My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

to think that 'banning' cot bumpers is a bit OTT

129 replies

gotnotimeforthat · 30/04/2014 08:07

I recently saw a facebook page with a petition to ban cot bumpers because sadly a 9 month old died after suffacating by the cot bumper wrapped around his neck. I can't even begin to imagine what the parents must be going through but still i can't help but think that the petition is OTT.

This is because:

  1. with double knots i struggle to get the bumper of the cot myself, it took me 15 minutes to take it off this morning so i could wash it. I check every night that it is secure.

  2. I personally use a bumper because i don't want my DS to put his arms through the bars, if he grabs hold of something he wll pull at it until he reahes at it so he can stick it in his mouth, he then slings his head forward over and over ( he's breastfed so he does this to me a lot too, he's saying he's hungry) I would prefer my baby not to be headbutting the wooden bars of the cot. with a bumper he has nothing to grab onto.

  3. I think blankets have a higher death rate but as far as i am aware there is no petition to ban those.

    So AIBU?
OP posts:
Report
ThinkIveBeenHacked · 30/04/2014 08:11
  1. not everyone is as vigilant as you
  2. lots of people specifically position the cot away from other things in the room, which would be safer than using a bumper as a preventative measure
  3. link to your claim please

    So in short, YABU.
Report
CorporateRockWhore · 30/04/2014 08:12

I've never understood the issue with bumpers either. Just tuck them firmly between the mattress and cot bars and tie it securely, and it's way better than having them batter their head off the wood all night (DD) or get arms and legs stuck through the bars (DS).

It's weird, whenever people post on here about them, they get loads of responses saying they are a SIDS risk because they mean less air gets into the cot. Makes NO sense yes post after post agrees with it.

It's beyond awful that a baby died, but I don't think a piece of material needs to be banned because of it. What else should we ban? Presumably cars would be somewhere near the top of the list.

Report
Busymumto3dc · 30/04/2014 08:13

Yabu

Waste of money IMO

Report
sassysally · 30/04/2014 08:13

I always understood cot bumpers to be a bit dodgy and hence never used them with my children.

Report
Seeline · 30/04/2014 08:14

I never used them with my two DCs - couldn't see the need. I felt the bumpers would be more dangerous than poking an arm or leg through the bars. There was nothing near the cot that either of them could reach to try and pull through the bars.
If people can't manage them properly, and in any case accidents do happen, then get rid of them. YABU

Report
sassysally · 30/04/2014 08:15

Traditional cot bumpers are not recommended in countries including the US, Canada and Australia for the following reasons:
•by restricting the flow of fresh air in and out of the cot, the bumpers may contribute to overheating and re-breathing of exhaled air.
•Just like a pillow or thick blanket, cot bumpers can restrict a baby’s breathing if they come into contact with their nose and mouth.
•The ties used to attach bumpers to the cot can cause accidents if they are pulled loose.
•Older babies may use bumpers as an aid to climb out of the cot.

Overheating, re-breathing of exhaled air and lack of oxygen are all risk factors which have been associated with SIDS (cot death).

Report
PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 30/04/2014 08:17

If you need a cot bumper you should use an Airwrap instead. Does everything a bumper does but without any strings to tie up and you can breath through it.

Report
QueenofKelsingra · 30/04/2014 08:18

I don't understand why more people don't use travel cots and get a proper mattress fitted for it - cheaper outlay plus no bars for banging/getting stuck so no need for bumpers. you can even get ones now with height adjustable bases so no bad backs.

Report
gotnotimeforthat · 30/04/2014 08:19

thinkivebeenhacked

I'm sorry but did you even read what wrote? i said nothing about furniture. where did you get that from?

headbutting the cot and putting his arms through the bars of the cot were my issues.

www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-for-Preston/229987167157257

OP posts:
Report
gotnotimeforthat · 30/04/2014 08:22

what i have written*

god i need a coffee.

OP posts:
Report
WiiUnfit · 30/04/2014 08:24

We didn't use DS's cot bumpers for that exact reason, I'd rather him put his arm out of his cot than risk pulling a bumper down on his face or overheat.

Report
ThinkIveBeenHacked · 30/04/2014 08:25

Erm, I said nothing about furniture either. Did you read what I wrote?

You said, quote,
"I dont want his to put his arms through the bars, if he grabs hold of something he will pull at it till he reaches it so he can stick it in his mouth"

My point number two was that most people will not have grabbable items in close vicinity of the cot.

Report
GwenStacy · 30/04/2014 08:26

My main worry with them is that baby could roll against it and suffocate. We've got an airwrap to stop her poking limbs through the bars and they're also thin enough that she won't be able to use them to climb.

Report
ilovepowerhoop · 30/04/2014 08:26

never used them as I never saw a need for them

Report
Rosa · 30/04/2014 08:26

I had one that did half the cot. House was drafty and after the moses basket both dds had 'space issues. With the bumper it stopped. Removed it when they could stand . It was great for me but it was always pulled tight and tied securely..

Report
InternetFOREVER · 30/04/2014 08:26

I think the thing is that by selling them, it makes people think they're required/ a good idea. This confused me when I had DS as I had read that they're dangerous. If deaths have been associated with them I'd agree with a ban.

Report
milkingmachine1 · 30/04/2014 08:31

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie - thanks for the airwrap recommendation. I've never seen one of those before, they look prefect for what I need.

When I had my baby I found it odd that the bedding 'starter packs' sold in mothercare included things like bumpers and thick fleece blankets. I felt it was misleading to sell and market items for newborns that you would only really use for an older child, or not at all in the case of the bumper.

Report
ExcuseTypos · 30/04/2014 08:32

I used them with dd1, who is now 23. However by the time dd2was born, 20 years ago- there were doubts about them being safe- so I didn't use a bumper with her. So this isn't a new thing.

Infact many things changed between having dd1 and dd2. Another example is with dd1 we were told under no circumstances must babies be allowed to be on their backs- they would chock on thier own vomit. 3 years later we were told we MUST put baby on their backs. It was quite scary doing that!

Report
ExcuseTypos · 30/04/2014 08:34

Sorry- choke

Report
gotnotimeforthat · 30/04/2014 08:36

I got DS bumper with a cot bedding set from tesco. It doesn't go all the way around the cot.
He doesn't like travel cots, even with his cot matress so visiting people is a nightmare.

I do understand where you are coming from though.

OP posts:
Report
CorporateRockWhore · 30/04/2014 08:39

See, I think I must be missing something.

It's said that cot bumpers can cause overheating and lack of fresh oxygen, yet new babies sleep in moses baskets which also have (higher) sides to them covered in material, and I've never seen anyone say they are a SIDS risk.

I think I'm missing something, maybe?

And to whoever said they should be banned as some people might use them incorrectly - that's just crazy, really.

Report
ArcheryAddict · 30/04/2014 08:41

I use a cot bumper at the moment had I had no idea that they were a hazard, I will be taking it off today.

My family thought that I was mad buying DS2 a new mattress for the cot that I used with DS1 but if spending a bit more money ensures the safety of my baby I think that you cannot put a price on that.

Thank you for the air wrap suggestions.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

meditrina · 30/04/2014 08:44

CoroprateRockWhore

Here's the NCT page which lists cot bumpers in the SIDS risk section and says they should not be used for infants under 1 year old.

Report
gotnotimeforthat · 30/04/2014 08:55

thinkivebeenhacked

The something i mentioned was the bars, he pulles them until he reaches them and bangs his head on them. his arms are only small, my worry was his arms getting stuck through the gaps or he grabs hold of the bars pulls at them and then tries to eat them, thus hitting his head on the bars.

my bad i should of worded that differently, it made sense to me.Blush

one word, teething

OP posts:
Report
Hazchem · 30/04/2014 08:59

I think the regulations for cots mean the bars are spaced to stop arm injury and heads getting stuck etc. adding bumper protectors add extra risk to the bed which was "safe".
I'd be happy if they were banned. I';d also ban the selling of second hand mattresses and car seat.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.