Bumpers or No Bumpers

kare_bear_12 · September 2013

This is my dilemma right now. I am so confused on what is even right or wrong for me. Everyone has their opinions. I told my mom that I wasn't sure if I wanted bumpers and she said the baby could get their head stuck and then other saying suffocation is a factor if you have them??? What are you doing?? I did find these breathable thin bumper piece at Target that still kept from the baby slipping out a limb, but also was mesh breathable material??

BethRN1987 · September 2013

I'm doing no bumpers. My hospital said not to so that's what I'm doing

AKPuffin · September 2013

This is the one I'll be using. https://www.amazon.com/BreathableBaby-Breathable-Mesh-Liner-White/dp/B0013FGWD0/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1379694865&sr=1-1&keywords=breathable+crib+bumper

Kristen61607 · September 2013

no bumpers for newborns. I put them in at around a year when my girls were getting limbs stuck and wedging their heads into the crib rails. Of course, I only have bumpers on 3 sides because they like to look at each other, lol.

JAck5209 · September 2013

Definitely no fluffy pillow-like crib bumpers. They are a no-no until LO is 1 so what's the point in spending money on them. We added a breathable bumper around 8 months because LO wanted her paci at night but kept losing it though the bars. It was more for my sanity than anything else.

I think the older generations encourage bumpers because that's what was acceptable in their day. We have new research and things have changed. I bet we all slept on our tummy as babies but now they preach that back is best.

dannie2011 · September 2013

Bumpers are actually not recommended after they get mobile. They use them to climb out of the crib. The sids thing goes for breathable bumpers too, don't let it fool you.

katykatykaty · September 2013

We put breathable bumpers in when she was old enough to move around and get legs stuck in the bars. Until then, nothing.

TradeMama · September 2013

The AAP Said no to breathable bumpers as well, Fwiw. We don't do bumpers.

angelsnight · September 2013

bennieangel said:

I'm a FTM too - but here's what I have heard. No bumpers in the traditional sense (I think they are actually illegal in some states) but when the baby starts to move around more in the crib then use the mesh bumpers to prevent arms & legs from slipping through the slats? This is our plan - no bumpers until the wiggling / moving starts & then the breathable ones.

This is what we'll be doing.

ceh789 · September 2013

So I first want to say that we're not doing bumpers. I'd never forgive myself if something I did against the experts advice for cuteness was even possibly a contributor to a SIDS loss.

But I always wonder - when they're brand new, they can't roll over or even wiggle-move yet. How can bumpers possibly be a problem when they stay exactly where you put them, in the middle of the crib?

matthewmegan · September 2013

We didn't use anything initally, but when DD started rolling, she would get her arms and legs stuck in the slats and get very frustrated. As soon as she started pulling up though, we took them off. We still find her with her legs through the slats, but she is coordinated enough now, at 10 months, to figure out how to bring them back into the crib.

StephBrim24 · September 2013

bennieangel said:

I'm a FTM too - but here's what I have heard. No bumpers in the traditional sense (I think they are actually illegal in some states) but when the baby starts to move around more in the crib then use the mesh bumpers to prevent arms & legs from slipping through the slats? This is our plan - no bumpers until the wiggling / moving starts & then the breathable ones.

This is what I do. IF rolling a limbs getting stuck become issues later, we'll put the breathable bumper up.

katykatykaty · September 2013

ceh789 said:

So I first want to say that we're not doing bumpers. I'd never forgive myself if something I did against the experts advice for cuteness was even possibly a contributor to a SIDS loss.

But I always wonder - when they're brand new, they can't roll over or even wiggle-move yet. How can bumpers possibly be a problem when they stay exactly where you put them, in the middle of the crib?

I think it can affect their access to air... It's recommended to keep a fan on in the baby's room to help with air circulation, which helps with their breathing. So I think the theory is that they'll have "more" air without the bumpers.

VineyardMel · September 2013

ceh789 said:

So I first want to say that we're not doing bumpers. I'd never forgive myself if something I did against the experts advice for cuteness was even possibly a contributor to a SIDS loss.

But I always wonder - when they're brand new, they can't roll over or even wiggle-move yet. How can bumpers possibly be a problem when they stay exactly where you put them, in the middle of the crib?

@ceh789 At 10wks when DD started napping in her crib she couldn't roll but she could scoot around. I went in once and she had scooted over into the rail and had her head right up against it. I was SO glad I didn't have bumpers on--even though at that point I didn't think she could get to them.

We put in the breathable ones around 5mo to help contain her paci. There are just too many risks of SIDS before 1 and using them to climb out when they're older. It stinks that so many of the commercial bedding sets make the bumper the part that's really cute. I ended up ordering something custom off Etsy so I could have a super cute skirt. They also make crib rail covers that are used to protect the crib from kiddos chewing on them when they can stand, but they also add the decorative touch that the bumpers do.

KTdid81 · September 2013

AKPuffin said:

This is the one I'll be using. https://www.amazon.com/BreathableBaby-Breathable-Mesh-Liner-White/dp/B0013FGWD0/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1379694865&sr=1-1&keywords=breathable+crib+bumper

This is what I bought.

clo1982 · September 2013

I think the getting their head stuck was debunked when restrictions were added making crib slats no more than a certain distance apart. I can't remember the exact figure that I saw when I was pregnant with dd. Maybe like 3 inches? Your mom is probably just not aware of the change.

NortyLeigh · September 2013

We put regular bumpers in when DS was 5 1/2 months because he was waking up all day and night long screaming in pain with an arm or leg all the way through the slats. He also wiggles all night in his sleep to the point that his head would be bruised if he didn't have bumpers. We waited until he could roll both ways and push up on his arms. We also had a Snuza so I wasn't worried at all. We don't use the Snuza anymore and some nights he sleeps pushed right up to the bumper. There is no way he isn't going to move himself if he can't breathe (he's almost 9 months now). Also, there is no way that bumpers will help him climb out of his crib. It's lowered to the lowest setting and as soon as he pulls up on them, they push down!

ETA: missing letter

ceh789 · September 2013

VineyardMel said:
I ended up ordering something custom off Etsy so I could have a super cute skirt. They also make crib rail covers that are used to protect the crib from kiddos chewing on them when they can stand, but they also add the decorative touch that the bumpers do.

Ooo, link? I'd love to see - am fairly obsessed with cute baby things

jazzyexpo · September 2013

Didn't use them with dd and won't again. We never had any problems with limbs getting stuck. The slats are definitely too small for a head lol

Nickiechan · September 2013

STM here and we never used them for DS and won't be using them for this LO.

KariB509 · September 2013

The recommendation is no bumpers.
Also, as one poster mentioned, there are laws on how far the slats in a crib can be apart. Stores aren't allowed to sell cribs with slats more than X inches apart. I think it might be 1.5 inches. So it's impossible for the baby to get their head caught. Just beware if buying a used crib.
We used bumpers but DS didn't actually sleep in his crib for several months. By the time he was in his crib, he could roll and I think that's important because then the infant can roll away from the bumper. Eventually as LO can pull up, you'll have to remove the bumpers because he will be able to use it as a step to climb out of the crib!
If your LO will sleep in his crib during the first few months, mesh bumpers are recommended. I actually just looked at them at Target today and they come in more colors than I thought. A lot of bedding sets are also sold without bumpers and you have to buy them separately.
I really feel like its a matter of opinion. I am buying bumpers for LOs crib. Do some research and then make your decision. GL!

BrideNamedMeg · September 2013

I used them with my first, but never put them back on for DS and won't for this baby either. They're cute, but don't really do much, my kids never had a limb stuck or anything like that, and if they're a possible SIDS risk, it's not worth it.

laurendom · September 2013

No bumper and never had any issues. They are not recommended. The head will not get stuck, crib slats are not that wide. Yes limbs can and most of the time its not that detrimental, if it so painful the baby will cry and you more then likely will be monitoring that you can go help fairly quickly.

bunniekrissy · September 2013

The baby cannot get its head stuck. Regulations have changed so the crib slats must be closer together than they once were. Yes, the baby may get some bumps and bruises for a short while but bumpers are not worth the risk.

AlwaysSunny08 · September 2013

We never used any kind of bumpers with my DD. Once she was mobile we never had an issue with her getting stuck in the slats.

holly820 · September 2013

No bumpers. I have heard they are safety hazards.

skeppler1 · September 2013

AKPuffin said:

This is the one I'll be using. https://www.amazon.com/BreathableBaby-Breathable-Mesh-Liner-White/dp/B0013FGWD0/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1379694865&sr=1-1&keywords=breathable+crib+bumper

That is the same one we are going to use also.

SurpriseAt39 · September 2013

Current recommendations are 'no bumpers'.

If a baby can get their head out through the slats on a crib, then that crib cannot conform to current recommendations. My crib is 20 years old and, other than the drop-side, it still conforms to the current slat spacing guidelines.

I will be using bumpers, as I have with my other 2 kids.

And, on a drop-side crib.

:-t

ETA: and LO will be in his/her own room by about a month old...if not sooner.

(Gasp!!!)

MaDa8 · September 2013

My brother-in-law works for Safe Kids international and they are a no on the bumpers. And that's what I'm following. No bumpers , pillows, stuffed animals in the crib with the babe.