Naples, FL – September 10, 2025 – Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) has been awarded the prestigious National Safe Sleep Hospital Gold Certification by Cribs for Kids®, a leading organization dedicated to preventing sleep-related infant deaths. This recognition reflects NCH’s commitment to implementing best practices and providing education on safe sleep for infants – underscoring its dedication to delivering the highest standards of care for our youngest patients.
To earn this Gold Certification, NCH North Hospital demonstrated a comprehensive safe infant sleep program aligned with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines. The program includes training for parents, staff and the community.
“Sleep related deaths is the leading cause of infant mortality – claiming more than 3,400 annually”, said Dr. Debbie Shepard, Chair of the NCH Pediatrics Department and Vice-Chair of the Safe Infant Sleep Committee. “Sleep is a major challenge for families of infants, but following safe sleep recommendations can prevent many Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) cases. Parents often replicate what they see in the hospital, so modeling safe sleep and educating families can reduce infant mortality.”
In Florida, sleep-related infant deaths remain the leading cause of preventable child fatalities. According to the Florida Child Abuse Death Review (CADR) System, these deaths accounted for 41% of all child fatalities reviewed in 2023, with 76.9% occurring in infants four months old or younger – often due to unsafe sleep environments such as adult beds, couches, or shared sleeping surfaces.
This certification highlights the collaborative efforts of the Safe Infant Sleep Committee, which was established in 2011 as part of the NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition. The committee partners include the NCH, community pediatricians, Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Children and Families, Healthy Start of Southwest Florida, Healthcare Network, American SIDS Institute, Charlie’s Kids Foundation, and other key partners.
As a part of the initiative
- Sleep sacks provided to every newborn at discharge, courtesy of Healthy Start of Southwest Florida.
- Pack ‘n Plays are distributed to families in need across Collier County, thanks to generous donations from Trinity-by-the-Cove and a private donor. These are distributed by the NCH, the Florida Department of Health, and Florida Department of Children and Families.
NCH North Hospital is Collier County’s only birthing center and home to the county’s only pediatric emergency department, uniquely positioning it to provide specialized, family-centered care from birth through childhood. It’s collaboration with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital brings advanced pediatric expertise and resources to the community, enhancing education, care practices, and safety protocols.
Families delivering at NCH can trust they are in a hospital committed not only to exceptional care, but also to the ongoing education aimed at preventing sleep-related infant deaths, such as suffocation and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS).
For more information about maternity and pediatric services at NCH, visit www.nchmd.org.
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