Bumper or No Bumper - American Fork,UT

Updated on April 14, 2010
M.P. asks from Orem, UT
21 answers

Ok so my son is now rolling around in his crib and night and sticking his arms and legs out the bars. I'm wondering if I should put the bumper on? I know that it's not a good thing for smaller babies in case they breath into it and don't get enough air. But since he can roll I was wondering if it's ok? Or if there is a better thing to do. I am looking into getting a breathable bumper, but it might be a while and by then he might not do it anymore. What do you guys think??

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So What Happened?

after looking up the cozywedge and followed a link read the article and looked at the reconstruction photo's, I will never let my children use a bumper. Yes, there is a chance that they wont, but I don't want to wake up to my son like the maniquine was. So the pictures scared me silly.
http://www.cozywedge.com/pdf/JournalStudy.pdf

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B.H.

answers from Seattle on

I like the breathable bumpers, but used the regular bumpers with first son and had no problems. I think any bumper is better to try and keep his feet and hands in.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from Topeka on

I never used a bumper on cribs with all 3 of my babies i'd rather wake up to hear them cry that they bumped their head rather than to wake up and find them dead from sufforcating themselves against the bumper.It's up to you as a parent that was my choice

1 mom found this helpful

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K.R.

answers from San Diego on

The breathable bumpers are really neat, but $$. I used a regular bumper on both my infants despite the concerns. I figured once they were strong enough to move around, they are at less risk. The reason I liked them is that my girls were always pushing themselves into the corner and it is softer than rails. Also, it kept the pacifier from falling out of the crib.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Put the bumpers on. He will be fine..

1 mom found this helpful
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A.W.

answers from Colorado Springs on

After reading some of the posts I was left wondering what the big deal is with bumpers...Maybe I just didn't run into them! But, 'to each their own opinion'.

I personnaly loved the bumpers with my now 3YO daughter and had no issues with them at all. In fact, the only time I had any issues was when it was removed...Which did not last too long as the bumper went back on soon after removal.

Oh well anyway, I completely agree with Laurie A...Put the bumper on. He will be fine.

1 mom found this helpful

E.S.

answers from Fort Collins on

I guess I am with those who don't think a bumper is a big deal....especially after a baby is old enough to roll around. We always pushed our bumper pad way down so that only about 2-3 inches stuck up over the edge of the mattress. That way there was a little bit of a "lip" on the mattress, but not much. We never had any problem at all.

I say try it and keep it if you like it and get rid of it if you don't.

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C.P.

answers from Albuquerque on

We had the baby bed set up all cute when little girl arrived--bumper and all. Then, it just got in the way (with all the up & down of drop-side), so I took out the bumper. When my girl started to get really mobile and would fall asleep with an arm or foot hanging out, I put it back in. Like Elizabeth, we tucked it way down on the sides of the matress, so her arms and legs wouldn't poke out under it. It keeps binky in the bed and cushions her head when she's bopping around at night. It's just a regular bumper and I don't worry about suffocation, because we didn't start using it until she was very mobile (and could get herself away from it). I say it's worth a try (if you already have a regular bumper), but no need to spend more money (if you don't)--he'll probably outgrow it pretty quickly (the arms & legs sticking out).

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M.K.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

I guess it's a choice we all have to make. I never understood the fear over bumpers. My DD is all over the place in her crib I mean never in the same spot and usually has her head smooshed in one of the corners. I have a bumper and she's fine. I also don't understand how a child could use it to climb out. It immediately squishes down when she tries to stand on it there is no way she could use it to climb out. But getting back to your question if he can roll around he should be able to move his head if he happens to be up against it.

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K.G.

answers from St. Louis on

My boys both did that, too. No bumper. I say that because their hands can get stuck in the ties or between the bumper and the crib. Also, if he's not used to seeing it already, it could be more fascinating and keep his interest more than you would like it to.

There were a few times that I did have to go in and help them get their arms or legs out from between the bars, but they were always okay. The bars were far enough that the boys were never well and truly in danger; they were just stuck.

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K.M.

answers from Boston on

The biggest risk is that when he starts to pull himself up on it, he will use it as a step up to climb over and out. So if you put it on, monitor it so that doesn't happen.

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J.P.

answers from Boise on

I would say no bumper to prevent the arms and legs going through, because they could just catch in the bumper.

My son is a very active sleeper and when he started moving, he would end up wedged against the slats and have a little dent on his head when he woke up - every morning!! I didn't feel comfortable with the regular bumpers due to the safety concerns and the breathable (which we also had) didn't have enough padding to protect his head. I ended up with a cozy wedge, which I LOVE. He still has them and is almost 2, and I just bought some more for my next one.

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T.F.

answers from Eugene on

No bumper - I tried the bumper and I thought it was nonsense. Took it out after a few months.

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T.K.

answers from Seattle on

Bumpers are not really necessary. We never used one for our son and won't use one for our daughter when she transitions to the crib in a couple of months either. My son sleeps w/ his feet/legs sticking out of the crib all the time. He is all over the place in that crib, but he has never hurt himself. I would be worried that my son would use the bumper at this point to climb out of the crib. Which is a much bigger problem than an arm sticking out of the bars.

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P.R.

answers from New York on

Regular bumpers are a suffocation hazard according to numerous safety and consumer organizations.

http://babyproducts.about.com/od/recallsandsafety/a/bumpe...

The best thing is nothing but if you are concerned about baby sticking arms and feet out (especially if you have pets or small children around), a breathable bumper is the way to go. You can also consider a Tots In Mind Cozy Crib Tent II , about $60 on amazon, which keeps little hands and feet in the crib w/o a bumper. Looks a little over the top now but long-term its main safety feature is that it will keep your child from climbing or jumping out of the crib, which can cause more serious injuries.

If you decide to have both bumper and tent, there is a simpler version, the Tots in Mind - Original Cozy Crib Tent, also $60 at Bed Bath & Beyond (save 20% with their blue coupons). It doesn't have the mesh going down the sides but also keeps your child safe in the crib.

The tents can be installed on cribs that are drop side or fixed sides. They will not work on Lifetime cribs (one end higher than the other, that convert to a full size bed).

K.E.

answers from Birmingham on

Well, babies r us has Breathable bumper pads for like 30$

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K.D.

answers from Denver on

You could put the bumpers on, if you want, but since he's this old, I'd just save the money. My kids usually had their arms and legs under the bumper hanging out, anyway. Two of them were fascinated with the bumpers and we had to take them out so they weren't too distracted to sleep.

J.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Both the US and Canadian product safety commissions warn that crib bumpers are not safe. Both organizations recommend not using them. Babies can and do die from both the lack of air circulation caused by the bumpers and by actually breathing into one. Just because most babies don't have SIDS, does not mean it is safe to ignore SIDS precautions. Don't discount the possibility that air flow is an issue. One study found that simply running a fan in the room where baby sleeps reduces SIDS dramatically. The breathable kind are a great option, and I've seen them fairly inexpensive online. There is also a company that makes little foam wedges you put under the sheets that keep the baby from rolling too close to the bars. I have never heard of a baby dying from not having a bumper - but I have heard of many babies suffocating in bumpers.

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D.D.

answers from Denver on

No bumper. Our boy stuck his arms and legs out and it was never a big deal. He was all over his crib, and I mean a lot. He never got hurt not having a bumper, and I agree with those who commented about the safety hazards of bumpers.

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B.D.

answers from Denver on

Yes maybe 8/9 chances out of ten your son would be fine with a bumper but that does not mean you are going to fall in that category. The potential is there regardless. The breathable bumpers are great, I put one on for my daughter untill she was about one. They are probable not that necessasry sicne if there arms and legs get through the slates a quick cry will let you know and you can help him./ It dos not harm them that I ever heard of. I ahve had it off now for over a year and she does fine, there was 1/2 nights where she was playing and got her leg stuck but no harm done. She likes to climb in her crib now so it would have need to come off at age 2 anyway. Good luck

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