Are crib bumpers really that bad??....

luvchaitea

Honestly, this is my fourth child and I have always used the bumpers on the crib for my three daughters.  They were pretty padded and tied to the crib railing in many places.  I did take them out after they could stand in the crib because I didn't want them to use them for leverage trying to climb out of the crib.  After taking them out, they always rolled into the rails...which sometimes woke them up...and they did get arms and legs stuck through them.  I never bought the 'breathable' bumpers at that point either.

I know there are reports of babies suffocating in them but I don't see how.  If they can roll into them, can't they roll away from them as well?

Gina418

luvchaitea:

Honestly, this is my fourth child and I have always used the bumpers on the crib for my three daughters.  They were pretty padded and tied to the crib railing in many places.  I did take them out after they could stand in the crib because I didn't want them to use them for leverage trying to climb out of the crib.  After taking them out, they always rolled into the rails...which sometimes woke them up...and they did get arms and legs stuck through them.  I never bought the 'breathable' bumpers at that point either.

I know there are reports of babies suffocating in them but I don't see how.  If they can roll into them, can't they roll away from them as well?

Not always true - a baby that rolls over for the first time and winds up against the bumper could be in trouble. 

My pediatrician says no on bumpers. My ds never had an issue getting his legs/arms stuck in the slats, so we were lucky with that. 

KittahMama

I don't know, I am probably in the minority with you but we use them.  Miss C pushes herself in her sleep as hard as she can up- so she always ends up at the top of her crib pushing her head into the bumper.  If I took it off she's be pushing into the slats.  She is also GREAT at getting her feet over the bumper and stuck in the slats when she wakes up and is playing in the morning.  If the bumper wasn't there I imagine that would happen during the night as well.

Even when she rolls and faces the bumper her face isn't into it, so she can breathe just fine.

TimingisEverything

they won't necessarily have the strength to roll away. They are that bad, imo. I would never use one but if I did it would be breathable and collapseable.

kjbarber86

I don't understand how a baby can suffocate from them either...  The bed set that I want comes with a bumper and I plan on using it!

m0132

I still have a bumper in DD's crib (gasp!).  Yes she can stand, but she never stands on the bumper and is not tall enough to be able to get any leverage off of the bumper anyway, plus my DD just isn't a climber in general..she never has been (she even hates stairs lol).  I didn't put her in the crib until 6 months when she could roll over both directions very well and could sit up on her own.  She sleeps with her head wedged into the corner of the crib so I would imagine we would have more issues with NOT having a bumper than having one.

We are getting her a big girl bed soon and I am actually worried about how often she will bang her head into the headboard and the wall, and she likes to kick her legs to help herself fall asleep so I'm sure it will be interesting. 

ams8099

It's not necessarily suffocating on the bumper itself. It's re-breathing the carbon dioxide and not getting oxygen. It's the same reason why you don't use a blanket on a baby in the crib.

 

www.firstcandle.org/~candle/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Rebreathing_Carbon_Dioxide.pdf

tlxh7

luvchaitea:

I know there are reports of babies suffocating in them but I don't see how.  If they can roll into them, can't they roll away from them as well?

I nannied for a girl that could roll back-to-front for weeks before she could roll front-to-back.  I think that's the issue - if they can only roll one way, then what?

luvchaitea

Maybe that's the difference with me/my opinion.  As a PP said, none of my girls went into the crib until they could roll both ways strongly.  My two oldest daughters never tried to climb either, so I took them out a little later, but my youngest is a spider monkey, so they had to come out as I witnessed her trying with great success at getting pretty good leverage with them.  I actually put her in a toddler bed early because I knew it was a matter of time (short time, lol) before she was climbing completely out (w/out the pads) and I was afraid she would get hurt falling on the other side.  She could scale a child gate on the door by age 1. 

luvchaitea

ams8099:

It's not necessarily suffocating on the bumper itself. It's re-breathing the carbon dioxide and not getting oxygen. It's the same reason why you don't use a blanket on a baby in the crib.

 

www.firstcandle.org/~candle/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Rebreathing_Carbon_Dioxide.pdf

I'm going to read that.  And I always put the girls in the sleeper 'sacks' that zipped for sleeping, so they didn't need a blanket.  I did worry about the blanket issue.

TessieF

What ams said - everyone keeps responding that they can't see their baby suffocating on them, but the real issue isn't suffociation, it's that the stale air created by the bumpers increases the risk of SIDS. 

Kdonn15

We use them, I'm got a real mover on my hands and truthfully the bumpers we have are thin my daughter has never pushed herself against them in such a way that both her nose and mouth would be smushed up against the fabric/padding without her being able to turn her head.

I'm curious as to why bassinets haven't been vetoed since they aren't made of breathable material on the sides and are much more compact of a sleeping space for the baby to roll into the side a suffocate. 

Gina418

Kdonn15:

We use them, I'm got a real mover on my hands and truthfully the bumpers we have are thin my daughter has never pushed herself against them in such a way that both her nose and mouth would be smushed up against the fabric/padding without her being able to turn her head.

I'm curious as to why bassinets haven't been vetoed since they aren't made of breathable material on the sides and are much more compact of a sleeping space for the baby to roll into the side a suffocate. 

By the time babies are able to roll over they have usually reached the weight/height restrictions on bassinets. 

tokenhoser

Either you believe in research regarding baby safety, or you don't.

I do. How can you not? I really don't get disregarding the advice of experts for the sake of fashion and convenience.

Lisa Frank

We used them with my DS and we will use them with this baby too.  Like you, OP, my DS didn't go into his crib until he was rolling both ways anyway.  We have a video monitor as well, and that helped ease my mind a bit.

My DS loves his bumpers so much that we now have them installed against the bed rails in his big boy room.  They have minky on them, and he likes to rub the minky in the middle of the night

katekirschner

We have the regular padded ones in DDs crib. And sh has had a blanket since 3 months!! Gasp! She is fine and doesn't climb on the bumpers eventhough she is tall enough. She rolled back and forth early too.

chloephoebecali

I see it as more of a SIDS risk.  I used breathable bumpers for the first 6 months until the SIDS risk dropped.  We used the regular bumper after that.  I also put a ceiling fan in the room to keep air circulating.  I like having the bumper now because she really moves around in her crib. 

I agree with the bassinet question.  I always thought they seemed small and not "breathable," but people seem to use them with no problem.  I am happy with my Arms Reach co-sleeper because it it mesh on the sides and more breathable, but don't think bassinets are unsafe.

luvchaitea

tokenhoser:

Either you believe in research regarding baby safety, or you don't.

I do. How can you not? I really don't get disregarding the advice of experts for the sake of fashion and convenience.

I do believe in research regarding baby safety. 

After reading the above posted link, I can see how babies can be affected.  I think the difference with me is that my babies slept in my room in a bassinet and then a pack'n'play until they could roll over very good both ways.  I felt confident at that point that they could roll out of an 'uncomfortable' situation in their crib.  It was the rolling around that concerned me, which is why I used the bumpers, so that they weren't rolling into and hitting with their heads the hard wooden rails.  I can see where the concern would really be with a younger baby that hasn't mastered rolling yet.

ErinC1014

I've been wondering this too.  So, if it's a matter of rolling.. would it be ok to use for an infant that doesn't move around and then take it out once they start rolling?

biblionerd

ErinC1014:

I've been wondering this too.  So, if it's a matter of rolling.. would it be ok to use for an infant that doesn't move around and then take it out once they start rolling?

It's NOT just a matter of rolling, like others (and the article) have stated above.

KatieRL1979

tokenhoser:

Either you believe in research regarding baby safety, or you don't.

I do. How can you not? I really don't get disregarding the advice of experts for the sake of fashion and convenience.

Baby safety?  What's that?  Personally I plan on completely smothering my child when they're in bed, not using a car seat and hanging miniblind cords over her crib.  Seriously get off your high horse, people who use them aren't doing it merely for fashion or convenience.  Essentially saying anyone who does doesn't care about their baby's safety is uncalled for and unneccesary. 

azzyberry

KatieWill2006:

tokenhoser:

Either you believe in research regarding baby safety, or you don't.

I do. How can you not? I really don't get disregarding the advice of experts for the sake of fashion and convenience.

Baby safety?  What's that?  Personally I plan on completely smothering my child when they're in bed, not using a car seat and hanging miniblind cords over her crib.  Seriously get off your high horse, people who use them aren't doing it merely for fashion or convenience.  Essentially saying anyone who does doesn't care about their baby's safety is uncalled for and unneccesary. 

Um....I think you need to step down from your horse.  I read your reply in the other post "any one use a breathable bumper" and if you had any understanding about the risk of bumpers you would know that it's not just a risk of suffocation or baby rolling around.  It's about the lack of air flow/oxygen and breathing in carbon dioxide.

I don't understand why the majority of people in this post don't seem to understand that and keep harping about how it's fine because their baby can roll around.

Lisa Frank

The SIDS risk goes down significantly at 6 months. That likely correlates with the baby's rolling capabilities. I myself took that into consideration when using a bumper for my child.

tokenhoser

KatieWill2006:

tokenhoser:

Either you believe in research regarding baby safety, or you don't.

I do. How can you not? I really don't get disregarding the advice of experts for the sake of fashion and convenience.

Baby safety?  What's that?  Personally I plan on completely smothering my child when they're in bed, not using a car seat and hanging miniblind cords over her crib.  Seriously get off your high horse, people who use them aren't doing it merely for fashion or convenience.  Essentially saying anyone who does doesn't care about their baby's safety is uncalled for and unneccesary. 

What reasons are there beyond fashion and convenience? There are virtually zero reports of a kid actually hurting themselves seriously by getting stuck in the crib slats. There are plenty of increased SIDS, suffocation, and strangulation. If you're using bumpers, you're willing to increase risk of death to prevent your kid from crying if they bump themselves.

I don't think it's wrong to point that out.

august06mom

What reasons are there beyond fashion and convenience? There are virtually zero reports of a kid actually hurting themselves seriously by getting stuck in the crib slats. There are plenty of increased SIDS, suffocation, and strangulation. If you're using bumpers, you're willing to increase risk of death to prevent your kid from crying if they bump themselves.

I don't think it's wrong to point that out.

This. I have yet to ever hear a compelling reason for using crib bumpers.

kimbo1216

KatieWill2006:

tokenhoser:

Either you believe in research regarding baby safety, or you don't.

I do. How can you not? I really don't get disregarding the advice of experts for the sake of fashion and convenience.

Baby safety?  What's that?  Personally I plan on completely smothering my child when they're in bed, not using a car seat and hanging miniblind cords over her crib.  Seriously get off your high horse, people who use them aren't doing it merely for fashion or convenience.  Essentially saying anyone who does doesn't care about their baby's safety is uncalled for and unneccesary. 

 

I agree!  I think it's not a bout believing in safety research or not, it's about finding what's right for you and your baby.  Safety research changes all the time.  Not too long ago, it was considered "unsafe" by experts for a baby to sleep on their backs (for fear of choking on their own spit up).  Then it became unsafe to put them on their stomachs.  Experts advice and research is constantly changing.  I think every normal mother wants her child to be safe.  It's about figuring out what is and isn't worth listening too.

I know we plan to use a bassinet the first few months.  We are using a bumper, but our baby will not be in the crib to they are older and stronger.  My niece used to bury her head in the side and it scared me when she stayed the night.  But she was strong enough and mobile enough to move if something became to uncomfortable for her.

On a side note: I had a baby cousin die of SIDS.  It's a very real and scary thing.  I will worry up until the day my baby turns 1 (when the risk dramatically drops).  However, SIDS is not really preventable.  You just have to find what's right for you--as NO ONE, not even the expert researchers, can predict when SIDS will occur.

august06mom

 

I agree!  I think it's not a bout believing in safety research or not, it's about finding what's right for you and your baby.  Safety research changes all the time.  Not too long ago, it was considered "unsafe" by experts for a baby to sleep on their backs (for fear of choking on their own spit up).  Then it became unsafe to put them on their stomachs.  Experts advice and research is constantly changing.  I think every normal mother wants her child to be safe.  It's about figuring out what is and isn't worth listening too.

I know we plan to use a bassinet the first few months.  We are using a bumper, but our baby will not be in the crib to they are older and stronger.  My niece used to bury her head in the side and it scared me when she stayed the night.  But she was strong enough and mobile enough to move if something became to uncomfortable for her.

On a side note: I had a baby cousin die of SIDS.  It's a very real and scary thing.  I will worry up until the day my baby turns 1 (when the risk dramatically drops).  However, SIDS is not really preventable.  You just have to find what's right for you--as NO ONE, not even the expert researchers, can predict when SIDS will occur.

I"m very, very sorry about your cousin, but this is not true. It's not completely preventable, of course, but there are many things you can do. Don't smoke around the baby. No blankets or bumpers in the crib. Put baby on his back to sleep. All things to do to prevent SIDS. While they're not fail safe, they are preventative measures.  

tokenhoser

august06mom:

 

I agree!  I think it's not a bout believing in safety research or not, it's about finding what's right for you and your baby.  Safety research changes all the time.  Not too long ago, it was considered "unsafe" by experts for a baby to sleep on their backs (for fear of choking on their own spit up).  Then it became unsafe to put them on their stomachs.  Experts advice and research is constantly changing.  I think every normal mother wants her child to be safe.  It's about figuring out what is and isn't worth listening too.

I know we plan to use a bassinet the first few months.  We are using a bumper, but our baby will not be in the crib to they are older and stronger.  My niece used to bury her head in the side and it scared me when she stayed the night.  But she was strong enough and mobile enough to move if something became to uncomfortable for her.

On a side note: I had a baby cousin die of SIDS.  It's a very real and scary thing.  I will worry up until the day my baby turns 1 (when the risk dramatically drops).  However, SIDS is not really preventable.  You just have to find what's right for you--as NO ONE, not even the expert researchers, can predict when SIDS will occur.

I"m very, very sorry about your cousin, but this is not true. It's not completely preventable, of course, but there are many things you can do. Don't smoke around the baby. No blankets or bumpers in the crib. Put baby on his back to sleep. All things to do to prevent SIDS. While they're not fail safe, they are preventative measures.  

It's mind boggling that someone that knows the pain and loss of SIDS would choose to believe there's nothing to do to influence the odds of it happening. Of course it can happen to anyone, but wouldn't you forever wonder if you should have paid attention to those doctors instead of those cute bedding sets?

CarlaAndJames

I told my husband some of the risks and asked him if they wanted them. His response was "Are there major safety benefits of HAVING them that we'll miss out on by skipping them? No? Then no."

End of discussion.

NicciH

With DS I had issues when we didn't have bumpers. I ended up going out and buying some when he was 11 months. He got his legs stuck in the slats numerous times, one of which the blood was getting cut off and his leg was turning purple. I was terrified. Get the breathable bumpers until the baby is 6-9 months or so- then use real bumpers when they start rolling around in bed more. I loved having bumpers when he was older because he would have hit his head all the time without them. But, again he didn't get them till he was older. 

But what I do in my home is my business- why does everyone get so snippy about what each mother does. You do what you are comfortable with, and let me do what I am comfortable with. 

 

MrsDL

august06mom:

What reasons are there beyond fashion and convenience? There are virtually zero reports of a kid actually hurting themselves seriously by getting stuck in the crib slats. There are plenty of increased SIDS, suffocation, and strangulation. If you're using bumpers, you're willing to increase risk of death to prevent your kid from crying if they bump themselves.

I don't think it's wrong to point that out.

This. I have yet to ever hear a compelling reason for using crib bumpers.

This. Other than fashion I can't find one legitimate reason to use one that outweights the risk of not using one based on expert opinion and reserach.

Christine&Chris

MrsDL:

august06mom:

What reasons are there beyond fashion and convenience? There are virtually zero reports of a kid actually hurting themselves seriously by getting stuck in the crib slats. There are plenty of increased SIDS, suffocation, and strangulation. If you're using bumpers, you're willing to increase risk of death to prevent your kid from crying if they bump themselves.

I don't think it's wrong to point that out.

This. I have yet to ever hear a compelling reason for using crib bumpers.

This. Other than fashion I can't find one legitimate reason to use one that outweights the risk of not using one based on expert opinion and reserach.

Not sure how many here are from Illinois, but the state has taken a very serious stance on the padded bumpers and has called for their ban. More kids die each year from bumpers than from dropside cribs. It's also at the top of the review list for JPMA. I know dropside cribs can kill babies, so I won't buy one.  I know padded bumpers can kill babies, so I won't use one. Guess it just depends on how risk-adverse you are.  There's tons of information online regarding the risks with which people may educate themselves.