Crib Bumpers? Yay or Nay?

MrsS728 · February 2015

What are your thoughts on crib bumpers? I've heard mixed things about them.

khaleesi123 · February 2015

They give a higher risk of SIDS because if your baby moves to the side and has it's face in the bumper it can suffocate as when they are asleep they aren't able to move there heads away if something's wrong so not recommended. Try googling 'are bumpers bad for cribs' or something like that you'd get given a better explanation than mine.

fotocourtney · February 2015

Crib bumpers, even the "breathable" mesh bumpers, simply aren't safe are infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics have repeatedly stated they shouldn't be used due to risk of suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment. The only thing that should be in the crib is your baby, on their back, with a fitted crib sheet. No bumpers, toys, blankets, etc.

shan820 · February 2015

Crap, I bought a breathable mesh liner thinking that was OK.

TBsquared · February 2015

Nay for the reasons stated above.

lishaell · February 2015

My little girl got her arm stuck in the bars on her crib and almost broke it so I used bumpers after that.

cawleyva · February 2015

I don't know how you heard mixed opinions about bumpers. They are dangerous. Period.

CateOfChicago · February 2015

As others said, the recommendation is no. You will have plenty of people tell you they used bumpers without an issue just like you know plenty of smokers who didn't get cancer and plenty of drivers who didn't die from not wearing a seatbelt. A risk is not a guarantee that something bad will happen, it's just a chance that it will. It simply isn't worth the risk. 1 in any number is 1 too many.

PutMeintheZoo · February 2015

I had nothing in the crib with him at first, but then I used the breathable crib bumpers (very thin mesh ones from Target) later on (4-9 months or so) because my son would always roll into or bump his head on the wooden slats. In the middle of the night you'd hear a loud thunk - so I used the bumpers to cushion the crib slats a bit. But only when he was old enough to move his head / roll over on his own.

louloutte87 · February 2015

There's a risk, but my midwife didn't even have an opinion. That being said, I only have mine on for looks, it'll come off when baby is in there!

Shanfrey82 · February 2015

There is a ton of research now proving the risk of using a bumper. They are purely decorative and were originally created before the spacing requirements were placed for the slats on the crib. I got a super cute crib skirt and lots of different cute sheets and I love the way our bedding looks without the bumper.

JuliaRL · February 2015

I don't like the idea of a bumper, because of SIDS, but I don't know why the breathable mesh should be such an issue... I worry about my baby getting limbs stuck between the bars.

Anting · February 2015

Nay. From what I have read so far All you really need is a fitted sheet on the mattress. No blanket, no toys, no pillow. Hope this helps.

MrsS728 · February 2015

We've decided to use a breathable liner in the cradle (it's a bassinet my grandfather made for me when I was born) because the slats are a little wide and we want her to be protected. Her crib will not have any bumper at all.

shinderlea · February 2015

I actually just read a story about a woman and her baby. She would have celebrated his 5th Bday this year. Unfortunately, he passed away when he was just 7 weeks old. He had suffocated in his crib due to the crib bumper. His mother said he was swaddled and placed in a position sleeper but somehow managed to roll over into his crib bumper. Sad story. I used a crib bumper with baby 1 and 2 but I will not be using one this time despite how nice they make the crib look. Its all about your babys safety. All that should be in the babys crib, is a fitted sheet and blanket. No pillows. No animals. No bumper. I will definitely be adding a cute crib skirt though!

mrscimino914 · February 2015

Do not use it! Nothing should be in the crib, my poor beautiful 2 month year old nephew died, about 2 months ago. Babysitter unfortunately put a couple blankets and teddy bear in his crib and he suffocated. Yes some people may have gotten away with crib bumpers and what not, but is that worth the risk?My sister is completely heartbroken, it's so sad.

mhilpisch10 · February 2015

I definitely needed them when my son started moving/crawling at 5 months. He would continually smash his face into the corner of his crib and if I hadn't had bumper pads he would have had bruises all over his face and a lot of unnecessary pain. But he could obviously move around at that point. Until your baby starts to move more intentionally on their own I don't see the need. It is just causing more risks than benefits.

sassymama15 · February 2015

Crib bumpers are useless decorations that are more of a hazard than anything. Even those ridiculous breathable bumpers are not worth it. Those were made for the parents who are stuck on the idea of a bumper but don't want the risk of a real bumper. Arms and legs fan go through the slats regardless around the bottom between the mattress and the bumper. And once your baby is big enough to move around like that to begin with the bumpers should have been taken out already.

carajeanp37 · February 2015

I'm not doing bumpers on our crib but I am planning to have her sleep in our room in the pack n play for the first few months.. I haven't read anything about it being dangerous but I'm concerned because it does have the mesh walls.. Has anyone heard anything about that?