Eastern Maine Medical Center earns top honor for baby sleep safety

Date: 02/04/2026

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, along with Northern Light Health’s other birthing hospitals across Maine, has once again earned the Gold Safe Sleep Hospital Certification from Cribs for Kids®. This national award shows that Eastern Maine Medical Center is a leader in helping babies sleep safely.

Receiving gold certification means the staff follows the best practices for safe sleep. Through teamwork, training, and a strong focus on keeping babies safe, Eastern Maine Medical Center has maintained this top status for several years.

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, MD, neonatologist and medical director, Cribs for Kids, adding, “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. Cribs for Kids program recognizes hospitals making this commitment.”

Every family who gives birth at Eastern Maine Medical Center receives important tips on how to put their baby to sleep safely. This helps lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other dangers.

“We’re proud of our team for earning this honor again,” says Ava Collins, MHA, FACHE, president, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. “It shows how much we care about giving every baby a healthy start.”

For more information about the many ways Eastern Maine Medical Center is elevating the safety and quality of care for Maine families, visit northernlighthealth.org/EMMC.