1,768th question about crib bumpers

Hope2Have · October 2011

I know there are tons of conversations about bumpers, but mine is this... I know that everyone says they increase the risk of SIDS, but my question is this. I've also read that the risk of SIDS goes down when they become mobile and can move around and roll over in the crib, so by the time they can get to the bumper it's already lessened, right?

Hadley currently has a bumper in her crib (that came with the set) but it's very very tight (had a hard time getting it tied on) and she can't roll yet, and sleeps in a Woombie so she is pretty immobile in her crib still yet, so I haven't worried too much about it just yet. By the time she is rolling (hasn't showed any interest in doing so yet, so figure it might be a while) over won't her chances of getting her face into it be much lower?

Trishd · October 2011

I can't answer as far as statistics go but I will tell you this.....I used a regular bumper for my daughter (who is now 5) because she rolled around like crazy in her crib and we could hear her bang against the crib. The bumper helped her not hurt herself that way.

We have a breathable bumper for son. We do not have him in the crib yet but if he's a restless sleeper I'm not sure if it will be enough to protect him from slamming into the side.

I know they are not reccomended but I think it's something you are going to have to decide on your own.

katie4253 · October 2011

AAP says no bumpers at all (not even breathable ones).

It reduces the airflow in cribs in addition to the other risks you've outlines. Not worth it to me.

2BlackCats · October 2011

Abby rolls over and sleeps with her face up against the side of the crib with her butt up in the air. She has been sleeping like this since she was 4 mos old. We guess she likes the "security" of sleeping that way.

The second she started to roll, the layette bumper came out of the crib and the breathable bumper went on. I don't always feel comfortable with the breathable one, sometimes she smushes it down and it bunches up.

I took the bumper out not because of SIDS but because I didn't want her to suffocate. Remember, SIDS is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and means the they don't have a cause of death. A baby who suffocates because of their crib bumper didn't die from SIDS.

Wundervoll · October 2011

2BlackCats:
I took the bumper out not because of SIDS but because I didn't want her to suffocate. Remember, SIDS is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and means the they don't have a cause of death. A baby who suffocates because of their crib bumper didn't die from SIDS.

This.

We have regular bumpers in our daughter's crib, but since we bedshare, it's kind of a moot point for us right now.

I think it can depend on what kind of sleeper your LO is. Our daughter is rolling, but stays in place when she sleeps. Occasionally she naps in her crib, and I keep the bumpers on, but when she does begin to move around/we transition her to her crib full-time then we'll cross that bridge when it happens.

kacelle · October 2011

It isn't just a suffocation risk. It reduces airflow into the crib. Some researchers believe that some SIDS cases may be caused by carbon dioxide rebreathing, which would be made worse by restricting airflow.

hepcats · October 2011

This should be Thursday so I can UO....While I fully respect anyone's opinion as to what their thoughts are on the matter and what they do for their LO, the idea that a 6 inch high piece of material around an open air container can decrease airflow enough to cause SIDS seems implausible. If that's the case, then how can those plastic crates we put our pets in (some of us all day or all night while we're at work or asleep) be safe for them? It provides far less airflow to the pet than does an open air crib with a bumper. It just doesn't make sense logically. So, to answer your question, I agree that if she can roll around, then she can likely move away from the bumper when necessary.

katie4253 · October 2011

hepcats:
This should be Thursday so I can UO....While I fully respect anyone's opinion as to what their thoughts are on the matter and what they do for their LO, the idea that a 6 inch high piece of material around an open air container can decrease airflow enough to cause SIDS seems implausible. If that's the case, then how can those plastic crates we put our pets in (some of us all day or all night while we're at work or asleep) be safe for them? It provides far less airflow to the pet than does an open air crib with a bumper. It just doesn't make sense logically. So, to answer your question, I agree that if she can roll around, then she can likely move away from the bumper when necessary.

I'm confused. Are you comparing an infants immature respiratory system and circulatory system to a pet (totally different species and develop faster than infant humans)?

bonitatinabina143 · October 2011

My daughter moves like crazy in her sleep. She turns 180 degrees every night. Or she will smush her face against the crib rails. I didn't feel comfortable with the regular bumpers. We do have breathable ones though because before she liked to stick her hands and arms through the crib rails and wake herself up.

hepcats · October 2011

katie4253:
hepcats:
This should be Thursday so I can UO....While I fully respect anyone's opinion as to what their thoughts are on the matter and what they do for their LO, the idea that a 6 inch high piece of material around an open air container can decrease airflow enough to cause SIDS seems implausible. If that's the case, then how can those plastic crates we put our pets in (some of us all day or all night while we're at work or asleep) be safe for them? It provides far less airflow to the pet than does an open air crib with a bumper. It just doesn't make sense logically. So, to answer your question, I agree that if she can roll around, then she can likely move away from the bumper when necessary.
I'm confused. Are you comparing an infants immature respiratory system and circulatory system to a pet (totally different species and develop faster than infant humans)?

Well, gosh, when you put it that way, it sounds like a terrible comparison! lol I guess, on some level, I am. As far as I know, an infant pet could safely be placed in one of those. All I'm saying is that something that is akin to laying a baby down on the ground in terms of it's open air qualities shouldn't be adversely impacted by a 6 inch border around it. In fact, many cosleepers have borders around them and I don't believe I've heard of anyone having a concern with those impacting airflow, but I could be mistaken?

katie4253 · October 2011

hepcats:
katie4253:
hepcats:
This should be Thursday so I can UO....While I fully respect anyone's opinion as to what their thoughts are on the matter and what they do for their LO, the idea that a 6 inch high piece of material around an open air container can decrease airflow enough to cause SIDS seems implausible. If that's the case, then how can those plastic crates we put our pets in (some of us all day or all night while we're at work or asleep) be safe for them? It provides far less airflow to the pet than does an open air crib with a bumper. It just doesn't make sense logically. So, to answer your question, I agree that if she can roll around, then she can likely move away from the bumper when necessary.
I'm confused. Are you comparing an infants immature respiratory system and circulatory system to a pet (totally different species and develop faster than infant humans)?
Well, gosh, when you put it that way, it sounds like a terrible comparison! lol I guess, on some level, I am. As far as I know, an infant pet could safely be placed in one of those. All I'm saying is that something that is akin to laying a baby down on the ground in terms of it's open air qualities shouldn't be adversely impacted by a 6 inch border around it. In fact, many cosleepers have borders around them and I don't believe I've heard of anyone having a concern with those impacting airflow, but I could be mistaken?

I understand where you are coming from. I just wouldn't compare a dog to a baby with regards to it. A 1 year old dog is equivalent to a 10 year old human with regards to development. So, when they come home and are in a crate, they are developed enough to handle it.

I think the cosleeper thing is different because the baby is in the parents room (also shown to reduce sids).

The correlation between bumpers and SIDS is enough for me to not use them. They've even been made illegal in some places (Chicago banned the sale of them).

People do get confused about SIDS though. Bumpers pose a sids risk, strangulation risk, and a suffocation risk. SIDS due to reduced airflow (co2 builds up, is their guess right now) and suffocation from smashing their faces against them (padded). Strangulation is why they are now recommending no breathable bumpers in addition to the padded bumpers.

But, strangulation and suffocation ? sids.

hepcats · October 2011

Fair enough!

LienLa · October 2011

What my prenatal nurse told us was they don't recommend bumpers period but if your are going to use them, they say it's a no no when the baby is newborn - consistent rolling stage because if the baby accidentally rolled into it they won't be able to get away which is the biggest time frame for suffocation risk. From consistent rolling stage - when they can push up themselves or sit themselves is more acceptable because if they roll into it the have the capability to roll away as well. But once the can push up on their own or sit it's back to no because they can use the bumper to get themselves up and possibly flip out from the crib. So the actual time line the can use bumpers is like a month maybe 2. What she told me stuck with me so we don't choose to use bumpers but she said "better a bruise in the morning than a dead baby".

IrishEyes0530 · October 2011

I agree with hepcats, I don't really see how it can restrict airfllow. We do use them and it isn't something I'm worried about. If DS manages to even get to the bumper, he can get himself away. He doesn't move in his sleep aside from his arms and turning his head. It's a decision only you can make and no matter what you decide, someone will argue with you.

sunshine336 · October 2011

If a bumper around a crib restricts air flow, how is the bassinet I was using safe? It was solid and padded and was much smaller so I would think the air would be staler. I'm not trying to be snarky- I just don't get it. Maybe I need a physics lesson in air flow.

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