Hospitals play a key role in modeling safe sleep practices. We are proud to recognize Holy Cross Health commitment to our Safe Sleep program.  

With more than 10,000 births annually at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring alone, Holy Cross Health plays a vital role in maternal and newborn care. “It’s not just the numbers we pride ourselves on,” said Maggie Perih, Chief Nursing Officer at Holy Cross Health. “Women continue to choose to have their babies here because they have confidence in us. That’s what means the most to us.” This certification further strengthens that trust, ensuring families receive the highest level of care and safe sleep education to help prevent infant deaths. 

Judy Bannon, CEO and founder of Cribs for Kids®, added, "The National Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program launched in 2015. It is rooted in the Safe Sleep Recommendations made by the 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 Holy Cross Health to our program, where together, we will have a profound effect on saving babies’ lives." 

For more information about Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program, visit www.cribsforkids.org/hospitalcertification.

About Holy Cross Health  

Holy Cross Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, people-centered health system that serves the two most populous counties in Maryland, Montgomery and Prince George's counties, and the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The health system is committed to being the most trusted provider of health care services in the area. Founded in 1963 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Holy Cross Health is a member of Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Holy Cross Hospital, in Silver Spring, is one of the largest hospitals in Maryland, and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital is the first hospital in the nation on a community college campus, enhanced by an educational partnership. The Holy Cross Health Network operates primary care practices and affordable health centers and offers a wide range of innovative, community-based health and wellness programs. Specialty care, home care, and hospice services round out Holy Cross Health's high quality and coordinated continuum of care that aims to improve health and move life ahead for individuals and populations in the communities served.