Crib Bumpers...your opinions wanted please...

mheather77 · February 2012

Hello!

I'll be a first time mom (of twins) and was wondering what you ladies thought about crib bumpers. We took a multiples class a few weeks ago taught by a doula and she said that we should not be using them as there's a risk of SIDS...I guess the baby could possibly suffocate? I'm just wondering what any of you thought or if your doctors have opinions on this. I've yet to ask mine about it. I would have thought the bumpers would come in handy by keeping the entire crib soft but now having second thoughts. The bedding set I bought came with bumpers so I'm wondering if I should or shouldn't use them and if not, maybe use them when the babies are 1year +?

Thanks in advance for your advice/opinions

atlantic · February 2012

We didn't use them. Advantages (mostly just cuteness, I think) didn't outweigh risks. If I'd really wanted them for function, I would've gotten breathable bumpers.

atlantic · February 2012

Oh...I've also heard for older kids that they help them climb out.

missfire · February 2012

They are also an incredible pain when trying to change the sheets. Untying them to wash the bumpers is also horrible. The breathable ones are much easier to deal with and now come in different colors.

MrsLnt · February 2012

We use them. We knew it was considered a SIDS risk but we had other factors, such as using a fan, pacifers and AngelCare monitors that outweighed it for us. Our pedi knows we use bumpers and he never seemed terribly concerned about it. They slept swaddled for the first 4 months and then they were rolling and could move around.

I heard the argument of being used as a step to climb out but that's completely untrue for us. We have PBK bumpers and they completely collapse under the babies' weight.

jlefief · February 2012

i never had any on my twins cribs until DS started waking up every night crying with his little hamhocks stuck in the rails. Now i have the breathable ones. I found super cute ones by Summer Infant...jungle print for boy, flowers for girl.

2Cuties Loving Me Always · February 2012

We have used them with my twin sons and my older daughters. I have never had a problem with them. I also knew the risks, but swaddled all 4 of them until about 4 months old. Once they were 4 months they could roll over. They are a pain with the changing of sheets.

erniebufflo · February 2012

The American Academy of Pediatrics says they're a no-go, and my hubby is a pediatrician, so we won't be using them.

tootlebug · February 2012

im surprised you havent heard anything about these...they've been on the news several times over the past few years (although maybe you just didnt pay attention - i dont know if i would have if i hadnt had any kids yet) but they are in lots of pregnancy/baby articles and magazines as well.

anyways - big fat no. why take the risk? there is nothing really "handy" about them except that they look cute. your babies wont hurt their heads on the crib rails. dont take the risk.

Rangergal9 · February 2012

We got a cute bedding set and put them on the cribs, but once the babies started sleeping in the cribs we ditched the bumpers. We had the breathable ones but it was such a PITA to change the sheets with them that we just ditched them too. We haven't had any issues with legs getting stuck... okay well it did happen one time, but no big deal...lol In the last week we actually took one of the heavy bumpers and tied it around the outside of the crib for Hannah because her crib is against an outside wall and we hope it keeps her a little warmer.

megs_glo · February 2012

We do not use bumpers - they aren't safe. Why take the chance? It's not worth it.

kafunder · February 2012

We didn't use them for the first 6-7 months b/c of the SIDS risk. Around 7 months, the babies were constantly dropping their paci's out of their cribs at night, so we put on the breathable bumpers and have been using them ever since.

PianoPlayingSarah · February 2012

We never used any bumpers. The risk of SIDS was real to me and not worth using bumpers.

adacopeach · February 2012

We're going breathable bumpers.....

naflmj · February 2012

We had them for DS but he didn't sleep in his room until he was 9 months old, at which point I felt the sids risk was pretty minimal. If the twins go into their rooms sooner, we will remove them or replace with breatable bumpers until about the 9 month mark. DS still has a set on his crib because otherwise he wakes up with his feet stuck outside the crib and gets annoyed.

violaplayer · February 2012

We started using breathable bumpers around 7ish months (I think) when the guys started sticking their legs through the crib slats and getting stuck.

They are coming out at the first signs of climbing though.

Nerwak · February 2012

We chose not to use bumpers - having something "cute" on the cribs wasn't worth the risk to me. I did look at the breathable ones, but we swaddled and then put them in sleep sacks so they don't get legs out to get stuck. And honestly, bumpers are the last thing I want to clean when I'm having to strip a crib bed because of throw up/poop.

But the risk was the most important factor in deciding not to use bumpers... I honestly don't understand why anyone would use them knowing the risk.

mpstochlinski8 · February 2012

we didn't use them, they do dress up the cribs but since there's a big risk we didn't get them. our cribs are just a plain sheet nothing more. Our pedi also recommends not using them.

mpstochlinski8 · February 2012

PS the breathable bumpers are supposed to also be a risk according to our pedi, I wouldnt waste your money, the babies dont move that much or with enough strenght and force to hurt themselves til they are much older

natb22 · February 2012

We use breathable bumpers, got them online from target. They are great and eliminate the SIDS risk with regular bumpers

GeauxTigers82 · February 2012

2Cuties Loving Me Always:
We have used them with my twin sons and my older daughters. I have never had a problem with them. I also knew the risks, but swaddled all 4 of them until about 4 months old. Once they were 4 months they could roll over. They are a pain with the changing of sheets.

Ditto. I use them, but swaddled them until they were moving all around. Before that, they couldn't even move out of the middle of the crib. At 14 months, we still use the Halo Sleep sacks, so they can't even lift their legs even if they wanted to climb out!

Definately a PITA when changing sheets though. Two of my 3 daughters love to sleep with their backs against the bumpers, but they are older now, so no real worries about SIDS.

cathyhansen14 · February 2012

Congratulations on your twins. What an exciting time. This entire "bumper" issue is so concerning because as mothers, we all want to do what is best for our babies. With my 1st two children, I used the traditional bumper with no problems. However, with my 3rd pregnancy, there was a lot of information out there that crib bumpers were dangerous to infants because they did not allow good "airflow" throughout the crib. I research this issue extensively, and came to the conclusion that I wouldn't do anything that could possibly harm the baby. I found a wonderful product on the market that not only allows complete airflow through the crib but looks adorable on the crib. It is a "ventilated" crib bumper that allows 100% airflow though the crib while keeping all those arms and legs inside the crib. This is a product offered by Oliver B. Check out their website and see if this alternative works for you. www.oliverbco.com.

Good Luck to you!

ninjabridemom · February 2012

We aren't using them for the risks already mentioned.

Breathable bumpers seem like a good compromise but we wouldn't get them until the babies are rolling over, like PP did, and only if they'd been getting stuck. I tried them in the store and they are still padded -- I expected just a soft mesh -- so I don't feel comfortable even having those in the early months.

mrsmac08 · February 2012

We used breathable bumpers once the babies started getting stuck.

ggfiebrich · February 2012

Gosh I love all the twin pics! The Wonder Bumpers rock, and if you call the manufacturer, they will give serious discounts for twins. I think the breathable one is super cheap (in a bad way) and did not protect my babies at all from hitting their heads. I would rather pay more and be able to sleep at night.

The best way to ensure a bumper does not cause suffocation is to measure the surface area of the product compared to the breath of space from the tip of a baby's nose to the bottom of their mouth. Anything greater than that can cause suffocation, which is why I do not like oliver B (plus all those ties!!!), the surface space is almost as dangerous as a regular bumper and nothing protects their heads expect the WBs. My friend's son seriously whacked the back of his head on his crib the other day, but laughed it off because she had Wonder Bumpers (like me) on the crib.

My kids have also never had their arms or legs struck

Want a personalized experience?

Crib Bumpers...your opinions wanted please...

Re: Crib Bumpers...your opinions wanted please...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards