2026 National Cribs for Kids Conference: Early Registration and Call for Abstracts Now Open

Returning to Pittsburgh from September 29 through October 2, 2026, the conference will once again bring together professionals, researchers, advocates, and partners from across the country who are committed to helping every baby sleep safer. Early registration will be available from through June 30, with late registration open through September 18.

This year’s theme, Safe Sleep: Rooted in Evidence, Branching into Action, reflects our shared commitment to grounding safe sleep work in research while turning knowledge into meaningful, real-world impact. The conference will provide space for learning, collaboration, and honest dialogue about what is working, where challenges remain, and how we can strengthen safe sleep efforts in communities nationwide.

The Call for Abstracts will be open through May 1 and invites submissions from a wide range of disciplines, including healthcare, public health, child welfare, public safety, community-based programs, and research. We encourage submissions from professionals and advocates at all stages of their careers who are interested in sharing their work and contributing to the national safe sleep conversation.



Additional details about registration, presenters, and conference programming will be shared in the months ahead. We look forward to gathering in Pittsburgh to learn from one another, build connections, and continue advancing infant safe sleep together.

Expanding Our Professional Training Series for First Responders

Last year, Cribs for Kids launched a new set of free, on-demand learning tools through our Professional Training Series. These online modules are designed for professionals who regularly interact with families of infants and have a unique opportunity to support safe sleep practices and help prevent deaths due to suffocation and SIDS.

Each professional module builds on our Safe Sleep Ambassador training and focuses on how specific roles can identify risks, close safety gaps, and support families in real-world situations. That focus is especially important for first responders. Developed with guidance from our Program Advisory Board, including professionals working in the field, the First Responder module offers practical strategies for starting safe sleep conversations, assessing environments, and supporting caregivers with empathy and clarity.

The training also addresses one of the most difficult realities first responders face, responding to calls involving unsafe sleep injuries or loss. By acknowledging these moments and providing guidance for them, this module reflects the full scope of the work and the emotional weight that comes with it. We encourage agencies to complete this free training and consider incorporating it into onboarding or ongoing education. Additional tools will be added as part of our National Public Safety Initiative, further strengthening support for those on the front lines.



New Video Series Offers Practical Guidance for Supporting Families and Safe Sleep

Supporting families in real time requires tools that are clear, compassionate, and easy to use in the field. To help meet that need, Cribs for Kids collaborated with the CAPTA Grant team to develop a new, free four-video series now available through the Safe Sleep Academy.

Each short video, approximately three minutes long, focuses on practical guidance that professionals can use during one-on-one conversations with families. The series addresses key topics including risk factors, protective factors, safe sleep for substance-exposed infants, and how to support caregivers who are using substances while caring for their baby.

Rather than relying on lengthy training sessions, these videos are designed to be accessible and immediately useful. They emphasize understanding, harm reduction, and realistic steps that help reduce risk while supporting families with empathy and respect. The goal is to equip professionals with language and approaches that build trust and encourage safer sleep practices without judgment.

This video series reflects Cribs for Kids’ ongoing commitment to prevention and education. By offering concise, evidence-informed resources, we aim to support those working closest with families and help create safer sleep environments where it matters most.

The four-video series is available free of charge through the Safe Sleep Academy Video Library and on our YouTube channel. We encourage partners and professionals to explore and share these resources as part of ongoing efforts to protect infants and support families.

Strengthening SUID Prevention Through Improved Child Death Review

Understanding how and why infant deaths occur is essential to preventing future loss. At Cribs for Kids, that understanding is strengthened through collaboration, data, and clear guidance for professionals involved in review and prevention efforts.

Spencer Poston, MSc, Program and Outreach Manager at Cribs for Kids, (pictured) worked in collaboration with Rachel Berger, MD, MPH, to support improvements in how Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUIDs) are reviewed across Pennsylvania. Their work contributed to the development of a new SUID Child Death Review Toolkit released by Pennsylvania’s state Child Death Review team.

The toolkit was created to provide local review teams with practical tools, clear guidance, and trusted resources to support consistent and accurate case review. While designed specifically for SUID cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services notes that many of the approaches and resources included can also be applied to the review of other child deaths, including those examined by child welfare agencies.

By clarifying roles, strengthening understanding of the Child Death Review process, and supporting accurate data entry into the Pediatric NFR-CRS, the toolkit helps promote consistency and collaboration across teams. These improvements are critical to identifying patterns, closing gaps, and strengthening prevention strategies statewide.

This work underscores the importance of thoughtful review as part of a broader prevention effort. By improving how cases are examined and understood, we can better inform education, policy, and interventions that help keep babies safer.

The SUID Child Death Review Toolkit is available free of charge and can be downloaded and shared with Child Death Review teams across the state.



Pittsburgh EMS and Cribs for Kids: Public Safety in Action

In our hometown of Pittsburgh, safe sleep education isn’t just a message, it’s happening on the ground, one family at a time, even in extreme weather conditions.

Through our National Public Safety Initiative, Pittsburgh EMS, Healthy Start Pittsburgh, and Cribs for Kids are working side by side to bring safe sleep awareness and support to families during critical moments. When medics respond to a 911 call involving an infant, they don’t just provide emergency care, they screen for unsafe sleep environments and offer guidance to caregivers right then and there. This approach reflects the power of prevention and education in protecting the youngest members of our community.

This work comes at an important time. Local reports suggest a significant drop in Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUIDs) in Pittsburgh, with recent data showing more than a 45 percent decrease in these deaths last year compared to the previous year. While many factors influence these trends, focused community efforts are part of a broader prevention strategy aimed at keeping infants safer.

We are proud to support this partnership and grateful for the dedication of first responders who go beyond the emergency call to protect families and promote safer sleep practices. Safe sleep education paired with access to a safe sleep space can make all the difference. Learn more about our National Public Safety Initiative and how you can help spread awareness and support families in need.



Advancing Action with Evidence & Education: Lessons Learned Across 2025 to Our Work in 2026

If you haven’t yet, we invite you to watch our recent Safe Sleep Champions Winter Webinar, featuring pediatric leaders who continue to shape the conversation around prevention, equity, and education.

We were honored to welcome Dr. Mary Beth Howard, MD, MPH; Dr. Gina Lowell, MD, MPH; and Dr. Kyran Quinlan, MD, MPH, who bring together expertise in pediatric care, research, and safe sleep advocacy to help move evidence into action.

Be sure to register for the Spring Safe Sleep Champions Webinar, which will take place on April 16th.

PJs for Safe Sleep: A New National Day of Awareness

On April 16, Cribs for Kids will launch the first-ever PJs for Safe Sleep, a National Day of Awareness aligned with National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. This new initiative uses a familiar routine to spark meaningful conversations about infant safe sleep and remind families that how and where a baby sleeps matters.

By wearing pajamas to work, school, or at home, individuals and organizations can help shine a light on evidence-based safe sleep practices and the importance of creating safe sleep environments for every baby. As a visible, easy action, PJs for Safe Sleep is designed to bring communities together around lifesaving education in a way that feels approachable and inclusive.

This inaugural year marks the beginning of an annual tradition focused on awareness, education, and collective impact. Participants are encouraged to share photos, start conversations, and help amplify safe sleep messaging nationwide.

To learn more about PJs for Safe Sleep and how to get involved, visit our website and join us in helping every baby sleep safer.

Stay connected with the Safe Sleep Spotlight Monthly Newsletter for the latest updates on our programs, products, and upcoming events. Each month, we share important information about fundraising opportunities, impactful awareness campaigns, and the latest news in infant safe sleep. Thank you for being a part of our mission to ensure every baby sleeps safely. Together, with our partners, supporters, and community, we are making a difference.

Please email info@cribsforkids.org with any personnel changes, address changes, or contact email addresses to keep our database current. Names and address changes made via our ordering system don’t automatically update our database.