Bumper Question...

skmrc10/09

I know that it is not safe to use a crib bumper. But how come whenever people show pics of their nurseries they always have one in the crib?  Do you put the bumper in and then take it out when the baby comes? And if they arent safe how come all of the bedding sets come with one?

Megan.10.06

Bumper use is a personal choice. 

Personally, I've used one with my son - still do - and will again with this one.   The initial risk is rebreathing - same risk as stomach sleeping.  We used an oscillating fan  to increase airflow in his room.  He also mostly slept in our room, so it wasn't that big of a deal to begin with.  Now, that they are supposed to be a climb-out hazard, I don't see the point.  Cole is fully capable of climbing out of his crib without using that, but he doesn't. 

darmca

A lot of people don't know the risk of bumpers so they use them. Some people put them in and take them out when the baby comes. Others put them in and leave them in until the baby can roll as they feel suffocation is  the only risk posed (but it isn't- they also increase the risk of SIDS by decreasing airflow in the crib). Lots of things are sold that aren't safe. Cigarettes are far from safe= sold. My bouncer has a sticker on it reminding me never to leave the baby unattended in it. Toddlers in walkers can fall down stairs if unattended. Bumper pads may be banned in the future (who knows) but for now parents need to make an informed decision.

tjmtjm

Mine came with our set (we only paid $50 for our crib set though..SALE!) 

They are on there right now because they are so gosh darn cute to look at.  I plan to take them out when LO comes and put them back in once the "soft bedding" risks are done with.  

That being said, I have lots of friends who used bumpers the whole time with no problems.  I think any danger is RARE...but I'm not going to chance it, which is why they are coming out.

The set also came with a quilt that we can't use in the beginning either.  Right now it just hangs on the crib for the cute factor.    But it will be removed when he comes too.  I figured I'd use it for tummy time or something.

CarrieB.

I got a breathable bumper, because I didn't want our baby to get her little arms and legs stuck in the slats of the crib.

https://www.breathablebaby.com/category/bumpers.html

wifeyvana

LO didn't sleep in his crib until 6 months and he would bang his head on his crib without he bumper. Breathable bumpers didn't help this so we ended up putting the bumper back in. We have the fan going in his room to increase airflow.

CrazyToast

We have NEVER used bumpers.  People must just think they complete the look, but they're not safe. I think about it this way - if you had bumpers of the equivalent height/thickness around YOUR sleeping area, how would you feel?   Many people still use them, and nothing happens.  I refuse to be the one who has something happen because we decided to use bumpers.

My mom bought us our crib set.  She knew I wouldn't use the bumpers, so she made a playmat out of them. 

DD is now almost 8 months old.  She has not hurt herself on her crib yet.

BTW - we almost got breathable bumpers, but they were simply so hideous I put them down after picking them up to purchase.  

babyonthebrain2010

we're going bumper free.  one less thing to spend money on IMO

tokenhoser

Because people are idiots that value cute cribs over infant safety.

nic5606

Check out Wonder bumpers. 

I bought them and they are really easy to use and appear safe for the baby. A bit pricey, but worth it IMO. Also, the sheets can be changed with out taking them off.

naflmj

DS slept in our room until 9 months, I felt at that point it was safe. There has never been a link between them and SIDS though many people mention it and don't feel comfortable using them. We also have a fan running in the room to maximize air flow.

Pookie's_Girl

tokenhoser:

Because people are idiots that value cute cribs over infant safety.

And some people are paranoid wackjobs who don't mind seeing their baby get his limbs stuck in the crib slats or bang his head good against the crib. But, to each their own I say.

Personally, I think their fine, if you plan on keeping a very close watch on your LO as they sleep. If not, then your probably going to want to take them out during the time when your LO is still in the early stages of self-movement to avoid the suffocation risk. And, you'll probably also want to ensure that a ceiling fan is in good, working order to run it as they sleep to help increase the airflow.

It's one of those things that does come with a risk. But, they do serve a purpose. And, as long as you make sure to take precautions against those risks, I see nothing wrong with having them in place.

They also have things like this to help give you peace of mind while baby slumbers:

https://www.monitormybaby.co.uk/products/Babysense-II-Baby-Movement-Monitor.html

I don't know if this specific one does, but I do know of other ones that come with an alarm system which goes off when it detects your baby has stopped breathing. So it wakes you up when you are sleeping so you can run and see what's wrong.

tokenhoser

https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/legislation/pol/bumper-bordure-eng.php

"The use of bumper pads may expose young children to the hazards of entanglement, entrapment, strangulation, and suffocation.

Accordingly, it is the position of Health Canada that bumper pads compromise the safety of children with negligible perceived benefits. Therefore, Health Canada recommends that the Canadian public discontinue the use of these products. "

I mean, or I could take the advice of Bumpies. Let me think about whose opinion I value more...

 

CrazyToast

tokenhoser:

https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/legislation/pol/bumper-bordure-eng.php

"The use of bumper pads may expose young children to the hazards of entanglement, entrapment, strangulation, and suffocation.

Accordingly, it is the position of Health Canada that bumper pads compromise the safety of children with negligible perceived benefits. Therefore, Health Canada recommends that the Canadian public discontinue the use of these products. "

I mean, or I could take the advice of Bumpies. Let me think about whose opinion I value more...

 

And anyone who is a foster parent to children in the US is not allowed to use bumpers either - because of the safety risk.  I know, my sister is a foster parent to a girl who almost DD's age.

barefoot barista

If you fall in love with a crib set w/ a bumper, repurpose the bumper.  There are lots of options on how this can be done.Here is one example: I'm doing it like this, but I'm putting it up higher, where it would usually go but on the outside.  This way I can still use the crib skirt:

I simply tied the bumper to the outside of the crib-it doesn't go all the way around, but the area that doesn't meet the other side will have the mobile. 

ermaderma

naflmj:

DS slept in our room until 9 months, I felt at that point it was safe. There has never been a link between them and SIDS though many people mention it and don't feel comfortable using them. We also have a fan running in the room to maximize air flow.

The issue is that they aren't just a SIDS risk. They have been the DIRECT cause of death in multiple instances of suffocation. The CPSC just now started an investigation into these deaths and there is a push to ban them in the US.