Cot bed bumpers

[ScaredToBeHonest]

We are buying a cot bed for almost 6 month old DS and just wondering whether to buy bumpers for it, whilst it is being used as a cot.

DS often sleeps pressed up against the side of the crib (bednest) and can have a tendency to put his arm up and hold the mesh side while he is falling asleep. I don't want him to get his arm stuck in the bars of the cot but wonder how safe bumpers are.

[weeblueberry]

We personally never used them because I was worried about her rolling over and suffocating against it when younger, then when she got to 8 months she'd almost certainly have pulled herself up on them and used them to climb.

[ilovepowerhoop]

They are supposed to be removed once your lo gets mobile so a bit late to be using them at 6 months. I never used them for either of mine

[neversleepagain]

We use Air Wrap bumpers for our 16 month olds and have done since birth. They stop them from bumping their heads but are breathable and they collapse down if used to step on to climb out the cot. They are supposed to be be safest type of bumper.

[HelenHen]

We've never used them! Never really seen the point of them other than making the cot look pretty and costing loadsa money

[Soz8]

Although l was always told how dangerous they are, my little boy slept so much better with the bumper as it stopped him banging his head on the cot. He started sleeping through the night after putting the bumper in his cot, which he didn't do before having it. I would use one again with another baby. He has never tried to climb out and was 2 when l took it out!

[JustBreath]

I've been told by the professionals that its not safe to use bumpers for babies under 1, because the bumper does not allow air to escape through the head-side thus resulting in possible overheating and cot death. Saying that though I'm not sure why shops don't make it clear that the bumper should not be used for under 1s? I didnt risk it with my 1 year old. I have seen those Airwrap bumpers though, that are supposed to be safer. Check it out.

[ilovepowerhoop]

Bumpers should be removed before the age of 1. They can be used from birth until the child gets mobile and can get on their hands and knees as they could then use the bumper to try to climb out. Maybe they are thinking of quilts and pillows as they shouldn't be used until 1 year.

[Lollypop1983]

My HV told me bumpers shouldn't be used until the age of 1. My LO wriggles up the cot and has a tendency to bump head off the top of cot. But HV told me no bumpers because of SIDS risk.

[mellojello]

I use the air wrap - DD is 10 months, I got them about 4 weeks ago


airwrap

[toomuchtooold]

I read you shouldn't use bumpers before 1 because of air circulation/cot death risk and not after 1 because of the climbing risk! So we didn't bother...

Has he got a binky or anything? I know soft toys aren't encouraged in the early days but you could get one now probably - one of my girls is a nester and she tends to snuggle round the binky with her back to the cot.

[Cuddlydragon]

I loved the air wrap bumpers. Just enough to stop him getting stuck and slightly cushion bumps but collapse so not a climbing aid.

[ScaredToBeHonest]

Thanks for all your replies. I may look into the air wrap bumpers.

[learnermummy]

I also love the air wrap bumpers - got mine from jojomamanbebe.

[JustBreath]

ilovepowerhoop - I wonder if you may have been given the wrong information? Bumpers should certainly not be used before 1 years, as other have also posted! There was an article in the papers of how a 9 month old died because the baby managed to get tangled in the strings. It was very sad.

ScaredToBeHonest - AirWrap is best choice.

[ilovepowerhoop]

the SIDS website (now changed to lullabytrust I think) used to say there were neither good or bad effects from using cot bumpers but they should be removed when your baby can get on their hands and knees as they could use them to climb out. That suggested to me that they could be used from birth until they were mobile e.g. 5/6 months. There would be no point using them after 1 year as they will have been mobile and pulling up well before then.

Regardless I never used them at all.

(in the case of the 9 month old then (in my opinion)the bumper should have already have been removed before that age as he would have been mobile by then)

[Monika16]

I'm very near to adopting a nine month old and don't know weather to buy a bumper or not?

[Newlywed2013]

No no no no don't, I know a baby boy who died by getting caught in his cot bumper! They are completely unnecessary and were used before standards came in when a baby's head would fit through a gap!

Search justice for Preston on facebook for the latest information!

Bumpers are dangerous and anyone using them could put their baby at risk