No Bumpers??

BunintheOven311 · February 2011

I heard from the March board that bumpers can cause SIDS...anyone hears this and aren't using bumpers on the crib because of this?

BillysGrl27 · February 2011

I saw this in one of the many email updates I get. I think the article I read was linked from the American Academy of Pediatrics. But all the girls I work with, who have young children (2 and under) said they used bumpers. Thanks for bringing this up because I would love a concrete answer too!

rebeccalwhite · February 2011

I personally used bumpers with Ella from the beginning. When she was little little she never really moved once she was asleep and now that she's a little older she can easily readjust herself. In fact, when she sleeps at grandma's house in a crib with no bumpers her arms or legs get stuck because she moves all over the place! But thats just us....

Matildasun · February 2011

I didn't buy a bedding set, because I heard bumpers were dangerous. I just bought a couple of crib sheets that matched the colors in her room. Someone here posted a good article about the dangers of bumpers a few months ago. I believe they are a suffocation risk.

BillysGrl27 · February 2011

Are the breathable bumpers okay to use? Anyone have experience with these?

ThePastor'sWife · February 2011

matildasun:
I didn't buy a bedding set, because I heard bumpers were dangerous. I just bought a couple of crib sheets that matched the colors in her room. Someone here posted a good article about the dangers of bumpers a few months ago. I believe they are a suffocation risk.

This, exactly - a crib set would have been a huge waste of money, b/c we weren't comfortable using the bumpers, knew we wouldn't use a comforter, and the crib skirt would have only been visible while the mattress was on the highest setting, b/c of the style of DS's crib. So we would have essentially been paying $100+ for a crib sheet. No thanks. We opted for some accessories from a bedding line (wall art, hamper, etc.) and then got matching sheets and a breathable bumper. My grandmother also had a full set of blankets/changing pad cover/taggie blanket custom-made to match the polka dots that were on the wall art/hamper, which we use all the time and coordinate well w/his nursery decor.

I'm probably a bit neurotic about things, but I don't allow anything in DS's crib w/him - no blankets, stuffed toys, etc. He has no need for them, anyway. I don't quite understand why the idea of putting fluffy, thick bumpers in a crib seems like a good idea to some... obviously, it's not such a big deal when they're not mobile in their cribs, but as soon as DS started rolling, he was all over his crib, and still is now - he goes top to bottom, side to side, all night long. We've absolutely found him w/his face pressed up against the sides before b/c of how much he moves, no matter what we do to stop him.

We've always had breathable bumpers in the crib, and we love them and highly recommend them to any new parents. DH also regularly sends out the link to the Sun article to parents-to-be.

Anyway, here's the link to the post we had on this topic a few months ago, based off of a Sun article that ran at the same time (linky to the Sun article is also in the post and definitely worth a read):

https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/46514165.aspx

weezie825 · February 2011

You'll find that there are a lot of opinions on this topic. It is very similar to the whole "drop side crib" debate... For what it is worth several groups have asked that the Consumer Product Safety Commision ban bumpers in cribs. They have not done so, because the bedding manufacturers are fighting it. Like Pastor's Wife said, there wouldn't be much point in buying a bedding set if ll you got was a sheet.

We are NOT using any type of bumpers. Partially it was ideological. But also, the crib we have has a solid headboard. So even if we wanted to use one, there would be no way to attach it!

Megcheer2 · February 2011

Everything I've read has several cons to crib bumpers and very, very few pros. The only pro I can think of off the top of my head is that parents like the way they look.

Babies don't care how they look, frankly, and I was not willing to take any risk with my child's life just so her crib could look cute.

We didn't waste money on a bedding set either. We just bought crib sheets and we do have a breathable bumper so her arms and legs don't get stuck in the crib slots.

Here's an article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-101211-crib-bumpers-pictures,0,6837833.photogallery

jenbrian · February 2011

I used bumpers with my son...but this time around with DD I decided against it. I felt way too uneasy about it. My SIL uses the breathable bumper...she seems to be fine with it.

jcsntms06 · February 2011

The NICU stressed to us no bumpers, blankets, toys in the baby's crib. Make sure baby sleep on her or his back. I would not use bumpers at all, but that's just me. I was really scared, always went in to check up on her, etc.

kelleymark82606 · February 2011

I didn't use a bumper because I found it to be a waste and they do suggest to not use them. I didn't buy a bedding set bc the only useful thing is the sheets.

I also think you're more cautious with your first child bc you're new at it. I'm fairly laid back about a lot, but there are things I still am more cautious about and then there are things I give the side eye too.

mrs. remy · February 2011

They are not recommended. They are a suffocation risk. I did not use bumpers at first. Why take even the slightest risk, just so you can have a cutesy coordinated nursery? No thank you. When he started rolling around, I put a breatheable bumper in his crib. Its made of a mesh type material. That worked really well for us and I will do the same for baby #2 when the time comes.

salc21 · February 2011

We aren't using bumpers, but I did buy a bedding set because I wanted to coordinate the room. We are actually using everything in the set, just in different ways. Ours came with a diaper stacker which we have hung, a window valance which is up and then we're using the bumpers as a cute wall boarder decor and then quilt is draped over the glider until he is big enough to use it. Smile

KathrynMD · February 2011

We used the breathable bumpers, but that was more to avoid binkies or teddies falling out of the crib overnight!

When DD was very young and immobile, the bumpers were unnecessary and after she got mobile, she maybe got a leg stuck once in the crib slats and I had to come rescue her. After that - she either never got stuck again or fixed the problem herself.

We did buy a whole bedding set and its lovely - w/ the bedskirt and bumper folded and sitting in the closet and the comforter hanging over DD's crib. Silly waste of money in retrospect.

ShandaB · February 2011

Yes, it's been a big deal on the baby boards for at least the last year (that I know of). I'm still going to use the bumper until the baby is old enough to roll over then I'll switch to a breathable bumper.

bradyg927 · February 2011

I have a Breathable Bumper I plan on using.

cbaummer2be · February 2011

I used bumpers with my first two children and had no problem. We decided to not use bumpers in the twins' cribs after do some research. The company (Restoration Hardware) where I bought their bedding allows you to buy things a la carte so no big issue for us.

Mella&T · February 2011

We will be using a plain white breathable bumper...I am not taking the risk (no matter how large or small) on a standard bumper...plus the one that "goes" with our bedding was insanely expensive. We bought our crib bedding from babybedding.com which allows you to buy the pieces separately and also buy the coordinating fabric. I am going to make ties from the crib sheet fabric and attach to add a little color to the plain white bumper. That's the plan anyway...if it doesn't get done I don't care and only want a safe crib for LO.

jnealet · February 2011

I used them with EC but I also put EC on her tummy to sleep at 7 weeks, so I'm not the world's best role model.

daisyterp · February 2011

Our bumper is folded in the bottom of our nursery closet unused after 3 years. Like PPs I didn't think it was worth the risk.

Also something not mentioned is that when babies start moving around you don't know when they will start pulling up- I used the bumper and some stuffed animals to climb out of my crib at 15 months and broke my collar bone. I was that baby...

autumn bliss · February 2011

Another breathable bumper vote here.

daisyterp · February 2011

I saw someone post that they were going to use the bumper until the baby is rolling over- the issue w/ SIDS is not suffocation from the baby going face first into the bumper- that does not constitute a SIDS death, it would be classified as a suffocation death.

The issues w/ the bumpers is that they trap carbon dioxide in the crib- that is the SIDS risk. If the bumper is in place airflow is impeded to the area where the baby is sleeping.

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