Why is bassinet safe, but bumper not?

dana1318a · October 2011

I was planning to use a bassinet in our room for the first few months, and I'm confused as to how it can be considered safe if bumpers aren't. There is a fabric covering that seems to me exactly the same as a bumper (baby could roll against and suffocate, or could add to build up of CO2, which as far as I know are the two reasons crib bumpers are a SIDS risk factor - please correct me if I'm wrong though). The space is obviously smaller than a crib, so I imagine the risk for built up CO2 would be greater.

The RN who taught my childbirth class said that babies rooming in are at a decreased risk for SIDS because their breathing and heart rate will mimic ours (I had no idea about this, I thought it only reduced the risk because if something were to happen, we'd be right there. But she pointed out that if baby stopped breathing while we were sleeping, it's not like we would hear it...) So do they maybe think the reduced risk from sleeping in parents room sort of overrides the increased risk from the fabric cover?? I know it sounds crazy to look at it that way, but I just can't figure out the reasoning for why it would be considered safe when bumpers aren't!

DH and I were thinking we'll just remove the entire fabric cover just in case, but I was just wondering if anyone has any info on this?

vwatson83 · October 2011

Great question. I'm curious to hear what others think...

LaurenSweat · October 2011

I have heard that padded bassinets are not safe either. Anything that doesn't have open airflow is considered a risk--- this includes some bassinets and some newborn sleepers for pack n plays as well.

cecilyandgautam · October 2011

What about the Arm's Reach co-sleeper? It looks breathable in the pictures but I also wonder, if we're being to particular to not put anything in the crib other than a fitted sheet, how is the bassinet ok? We're planning on getting it because we need a portal crib for travel & we wanted to keep LO in our room for the first couple months.

gtbride&groom · October 2011

Don't have any knowledge about bassinets, but what my RN told me at our class was that SIDS is reduced when they're in the same room as you because they sense that you are there. Since they sense you are there, they do not go into the deep sleep which is when SIDS usually happens. I'm not sure how true this is or not....

DiademChi · October 2011

Some bassinets have the mesh siding, so that it's not a solid fabric bumper-like material. I would go with those and get the best of both worlds.

Fulbri05 · October 2011

You know, I have always wondered this myself. We got a basic pack n play and just used the bassinet insert part. It had mesh sides.

Blue990 · October 2011

Fulbri05:
You know, I have always wondered this myself. We got a basic pack n play and just used the bassinet insert part. It had mesh sides.

this. also. the bassinet is only supposed to be used for a short while (before baby can roll) but some babies roll at birth so i wouldnt feel comfortable. use a pack n play..saves money..less items

LadyTyler · October 2011

Consumer Reports has a whole article about bassinets and pretty much doesn't recommend them for all reasons listed. I still didn't really like the article because it out of hand argues against the co-sleepers but gives no reasoning (and the things they listed as dangers with a bassinet are not a problem with those.)

To me, bassinets with all the...fluff...seem dangerous because they seem to mimic all the things that are NOT recommended. I am much more comfortable with the idea of a Rock n Play or Arm's Reach where the baby is no where near anything to suffocate on and we will pick something like that or a PnP to use a bassinet. I've also read articles where baby safety experts recommended basic PnP bassinets because of the open mesh sides and thin mattress but dislike the new "napper" things.

bethCT · October 2011

because the baby cannot roll into the sides yet. DD was in one for a few months and never once moved from where I put her. With bumpers, one risk is rolling into it and not being about to roll away to take a breath.

mommyaudra · October 2011

great post!! get a pnp if you dont already have a bassinet-i've seen small pnp bassinet at babies r us, Emelia never moved a lot in the bassinet we have but i think it could depend on the child. i may take another look at our bassinet and make adjustments for dd2...!