bumpers question...

NineTwentyOhEight

so my SIL had her baby shower on Sat and got the full Pottery Barn bedding set - crib skirt, sheets, quilt, and bumpers. As I was helping move gifts around I said to her sister "I thought you weren't supposed to use bumpers" and her sister said "You're not, but we all do anyway".

Is that true? I have a few friends with newborns and none of them use bumpers. I feel like cute as they may be it is not worth the SIDS risk. If we need bumpers, I figure I will get the breathable ones.

I'm sure this is a common topic here...

BabyBLove

Yup, very common topic.  Generally, yes, the consensus is that bumpers just aren't safe and shouldn't be used.  But, you'll find many 2nd time mom's, or even 1st time, that feel as though they're not a risk.  Many have used them, with no problems.  If you do all your research, you should decide for yourself what works best.  We won't be using them, but I am looking into getting the breathable kind.

ermaderma

Many people still use them, but I wouldn't. First, they are not just a SIDS risk - they are a suffocation risk and it has recently come out that they have directly caused the death of multiple babies and there is a push to ban them.

I don't think many people realize this and don't know the full risks.

Here is some info:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-crib-bumpers-deaths-watchdog-20110329,0,4220865.story

https://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-crib-bumper-react-20101221,0,4018419.story

https://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-bumpers-20101212,0,3414552.story

https://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-bumpers-update-20110108,0,3176775.story

 

snansley

BabyBLove:

Yup, very common topic.  Generally, yes, the consensus is that bumpers just aren't safe and shouldn't be used.  But, you'll find many 2nd time mom's, or even 1st time, that feel as though they're not a risk.  Many have used them, with no problems.  If you do all your research, you should decide for yourself what works best.  We won't be using them, but I am looking into getting the breathable kind.

This pretty accurately sums it up.  You will also find that your view may change as baby gets older and can move around.  Self included, I know of several moms that switched from breathable to regular once the child was 6+ months.  It just depends on your child and your comfort level. Which pretty much describes a lot of parenting choices.

PunkyBooster

No bumpers here. DS has a PBK set and the bumper is still in his closet. i'm going to keep it for when I sell the set after we have #2.

darmca

NineTwentyOhEight:

so my SIL had her baby shower on Sat and got the full Pottery Barn bedding set - crib skirt, sheets, quilt, and bumpers. As I was helping move gifts around I said to her sister "I thought you weren't supposed to use bumpers" and her sister said "You're not, but we all do anyway".

Is that true? I have a few friends with newborns and none of them use bumpers. I feel like cute as they may be it is not worth the SIDS risk. If we need bumpers, I figure I will get the breathable ones.

I'm sure this is a common topic here...

So to summarize, "Yeah it could kill my baby, but who cares they're cute". Yeah, there are some people with that attitude. I can't even attempt to figure out why.

LittleApple

BabyBLove:

Yup, very common topic.  Generally, yes, the consensus is that bumpers just aren't safe and shouldn't be used.  But, you'll find many 2nd time mom's, or even 1st time, that feel as though they're not a risk.  Many have used them, with no problems.  If you do all your research, you should decide for yourself what works best.  We won't be using them, but I am looking into getting the breathable kind.

This.  I used the PBK bumper with DD1 and will do the same with DD2 once she transitions into her crib next week.  The PBK bumpers are thinner than other ones.  I check the straps each week when I change the sheets.

MrsChelseaP09

Bumpers are safe, if used properly. Like PP said, you have to make sure to use thin/stiff bumpers, check regularly that they are properly installed and use a mattress that fits your crib properly.If bumpers are properly installed they pose no more suffocation risk that the mattress and sheet. 

The stories you hear of kids suffocating are from bumpers that are overstuffed or improperly installed. There is no way my LO could get her face "wedged" in the bumper we are using. 

We are using bumpers but our LO only currently naps in her crib during the day and sleeps in the PNP next to our bed at night. I am not using the bumpers because they are cute, I am using them because it will keep my child from getting injured by slamming into the rails while rolling around. They are called "bumpers" for a reason.

morganaday

if there is a chance of them increasing the risk of SIDS...why use them?  We are getting a breathable bumper just so arms and legs don't get stuck!

missduvy

Babies can't move around...at all...for the first few months.  So the risk of them getting up against the bumper and suffocating is pretty slim.  I used pretty thick bumpers in my crib until my daughter got big enough to use them as a stepping stone to climb out of the crib.  No problems.  Am using the same thing for my next baby, due in a few months.  Some people just get scared of every little thing they hear...I don't personally see the danger.

naflmj

They aren't a proven SIDS risk, the issue is the ventilation and we always have the fan on. DS didn't sleep in his crib until 9 months so by the time he went in, I was confident he could roll and not suffocate in the bumpers. I think everyone has their own comfort level.

krissy_messenger

I agree that it's definately a personal preferance. Just another deicsion that parents make together based on what they feel is best for their child. I live in Canada and came across a study recently talking about how having a ceiling fan in the nursery can significantly reduce the risk of SIDS because BP can reduce the air flow in and out of the crib (aside from the siffucation risk). I did buy a PBK set ("penelope"- love it!!) with the BP and do plan to use them at some point. Not sure if I've shead any insight on this issue..just sharing my personal experience.

ermaderma

MrsChelseaP09:

Bumpers are safe, if used properly. Like PP said, you have to make sure to use thin/stiff bumpers, check regularly that they are properly installed and use a mattress that fits your crib properly.If bumpers are properly installed they pose no more suffocation risk that the mattress and sheet. 

The stories you hear of kids suffocating are from bumpers that are overstuffed or improperly installed. There is no way my LO could get her face "wedged" in the bumper we are using. 

We are using bumpers but our LO only currently naps in her crib during the day and sleeps in the PNP next to our bed at night. I am not using the bumpers because they are cute, I am using them because it will keep my child from getting injured by slamming into the rails while rolling around. They are called "bumpers" for a reason.

See, that's the thing. They aren't safe even when used properly. I know many people don't know the risk. A lot of information just came out int he past month or so about them being a suffocation risk. The CPSC didn't even investigate them until now and I think there is a legitimate reason why there are officials calling for them to be banned.

And I really don't think babies move around at such a force to be "slamming" into the rails.

snansley

ermaderma:

See, that's the thing. They aren't safe even when used properly. I know many people don't know the risk. A lot of information just came out int he past month or so about them being a suffocation risk. The CPSC didn't even investigate them until now and I think there is a legitimate reason why there are officials calling for them to be banned.

And I really don't think babies move around at such a force to be "slamming" into the rails.

You will be suprised at how hard your child will bump into things.  DS has had bruises on his forehead from pitching forward while sitting on the floor or in his crib.  Not falling from a great height.

And also, a lot of these studies are based on a relatively small amount of incidents.  I am not discounting the tragedies here, but it sounds a lot more alarming to say there have been 20 deaths in the past 10 years or whatever than to say out of hundreds of thousands of sleeping kids, there have been this number of incidents.  There has been concern about suffocation for many things in cribs for quite some time.  Each parent has to make a choice about what amount of risk is acceptable.

rose1883

I'm a FTM, but for me- we're not using them.  There's a safety risk to your child posed- period.  Why would you risk it?  I registered for the whole set bc it was cheaper to buy it that way than individual piece by piece and am turning the bumpers into valences for the windows.

TulipsAndChampagne

We have used them since day one. There is always a fan on in her room. I did a lot of research about SIDS prior to making my decision. My DD creeps up in her crib until her head is jammed up in the corner. No matter how many times I move her, she does it over and over and over again. I was the same way as a baby. I also started letting her tummy sleep at 3 months.

It is all about researching the risks, and making an educated decision that suites your family's needs, goals and desires. For us, bumpers and tummy sleeping were part of that equation.

To put it in perspective, more babies die in car crashes per year than in SIDS related situations...not all babies ride in a car everyday, but all babies sleep. So...does that mean you should not drive your baby in a car because the risk is too great?