Bumper pads vs drop side cribs

digwriter

I've been wondering about something for the last little while. If bumper pads are really as dangerous as everyone seems to believe these days, why are they still a part of every single crib bedding package on the market. Now, before everyone point to the almighty dollar, I'd like to point to drop side cribs. The moment these cribs were declared dangerous (or soon after anyway), they were ripped from the shelves, never to be heard from again. The same goes for walkers (at least in Canada. I don't know if they're still legal in The US).

So of course that brings me back to bumper pads. Are they actually dangerous? Is the jury still out? Is this just a hysterical brouhaha stirred up by legions of helicopter moms? Mind you, up until a few years ago, generations of parents used both bumper pads and drop side cribs without incident.

Personally, I probably won't go with  bumper pads, just in case. Although I can't help wondering about them.

Kristinmo

I think its like anything else, the people against drop-sided cribs were louder andp ushed harder to get rid of them.

I personally took the bumper out the day we brought DS home from the hospital.  We did use a breathable bumper once he started rolling.

waltzingmatilda13

The push is already on to get them banned and so far Chicago has banned their sale any where in the city. I think people are just starting to realize that they are really dangerous and it's only a matter of time. 

Drop side cribs weren't totally banned until a while after kids started getting injured and dying, too.  

lulling

I am not sure about the bumpers.  We found a cute bedding set for a boy.  And it comes with bumpers.  I kind of think they are an "on again, off again" issue.  You put them on (to take a picture of your nursery.)  You take them off (when the baby comes home.)  You put them on again (when the baby is old enough to thrash around a bonk the wee head.)  You take them off again (when the baby is strong enough to pull itself up and pull things down?)

I have a feeling we will put them on (for the picture), take them off (when baby comes home) and that will be the end of the story.  That, I am sure, will be the last thing I am worried about remembering to do.  I will hope that I remember to brush my teeth.

I did notice though that when we went to our local children's resale shop the bedding sets are sold without bumpers.  That means either the shop pitched them or the parent pitched them and then sold the set to the shop.  I don't know which. 

bootsnbananas

I am all for the safety of our children and would never do anything to put my babies in harms way (we do not have a bumper and my boyfriend bolted the side of the crib in the place) but are infant deaths that much higher now then when we were kids??  Is it just that we have become such safety freaks that we have to have things banned?? Do people just not know how to safely use a product??

I am being totally serious and not trying to start a fight or drama (like I said I don't have the contraband items in my house) but my older kids safely used a bumper and had a drop side crib so why all of the sudden are they dangerous and outlawed 

jajsundevil

It's funny you ask this today.  Last night I was looking at nursery stuff and I asked DH (he's a family med dr) this exact question as all the bedding I saw had bumpers but I thought they were a no-no for little ones.  He wasn't sure and was going to run it by the child development specialist in the office to see what she knows on the current recommendations.  Sooo, if you like when I hear back I can let you know what I find out.

countrygrl5533

One of my friends has safely used a drop side crib and bumpers and her baby will be 2 next month.

I'm never overly convinced about those types of things. I mean, how many times have they changed what the "proper" way to lay a baby down is? Stomach or back, stomach or back.....

Lisichka

waltzingmatilda13:

The push is already on to get them banned and so far Chicago has banned their sale any where in the city. I think people are just starting to realize that they are really dangerous and it's only a matter of time. 

Drop side cribs weren't totally banned until a while after kids started getting injured and dying, too.  

This exactly. I think the process of getting them off the shelves has started, though slowly. FWIW, we used both a drop-side crib and a bumper with DD (the crib was a hand-me-down and wasn't recalled when we just got it). We had to give that crib back and got a non-drop side and will be using it for babe #2. I am not planning on using her bumper  for the baby, but will probably buy a breathable bumper.

vanillacourage

Drop-sided cribs weren't banned "the minute" they were found to be dangerous.  Evidence has been being gathered for a decade+.  It's a long process to significantly change the free market.

Irisheyes1247

We got a breathable bumper but she still managed to wiggle her arms or legs out of tue slats, because I occasionally find her sleeping that way. I really don't expect her to rocket across the side of the crib w enough force so that she would hurt herself if the bumper wasn't there but if it was she wouldnt. We ended up taking our breathable one off and she does just fine. I dont find it to be a necessary piece of bedding but I don't know if it is as dangerous as it is hyped to be. When she was little enough, she couldn't even move from one side to the other, let alone into the bumper.

lawright

Drop-side cribs were a specific choking/strangulation hazard.  Thus they got recalled (just like looped venetian blinds, and draw-string baby clothes.)  Bumpers are believed to increase the risk of SIDS.

From a legality standpoint, the difference is that you can definitely prove a particular baby's death was caused by the structural flaw imposed by modern drop-side cribs.  You can't definitively prove that a particular case of SIDS was caused by a crib bumper.  Thus, you can successfully sue and win a case against the crib manufacturer but not the crib bumper manufacturer.  Thus, the cribs get recalled and the bumpers don't.

SCSmithbride

bootsnbananas:

I am all for the safety of our children and would never do anything to put my babies in harms way (we do not have a bumper and my boyfriend bolted the side of the crib in the place) but are infant deaths that much higher now then when we were kids??  Is it just that we have become such safety freaks that we have to have things banned?? Do people just not know how to safely use a product??

I am being totally serious and not trying to start a fight or drama (like I said I don't have the contraband items in my house) but my older kids safely used a bumper and had a drop side crib so why all of the sudden are they dangerous and outlawed 

This!  DD#1(2005) was given a dropside 3-1 convertible crib that I used bumpers on until I think she as around 6-9 months and removed them when she started using them to get a foot up and out of the crib.  (also lowered the mattress at that point)  DD#2(2010) the bumpers were already an issue and I looked at the breathable ones, but thinking back to DD#1 I stuck with the ones I already had.  In the midst of DD#2 still being little the dropsides were outlawed and they told everyone with one to kick it to the curb.  Seeing what they saw to be the issue and knowing my particular bed and my kids I let it slide.  

We are currently on #3 and that crib is still in our house.  DD#2 is addicted to beds so she sleeps in the twin with her sister.  I still have the bumpers from DD#1, but changing bed sets all together this go round regardless.  However outside of turning the dropside around to the wall I don't plan on pushing for a new one especially if all goes well this looks to be our last so we won't need one any more period.  

jkjohnsonwedding

I'm glad someone posted about this. I plan to purchase the crib sheet, comforter, and crib skirt from a place like PBK that sells items separately. On amazon, you can find breathable bumpers in a variety of colors (pink, white, blue). I'd rather be safe than sorry.