crib bumpers and sids question

ToyLes0922 · July 2009

I was doing research online and it pretty much sounds it would be safest to not have a bumper at all in the crib. Should I not have it on even through newborn stage since they don't move around? It's a really cute one that came with the bedding, but I don't have to have it if it risks the safety of my baby. I haven't really seen those "mesh" bumpers out there, but I don't think I'll get one if I'm feeling this unsure about it. Anyone else going to use a bumper/or not?

yale · July 2009

We're using a breathable bumper - they carry them at BRU.

jlb-4*18*18 · July 2009

I am going to use a bumper.

FirefightersBride · July 2009

i went with the "breathable bumper" it's mesh with a teeny bit of padding more than anything it will help LO from putting his/her hands and feet through the slats in the crib.

Breezer80 · July 2009

We're using ours. We went to an infant CPR & safety class at our hospital, and the woman teaching it - a registered RN - said it really wasn't that much of a risk, just make sure that the strings are tied very tightly & cut short.

AshNicole331 · July 2009

We're using the bumper just in the beginning...it's coming out once she begins rolling around and such.

abrix96 · July 2009

i'm using a bumper

HazelLOVE · July 2009

We are leaving the bumper off for the first few months...then when he can roll over and lift his head we are going to put it back in to prevent any head bumping or limbs through the bars.

ShawnaDanielle · July 2009

Not using ours, we got a breathable bumper instead. Yeah, it's sad because the bumper that came with our set is adorable....but not worth the risk.

janice74 · July 2009

I decided to use the bumper for now, but:

1. baby will mostly be sleeping in his co-sleeper at first

2. we have a ceiling fan for air circulation

3. we keep the house cool.

?

stormie09 · July 2009

I am skipping the bumper in the beginning. Once baby starts to move around crib and gets stuck, then I will probably do the breathable one.

PuppyMommy · July 2009

From what I've learned, another concern of the bumper is that it prevents air flow. I know several people have used fans to promote air circulation. I wasn't going to use one, but then I found a brand new, still in box breathable one (the mesh one) at my Goodwill, so I am using it. I paid $4 and BRU has the exact one for $34...SCORE!

The debate is so up in the air. I have heard from doctors who said they think bumpers are fine and then others say no way. I just didn't want to risk it. I know they are cute, but not that cute. Our breathable one actually looks pretty cute in his crib.

MrsBeckO · July 2009

We will be using the bumper that comes with our bedding.?

We read the research, we talked to our doctor, and with other precautions we are taking (baby sleeping in our room the first few months and being able to roll over before sleeping in the crib, keeping a fan on in the baby's room to help with air circulation, etc), we decided we will go ahead and use the bumper.

There are a few alternatives though, if you are worried about the traditional bumpers - there are the Cozy Wedge bumpers, breathable mesh bumpers, and "Wonder Bumpers" sold at gomamagodesigns.com that go around each individual crib slat. ?

twirlerbride · July 2009

I just really don't feel comfortable putting one on. We purposely went all over looking at cribs to find one with very small slats so that the baby can't get their arms or legs through them. DH wanted a bumper and his family is surprised that I don't want one, but like I said I would be really uncomfortable knowing it was on there.

If you really like your bumper, I saw someone on here had a really cute idea. She used her bumper as a valance for her windows. She just got a metal rod to go across the top of the window and then used the ties on the bumper to attach it to the rod. It looked really cute and pulled the theme of the bedding into the rest of the room pretty well. I am thinking of doing this.

MrsWanee · July 2009

i'm using one.

AggieDee · July 2009

We used one with DS and plan on using one with DD. For DS, we took it out for a couple of months right after he learned to roll over but was not proficient yet. Once he became an expert, I put the bumper back in.

LeelaH · July 2009

We have used the regular bumper in my daughter's crib since day one and it is still in there. We will do the same with this baby. She even sleeps with her face plastered up against it some nights. I agree with the pp that said the RN didn't see that great of a risk. But with anything, you have to do what YOU are comfortable with. Part of the reason I don't worry about it is because we have an AngelCare monitor, but even without that I wouldn't worry about it.

MrsPreK · July 2009

jlb-4*18*18:
I am going to use a bumper.

This.

margeincharge2 · July 2009

I didn't read all the threads to see if someone posted this yet or not. But, even though your baby won't be able to move around right away, I've read that bumpers can still play a role in causing sids. Researchers think it has something to do with the decreased air flow into the crib caused by the bumpers. It's another reason why they suggest having a fan in the room to keep air circulating.

I will not be using a bumper at all when he's too young to move around. I'm not sure about the mesh bumpers and I don't think there have been many guidelines out on them yet. I figure when we get to the stage where he starts moving around, we'll consider the mesh ones, but even at that, I'm not certain.

afg · July 2009

The danger is with the restriction of air flow, not so much them getting their faces smushed in the bumper.

I am using a breathable one (with a regular bumper at the two short ends)

ToyLes0922 · July 2009

Thank you everyone for your responses. I think I'll either 1, use it as a valance, very cute idea since we don't have one for the room yet. Or 2, use it till he can roll over and then switch to a mesh one. I will talk to my doctor about it as well. Thanks everyone!

penguingrrl · July 2009

We used one for our daughter and plan to reuse it for DD2.

CalinsBride · July 2009

We dont have one yet. The baby will be in the bassinet at first. When we do set up the crib, we'll probably get a mesh one. We definitelywill not be using one that could harm the baby.

NKufferman · July 2009

I don't think they sell bad bumpes anymore.

hparrott · July 2009

I'm using a regular bumper that came with the bedding set.

rebus82 · July 2009

We're using a breathable bumper that we got from BRU. I just don't consider my son's life worth risking over a cute accessory.?

vhortde · July 2009

breathable bumper for sure.

mediadiva · July 2009

I eventually got DD a breathable bumper. Once the baby was able to roll around in the criba nd might get into a corner where the oxygen could get weird. If a baby SUFFOCATES in a bumper it is not sids, it is suffucation which is an issue once they can crawl/roll. When DD was in the basinette I didn't think the crib bumper was any worse/better but I think around 2 months I got the breathable bumper from BRU, because their legs get stuck otherwise and wakes them up.

calex33 · July 2009

After going through an Infant Safety/CPR course at our hospital that was taught by an RN, we will not be using the bumper that came with our bedding. ?Among other things, we were told the story of a nurse at our hospital who lost her infant son because he had moved himself against the bumper and suffocated. ?This was enough for DH and I to make the decision not to use our bumper. ?We also have chosen not to use it because, as a child gets older, the bumper can become a way for the child to crawl over the edge of the crib even when the mattress is put at the lowest level. ?Instead, we have decided to go with a breathable bumper. ?It seems to be a good alternative to a typical bumper. ??

jason&robin · July 2009

With DS, we used bumpers until he started showing signs that he was going to roll over. Then we removed them. Once he could roll both ways with ease and was getting his arm stuck between the rails, we put the bumper back in. He really likes to put his head against it now and can't really sleep without it. I had to clean them one day and it took a few days to complete air dry and he had the hardest time falling asleep.

We have a bumper for DD. We will do the same as we did with DS. Once she starts moving a bit more(scooting towards the side or rolling over), we will remove them until she is able to move freely about the crib. She has a ceiling fan in her room for circulation.

mrsblt · July 2009

Breezer80:
We're using ours. We went to an infant CPR & safety class at our hospital, and the woman teaching it - a registered RN - said it really wasn't that much of a risk, just make sure that the strings are tied very tightly & cut short.

That sounds like what I have been hearing. We plan to use ours.

cass_e · July 2009

yale:
We're using a breathable bumper - they carry them at BRU.

We're using a breathable bumper too. We ordered ours online from Target.

KristensMom314 · July 2009

DD did fine with a regular bumper, although it was a pain in the butt to change the sheets around the thing. I don't think I put it on until she was a couple of months old, because, you're right--she didn't move around much anyway. If you're not comfortable with it, then don't use them. I don't really think they make much of a difference, personally; they're just cute.

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