Crib Bumpers?

I'm a mother of 2. With my first, I was told to pull those bumpers out at the first sign of them rolling or moving because they cause SIDS and blah blah blah. HE took a binkie to bed with him so that meant when he woke up in the middle of the night with a limb hanging out of the crib between the slats and was otu of binkies, I was on the floor with a flashlight trying to find them and keep him from seeing me so that he'd go back to sleep... he used to bump his head and have his arms/legs/feet hanging out constantly.

Second baby, he just got put into a toddler bed at 2 yrs 4 months but up until that time, I left those bumpers in there. They padded his head, he used them for warmth if he got chilly, I never had to chase a binkie on the floor...

I think you get so much "shock" kind of warnings you just try to do the best thing with the advice youre given with your first child... then realize a lot of it is spin and hype with subsequent children.

If I were to have any more children, you can bet your sweet patootie those bumpers will stay in there as well... until the toddler bed comes back into play.

1 mom found this helpful

Mine used their bumpers until they were around 9 months or so and were tugging on them or standing on them. If you're really worried (and what new mom isn't?) use the breathable bumper.

You have already received lots of advice so I won't go in to alot of detail. But an alternative that you should look into is a Crib Tent. Tots in Mind makes a Crib Tent II that covers the inside of the crib to keep arms and legs in. It doesn't give the cushion you are talking about but you can keep it in as long as you have them in the crib. They cannot pull up/step up on it to climb out and it is mesh so can breathe through it if need be.

R.,
I am a childcare provider, and according to the minimun standard rules for in-home childcares bumpers are not allowed in a crib until the child is 6 months old. I follw that rule with my customers, but as a mom, I allowed my own child to have them in his crib when he was younger. I will guess since your daughter is moving a lot with a good head control, it should be ok.

Ditto to all the other ladies, my kids used their bumper pads as well. I just recently took it out of my 16month old's crib because he was pulling on them so hard he broke a couple of the strings keeping them held on. I haven't really read alot about SIDS and the causes but I have a hard time believing that a baby 4 months and older doesn't have the ability to react if his face is next to a bumper pad and he's not breathing as well as he needs. That's our natural instinct to turn our heads until we get good air. I'm sure someone could find a story though to say I'm wrong. Also, the one mom was right about limbs hanging out. Now that my little guy has a bare crib, I can't tell you how many times I check on him and a leg or arm is hanging out of the crib.
***Note to the one mom with the flashlight looking for the pacifier, thanks for the good laugh as I visualize that wonderful scenario. When you're dreaming about all the wonderful things you'll do as a mommy, that certainly doesn't occur to us does it? LOL Have a blessed day!

R., thank you for posting this b/c my husband have been going round n round about putting them back in for our 6 month old son who has limbs hanging out almost every night and wakes himself up cuz he's stuck, therefore, waking us up, etc etc etc. I took them out at 6 weeks old the first time he rolled over from back to stomach and scooted up into the corner - freaked me out. But now I'm ready to put them back to prevent the limbs hanging out (my husband is convinced he's gonna break his arm or something). So my theory is if your baby is strong enough to scoot, roll over, etc - he's strong enough and alert enough to turn his head away instead of burying his nose in the bumper.

And April, THANK YOU so much for the flashlight story - that is great! WOW, the things we do to keep our little ones happy or asleep! Priceless.

R.,
I don't know the rules, execpt that I thought you were supposed to take them out once they start being able to pull them selves up. I had bumpers in both my girls' cribs from birth. They also liked to put their heads right up against the side of the crib. I think it makes them feel secure in such a big crib. I took the bumpers out once they were old enough to try to pull up on them, because they can use them as steps to climb out! My now one-year old still sleeps with her head butted up against the crib. I just figure now, if she is uncomfortable, she can move!

Good luck!
S.

Hi R.-

If she is strong enough to hold her head up, or turn her head when on her back or belly, the bumper should be fine. You're right, though -- they really are just for show until they start scootin'. My son (now 8) did the same thing -- he'd snuggle up to the sides of the crib, which weren't very snuggly without the bumper there.

-Ali

If the bumpers are sturdy and not able to be pulled/ pushed around it should be fine. Mine on the other hand were adorable, but my baby around this age would get them down and nuzzle his face in them... that was a definate SIDS hazard so I pulled them out. He never acted bothered by havinbg his head against the rails. For more info on SIDS, causes and prevention, visit this link.
http://www.bumblebeebabyboutique.com/sids.htm

I was told by our pediatrician that the bumper had to go once they pull themselves up because some could be used as a sort of step.

As far as the breathing issue, I think a healthy, nearly 5 month old has the reflexes to rotate their head in order to breathe in the event they end up snuggled in the fabric covered foam. I think it is the smaller babies that really don't have the reflexes or the natural instinct to move their heads. I would still be a little concerned about bulky blankets and other loose objects with a 5 mo old, but not a foam bumper.

By the way, once my son pulled up, we also bought the breathable bumper that someone else mentioned. It's not padded, so won't help with a bumping head issue. It will work to keep arms and legs from getting stuck in the crib rails, but it is just another one of those things to spend money on and then dispose of after 2-3 months of use. Good luck!

Both of my kids had bumpers in their beds. I see nothing wrong with them, as long as they are secure.

My theory on SIDS is since they don't know what causes it, they give all possible things, and it tends to scare us all silly!! This is coming from a mom that use to cry herself to sleep because I was so scared something was going to happen to my kids. I missed out on my sons for 6 months because I couldn't enjoy him!

SIDS is very scary ... but if you are really worried about it, I would get your pedi's opinion.

R.,
Crib bumpers are safe. When they start to move like that they are trying to get snuggled up against something that is comforting to them. Usually they are pushing the top of their head against it. It is prob uncomfortable to have the crib rails against the top of their head and also they can get their arms and legs stuck thru the railings if there is not something to stop them. I have not heard of the bumper being related to SIDS but I have heard that a soft fluffy blankets in the crib with them can be dangerous.
Good luck!

We used crib bumpers for our daughter w/o any issues. We put them on securely and checked them regularly to make sure she could not get caught up in them.

I used a regular crib bumper that came with my son's bedding. He did fine with it. If you're still not comfortable, I found this breathable bumper for you.

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/117/352762/117.html

HI Becca, When my daughter was old enough to pull the bumpers (vinyl covered) down to look out of the crib that was when I took them out. She is now 28 and a new Mom herself. In those days, bumpers were the norm and I never heard of anything bad happening attributed to bumpers. I think your princess needs some wonderful Dr. Suess bumpers to give her sweet dreams.

Nana