Crib Bumpers... Yea or Nay?

ang2016 · March 2014

Hi ladies,

As a FTM I've been reading all this info on crib bumpers and how they are unsafe for the baby. However I've found other articles saying they are fine as long as they are not pillow like. I also know they make the mesh bumpers now. I have several friends that have recently used them, one of which is a nurse. I can't decide if I'm for or against them. What are your thoughts??

MMason12 · March 2014

I've talked to Mom's who used them and Mom's who didn't. I haven't really made my mind up either way yet. Not a very helpful answer, I know, lol.

Edited to add: I have never talked to someone who used bumpers (breathable or "normal" ones) that had an issue with them. Oh, I've also talked to a few Mom's who said their babies would have hurt themselves if they didn't use bumpers and others who didn't need to use them because their babies never bumped the sides.

chardonnay24 · March 2014

We didn't use them. I bought a padded bumper but felt really uncomfortable using it and since he never managed to bump his head or get his limbs stuck, I never bothered to get a mesh bumper, either.

CplusJ=S · March 2014

We didn't use them. Aside from safety concerns, I don't like the way they look. It didn't end up mattering anyway as my 2-year old daughter has never slept one night in her crib. She has slept in our room since day 1. She started napping in the crib around 15 months after she outgrew her swing.

jg1011 · March 2014

I left them in while baby didn't move around AT ALL (woke up in same position I left him.) Once he started moving even slightly and almost rolling they came out. We didn't use any. He did get his leg caught once or twice but that was it. I considered putting in breathable ones because he was knocking the pacis out of the crib in the middle of the night and then crying for them. Just never did it.

Sunnyalj · March 2014

We started using a regular bumper when she was rolling. Without it she would bang her head on the crib slats. Her head was covered in little bruises so we bought a bumper.
I'm a pediatric nurse too, if that means anything to you.

brittneyandadam · March 2014

I've been considering the mesh ones, but don't think I'll need them til baby starts rolling and moving around. I heard that the pillow-like ones help keep drafts out of the crib, which is an attractive feature since it will begin to get chilly soon after our LO's are born. BUT, I plan to swaddle anyway...so that kind of solves that problem

Irisheyes1247 · March 2014

With DD1, we used the mesh bumper. With DD2, we didn't use anything. I had the mesh one in there for a little while, but she would weasel her arm or leg under or over it, so I just took it out.

When you look at the Pinterest nursery ideas, they look so cute, but we never got a bedding set at all.

emmylu30 · March 2014

We use a breathable bumper but don't think we really needed it.

SingleMom31 · March 2014

We haven't used them with DD and so far, she seems to be doing alright. She might roll into the sides occasionally, but she's not hurting herself by doing it. This LO won't have any either.

JSS1002 · March 2014

You have to trust your gut on this one.

We had him in our room in a basinette until about 2 months... when we moved him to his own room and crib, while we were still swaddling him, there was no need as he couldn't roll yet... when he started rolling and we switched to a wearable blanket, he kept getting his limbs stuck and waking up and screaming, so I talked to the pediatrician and she said to try mesh bumpers -- this was around 7 months... by this point he could sit up on his own... He will be a year on Saturday and is crawling like a pro and close to pulling up and we just started using the cutesy bumpers -- not for looks, but because he was banging his head so hard on the wood slats that he had some bruises.

I hope that helped!

adoxyinherear · March 2014

Breatheable bumpers are okay, but we never had any because I just couldn't bring myself to pay for them. The few times she's gotten her leg stuck - very few times - she's either worked it our herself or I've helped.

I can attest that my daughter did and still does sleep often with her face crammed against the side of her crib, which would be very unsafe for an infant in a crib with fluffy bumpers.

blue+skies · March 2014

Whether or not they are safe, my opinion is why buy them if they really aren't needed? I bought sheets and a couple mattress pads, and used sleep sacks. I don't think it's necessary to spend money on other things foe the crib that aren't really useful.

Tussie Mussie · March 2014

We used breathable bumpers with DD after she got her chunkalunk legs stuck really good a couple of times. We will start with none and use hers again if we need too. Never the padded kind though.

Bella2425 · March 2014

I used breathable mesh bumpers with DS because he helicoptered all over the crib even when he was still tiny. I will use them again, but only if I feel like I need to.

No to the traditional pillow-like ones.

MMason12 · March 2014

MermaidsMagic said:

blue+skies said:

Whether or not they are safe, my opinion is why buy them if they really aren't needed? I bought sheets and a couple mattress pads, and used sleep sacks. I don't think it's necessary to spend money on other things foe the crib that aren't really useful.

Because we're most all Americans and that's what we do?

I have friends who are shocked that we won't be buying a whole entire bedding set. Even though you really can't use 80% of it "come it, it just looks pretty!" Dumbest reason ever to spend the kind of money they want for baby bedding sets. We are getting just crib sheets individually and then we might get breathable bumpers (TBD) but other than that they can't use anything else anyways. It's amazing how many people feel the need to spend tons of money on pointless baby items just because "lots of people do" or "everyone else does" or "it looks pretty"!

Texasgurly0313 · March 2014

MMason12 said:

MermaidsMagic said:

blue+skies said:

Whether or not they are safe, my opinion is why buy them if they really aren't needed? I bought sheets and a couple mattress pads, and used sleep sacks. I don't think it's necessary to spend money on other things foe the crib that aren't really useful.

Because we're most all Americans and that's what we do?

I have friends who are shocked that we won't be buying a whole entire bedding set. Even though you really can't use 80% of it "come it, it just looks pretty!" Dumbest reason ever to spend the kind of money they want for baby bedding sets. We are getting just crib sheets individually and then we might get breathable bumpers (TBD) but other than that they can't use anything else anyways. It's amazing how many people feel the need to spend tons of money on pointless baby items just because "lots of people do" or "everyone else does" or "it looks pretty"!

We registered for just individual sheet sets as well. The bedding set we wanted was way too expensive, and we wouldn't use most of it anyways.

And we are getting breathable bumpers.

rockychryslerb2010 · March 2014

We never used any type of bumper, I don't think they are necessary. E never got himself stuck, so we did not have a need for them.

Even if you put them in when they're older, you need to watch when they get old enough to pull up on the crib. The bumpers make the perfect climbing tool to help them get up and over the crib!

Ceridwen21 · March 2014

We used the breathable bumpers and thought they were great. I wish I still had them on DSs bed. He's 2.5 years old and got his foot "stuck" in his bed rail and had to be rescued at 3:30am this morning!

Ceridwen21 · March 2014

Oh yes, and we did not buy a bedding set for the exact reasons mentioned above. All we bought were crib shits and the breathable bumper. What a waste of money otherwise!

ConversationFear · March 2014

We will not be using one. I had no idea there was any risk involved, I just think every one I have liked is too damn expensive and total waste of $$$.

bumpuser10199668 · March 2014

JSS1002 said: You have to trust your gut on this one.
We had him in our room in a basinette until about 2 months... when we moved him to his own room and crib, while we were still swaddling him, there was no need as he couldn't roll yet... when he started rolling and we switched to a wearable blanket, he kept getting his limbs stuck and waking up and screaming, so I talked to the pediatrician and she said to try mesh bumpers -- this was around 7 months... by this point he could sit up on his own... He will be a year on Saturday and is crawling like a pro and close to pulling up and we just started using the cutesy bumpers -- not for looks, but because he was banging his head so hard on the wood slats that he had some bruises.
I hope that helped!

If your ped suggested mesh bumpers (which you chose to ignore) and you 'aren't doing it for the looks' , then why did you choose the more dangerous 'cutesy' bumpers?

ETA: Quote fail? I don't know what is happening, ha.

portentosa · March 2014

CplusJ=S said:

We didn't use them. Aside from safety concerns, I don't like the way they look. It didn't end up mattering anyway as my 2-year old daughter has never slept one night in her crib. She has slept in our room since day 1. She started napping in the crib around 15 months after she outgrew her swing.

This for me. I bought the mesh ones but had a hard time getting them on right and really didn't like them....but none of that mattered as DS never used his crib longer than an hour or two. Now that I'm finally starting to maybe get him in there I don't want to use bumpers of any kind as he'd climb on them.

bumpuser10199668 · March 2014

Sunnyalj said:

We started using a regular bumper when she was rolling. Without it she would bang her head on the crib slats. Her head was covered in little bruises so we bought a bumper. I'm a pediatric nurse too, if that means anything to you.

So, as a pediatric nurse, you're suggesting the regular bumpers as opposed to the mesh ones? I'm new to all of this, so I'm curious as to reasoning.

Ceridwen21 · March 2014

The article outlines the risks and connection to SIDS:

Ceridwen21 · March 2014

https://www.parenting.com/article/sids-prevention

suitern · March 2014

We didn't use one when DS was younger, but put it in when he started geting stuck in the slats. It has never been an issue for us. We will most likely try to get by without using one again and buy one only if we need one this next time.

Sunnyalj · March 2014

carmstr4 said:

Sunnyalj said:

We started using a regular bumper when she was rolling. Without it she would bang her head on the crib slats. Her head was covered in little bruises so we bought a bumper.
I'm a pediatric nurse too, if that means anything to you.

So, as a pediatric nurse, you're suggesting the regular bumpers as opposed to the mesh ones? I'm new to all of this, so I'm curious as to reasoning.

Not really, OP referenced asking her nurse friends so I threw that in. I didn't start using the bumpers until she was old enough to move herself freely around the crib. I don't see anything wrong with regular bumpers, to be honest.

Sunnyalj · March 2014

SpoofLeJones said:

carmstr4 said:

Sunnyalj said:

We started using a regular bumper when she was rolling. Without it she would bang her head on the crib slats. Her head was covered in little bruises so we bought a bumper.
I'm a pediatric nurse too, if that means anything to you.

So, as a pediatric nurse, you're suggesting the regular bumpers as opposed to the mesh ones? I'm new to all of this, so I'm curious as to reasoning.

----

This actually pisses me off. Do whatever you want with your own kid, but don't suggest to a board full of FTM that pillow bumpers are okay and then back it up with "I'm a pediatric nurse" BS. As a pediatric nurse, you should know better.

I wasn't actually trying to say that was my advice as a nurse. OP referenced advice from her nurse friends so I mentioned that. It's my personal opinion and not my professional opinion. I apologize for the confusion.

softsoprano · March 2014

We're not getting a bedding set 'cause there's other stuff we need more than a cute quilt/crap we wont really use. We're not getting a bumper to start 'cause I've heard more about the risk than the benefits. If LO is super prone to getting stuck and a pedi recommends it I'll look into it, but for now no.

BabyMayinMarch · March 2014

We used the mesh bumpers around 3-4 months when DS was getting caught in the crib slots. I removed them at 6 months when we moved the crib to a lower setting. By that time if he caught his hand/foot he could get it out by himself.

I won't be putting in mesh bumpers with this LO unless it poses another problem.

T&HLove · March 2014

I didn't read all of the replies, so someone probably said this. But bumpers are not only unsafe for when babies move around, they also reduce airflow, so it doesn't matter if their face is pushed up against it.. It can still be an issue.
Mesh bumpers are great, if your lo gets arms and legs stuck, but my dd never had the problem.
And we bought the bedding set. Big mistake. Just buy sheets!!!

ashley.hamilton13 · March 2014

Nay for me.

bumpuser10199668 · March 2014

MermaidsMagic said:

zoeygirl1105 said:

MermaidsMagic said:

Do they even still sell padded one?

Yes everywhere. And they sell them in the bedding sets too.

I read an article that they don't want to discontinue them yet because they are afraid people will just then make their own and that's even more dangerous.

Huh. My bedding set that I wanted with Ella was recalled because it had padded bumpers. I really didn't think they were still sold in the US

Yeah they are all over the place. Literally anywhere that sells bedding

mrsdanielleM2010 · March 2014

Yeah I'm actually upset because I can't find the sheets I want without the bumpers included in the set. I'm on a mission.

brittneyandadam · March 2014

MermaidsMagic said:

zoeygirl1105 said:

MermaidsMagic said:

Do they even still sell padded one?

Yes everywhere. And they sell them in the bedding sets too.

I read an article that they don't want to discontinue them yet because they are afraid people will just then make their own and that's even more dangerous.

Huh. My bedding set that I wanted with Ella was recalled because it had padded bumpers. I really didn't think they were still sold in the US

Oh yeah...BBB, BRU, and Target all have them on display and for sale

bumpuser10199668 · March 2014

mamakate12345 said:

They weren't considered a risk with my other babies so we used them with no problems. I won't use them this time though because of the risk, even though I think the risk is very small.

I'm glad you won't be using them, but don't minimize the risk just because YOUR kids didn't die from it.

It may be a 'small' risk in terms of percentages, but I'd consider 27 preventable baby deaths pretty fucking significant.

https://www.cnn.com/2011/10/18/health/no-bumpers-cribs-sids-parenting/

portentosa · March 2014

carmstr4 said:

mamakate12345 said:

They weren't considered a risk with my other babies so we used them with no problems. I won't use them this time though because of the risk, even though I think the risk is very small.

I'm glad you won't be using them, but don't minimize the risk just because YOUR kids didn't die from it.

It may be a 'small' risk in terms of percentages, but I'd consider 27 preventable baby deaths pretty fucking significant.

https://www.cnn.com/2011/10/18/health/no-bumpers-cribs-sids-parenting/

This.

I for one will do everything in my power to NOT be in that very small percentage. My heart goes out to anyone that has ever lost a child.

DandelionAZO · March 2014

Our twins were always getting stuck in the slats, so we are all for the breathable bumpers.

bardini · March 2014

I didn't use the bumpers that came with my daughter's crib set. Cut them up and made cute box curtains for her windows with them.

Ciardasully · March 2014

I would't take any chances. No padded bumpers for us. I am a worrier and I would prefer to play it safe.

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