Certification Application & Management


Welcome New & Returning Hospitals

On this page you will find:
  • Application Preparation
  • Application & Management Platform
  • Certification Maintenance
  • Submit an Application
    – Initial Certification & Recertification


Application Preparation

The Cribs for Kids’ Infant Safe Sleep Certification Program awards hospitals nationwide. Because in-person site visits are not performed, hospitals are evaluated via virtual reporting demonstrating safe sleep practices.  

Applications contain multiple-choice, free-text answers and the upload of supporting documents. These required documents are outlined below.  

Review current AAP recommendations and the Cribs for Kids’ Safe Sleep Certification Manual before submission to ensure compliance, promote completeness and reduce application processing times. 

Required Documents

  • Submit the Hospital Infant Safe Sleep Policy and all related policies
  • Submit Hospital Produced Supporting Documents – Submit all hospital or locally produced materials related to the hospital Infant Safe Sleep Initiative. Materials produced by a known national entity such as Cribs for Kids, NICHD, or other state approved materials are to be reported by not required to be uploaded. Hospital produced supporting documents to be uploaded include but are not limited to:

Healthcare Team Member Training: written materials, PowerPoints, modules.
Family/Caregiver Education: written materials, videos, acknowledgment forms, noncompliance forms, EMR documentation, handouts, posters, and displays.
Safe Sleep Assessment: Assessment tool to learn if baby has a safe sleep space.
Wearable blankets: education materials, third-party funding documentation.
QI & Unit Audits: Audit tools from all participating units, annual compliance rate reports, EMR documentation.
– All Employee Hospital Wide Training: Document 85% completion or interventions to achieve.
Safe Sleep Assessment & Distribution: Assessment tools, third-party funding documentation.
Community Outreach: written materials, mass media, or social media posts, screenshots or links.

  • Files may be Word documents, PDF, PowerPoints, videos, screenshots, or pictures.
  • Name files appropriately to assist organization.


Certification Application & Management Platform

Effective January 2023, Cribs for Kids partnered with Submittable to provide an application and management platform for our National Infant Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program.

Submittable allows hospitals to:

  • Create individual logins with tech support for password recovery 
  • Submit applications for individual hospital or system-wide hospital certification programs.
  • Submit required annual compliance reports for hospitals awarded five-year designations. 
  • Submit required annual reports that include an upgrade to Silver or Gold (must be submitted within the first two years of certification).
  • Save progress to complete and submit at a later date
  • Invite collaborators to assist with completing the application(s)

Submission review times vary and may take 2-4 weeks. You will be notified via Submittable ‘Messages and email when the review form is available on your account.

  • The review form may request clarification and a follow-up response.
  • Once your follow up is received, allow an additional 2-4 weeks for re-evaluation.


Certification Maintenance

Once a hospital earns a five-year safe sleep designation, hospitals are expected to demonstrate ongoing compliance at their awarded level. The following is expected of all certified hospitals and is done so via Submittable.

  • Annual Compliance Report – Submitted during the hospital’s anniversary award month at the ends of years 1-4.
  • Optional Upgrade Level of Certification – Available at the end of years 1 or 2, submitted as part of the annual compliance report. 
  • Report Changes in Primary or Secondary Contacts – Update Submittable account email address with changes of primary contacts. Scroll down to the gray box at the bottom of the page for more information on how to change your contact information within Submittable. 
  • Apply for re-designation at the end of year 5 – This is separate from annual compliance reports and is an application for your next 5-year designation.

Review the Certification Manual for details.


Enter Submittable

If you experience technical issues, email Submittable Tech Support here.
If you already have an account and need password recovery, visit here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Submittable Support

If needed, you can open a ticket with Submittable for support here: https://submittable1.my.site.com/submittablehelp/s/36268891

You can also find answers to many questions on their video channel (https://www.submittable.com/help/organization/) or by searching Submittable’s help center (https://submittable.help/en/). 

How to Transfer Form Ownership In Submittable

Users can transfer ownership of the form to another Submittable user within the Profile Settings.  The following article details how to transfer ownership:Transfer Submission Ownership for Submitters | Submittable Help Center

Where is my Annual Report Additional Form?

Annual Reports are submitted via an additional form sent to your account: https://submittable.help/en/articles/7054431-where-is-my-additional-form