The AAP sent out
another warning about crib bumper pads, reinstating their risk for infant suffocation, entrapment, or strangulation. The risk of SIDS also climbs high with the use of a crib bumper.
Did you know that Chicago is the first city that has completely banned the sale of crib bumpers?
I hope that after this warning from the AAP that either more cities put a ban in place, or they just become illegal like drop-side cribs.
What's scary, is that I remember using a bumper pad with my first, who was an infant just 6.5 years ago. It didn't stay in there long, and seemed more of a bother then anything useful. Many parents are still using bumper pads, believing that they protect their infant from bumping their head on the hard crib rails, or they keep arms and legs from slipping between the rails.
Are you still using a bumper pad? Will this latest warning from the AAP make you take it out?
Recommend
Comments (22)
We co-sleep so no worries for us :) If we didn't we wouldn't be using bumper pads though.
I use them, and if I wouldn't my son would have goose eggs on his head every morning. I understand the risks. I'm just protecting his dome piece.
I don't see the risk for entrapment or suffocation except at the corners. Being overly zealous, perhaps? I really fail to see how this could hurt any more than a blanket, and the very definition of SIDS is sudden infant death syndrome, not known to be caused by ANYTHING.
*grumble*
They have been trying to ban these in Canada for a long time.. But I would like everyone to know there is a safe, GREAT and affordable alternative to these bulky pads. They are called "Breathable Baby Bumper Pads". Our 1yr old moves around like mad when she sleeps, and her legs get caught in the rails. I bought a set of these and now she sleeps through the night so much easier! And no more bumps or legs/arms getting stuck.
breathablebaby.com <--- Seriously, these things work! I've used them since she was 4 months old.
One more thing to wash, anyway. I used a co-sleeper and then playpens, so I didn't have to worry about this.
@haloed@xanga - one hypothesis about SIDS is that a reduction in air flow can contribute, so even if the baby's face isn't right up against the bumper, it could still prevent air flow. That's why the mesh ones are supposed to be better. I've never used any bumper, though, so I'm not an expert :)
I think the risk of suffocation comes especially when a baby can move around somewhat but not well. For example, Becca could only roll one way for a while, so if she rolled into her bumper, she would not be able to roll out of it. I did use one for my first kiddo, taking it out for a few weeks until she knew how to roll around well enough, but for whatever reason I'm actually *more* paranoid about SIDS this time around, so no bumper for us. It's super cute, but I'm not willing to lose my kid for "cute." I am getting sick of "rescuing" Becca at odd hours of the night because she's jammed her head up against the rail of the crib though. Hopefully she'll grow out of that soon as she becomes more mobile.
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - GENIUS! I've never heard of those! I totally know what I'm using my next BuyBuyBaby or BabiesRUs coupon for!
Cribs scare the heck out of me. I wish they'd just outlaw those.
i had the bumpers on my daughter's crib for a few weeks. then, i woke up and he little face was just inches away from one. needless to say they were taken out of her crib shortly there after. sure i had to deal with some late night screams because she had some how wiggled her legs between the bars but it was much better than waking up to a smoothered baby.
Still use 'em.
And still let my babies sleep on their tummies as soon as they can roll over. Unless you're at increased risk of respiratory issues, I honestly don't think it's all necessary.
I'm sorry, but I can't take these things seriously. It's only as of the past few years or so that this SIDS thing came about, and bumper pads were considered dangerous, and all that jazz. My mom has raised 7 kids, and her mom raised 5, and HER mom raised 11 kids, and they ALL used bumper pads, pillows, their babies slept on their bellies, and all that good stuff. I use bumper pads with my daughter, and she sleeps on her stomach at 2 months old because she refuses to sleep any other way. I guess that makes me, and those before me, bad mothers?
I got the mesh ones for my grandson after reading up on a site about SIDS. Went right down the list of suggestions it made for the prevention of SIDS, and all the suggestions made sense.
@mevlink@xanga - Glad I could help =) I love them.. and I like the fact that there is no bulky padding. I didn't worry about SIDS until one of my neighbours lost their daughter.. she was just learning to roll and got stuck against the side of the bumper pads. When they found her it was already too late. And the real kick in the pants is he is a paramedic and knows the dangers of the bumper pads. His mother in law insisted that the baby would be safe because she had used them for all of her children.
We still have the breathable baby pads in the crib because little princess gets her legs stuck.. I love them because if she tries to climb they will not support her weight and collapse.
We never used them, everyone just told me they were more of a pain when you had to change sheets (like due to a leaky overnight diaper), so we skipped them.
not gonna use them maybe a mesh one but not the padded ones.
Strap them to the sides if they're such a worry. Honestly, people need to stop trying to ban everything.
my son prolly slept in the crib less than 20 times mostly just enjoyed laying in there kicking up a storm and laughing at the mobile. I mostly just had him sleep with me.
Eh, I had crib bumpers and a drop side crib as did my sisters and most people I know. We all turned out absolutely fine. Studies come out and we all freak out. People used this stuff for years and years and years before bans.
Definitely against bumbers. Small infants especially lack the ability to push themselves away, turn their head, or roll over if they get their face too close to the bumper.
Safest baby sleeping = one baby + one blanket. In a crib. On their back.
I can see how stuffed bumper pads are suffocation risk. But the kind my boyfriend's mom made for her grandson are safe. She used a pad stuffing instead of regular stuffing to make it stiff instead of fluffy and big.
@Eve Shelby@facebook - That's what I was thinking.