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

[gotnotimeforthat]

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?

[wiltingfast]

Personally I think it daft to be putting something into your child's cot that is completely unnecessary and increases sids risk.

Plus, the one set I was given actually said on the packaging that it was recommended I take it off every night. I threw it in the bin.

There is no benefit to "bumpers" and you know you and baby would manage perfectly fine without it.

You're not supposed to even put a teddy in with a small baby never mind put in a smother hazard all around their head.

The spamming is not helpful dontriskit

[wheresthelight]

At the risk of being flamed... To all those quoting sids risks etc

No one knows what causes sids so there is actually no way to actually reduce the risk of it!!!

People can speculate and they can do research to back up their theories but until there is a scientific answer to what causes sids then no one can be proven right or wrong.

The boy dying due to a cot bumper is tragic but the reality is that them being the direct cause of death is very rare

[Igggi]

"No one knows what causes SIDS so there is actually no way of reducing the risk!"
Shite, and dangerous shite to boot.

[wheresthelight]

Iggi why is it shite?! It's true that there is no known cause of sids

[Igggi]

So there are no factors that have been found to contribute to the incidence of SIDS?
I hope you wait for "proof" in all other areas of your life and don't accept any medical advice unless it meets your definition.

[wheresthelight]

The very definition of sids is sudden infant death. The nhs website clearly states that the causes are known. They suspect certain factors may contribute to the risk but as there is no known cause there is no way to know if they are right or not. So actually I am not talking shite as your pup it.

It is speculation and no more

[Igggi]

What has led to the drop in rates of SIDS then? I take it you think that's entirely coincidental and not related to any changes in how people put their babies to sleep?

[wheresthelight]

Yes it's coincidence as NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CAUSES IT

[deakymom]

rare or not why risk it?

to put it another way i used to have cats i moved into a house that had a beautiful (and huge) clump of lilies in the garden over 12 months after i lived there i found out lily pollen is highly toxic to cats i dug them out it didn't matter that they had not died in the 12 months or so we had lived there the fact was it was a risk and one i was not willing to take

i don't use cot bumpers or blinds for the same reason

[Lora1982]

We use Bumpsters here,google cot bar bumpers, they velcro around two bars at a time. I got them because they look cooler than airwrap. We did use a normal cot bumper for about 6 months till I found them though.

[Monty27]

Less is more where little 'uns are concerned imho.

Just keep them at a natural temperature :(

[Igggi]

Wheresthelight it may be a coincidental correlation or it may be that the risk factors are indeed the, as yet unproven, cause of SIDS.
I don't think you really understand what you're saying, and I'm not sure why it is important to you to feel no action from parents is necessary.

[wheresthelight]

I understand exactly what I am saying thank you very much.

I am not saying no action is needed by parents but perspective is needed.

This boy died because a parent failed to check that the bumper was secured not because of sids. The bumper was not to blame the parent was - it is tragic but oversight caused this not a piece of material

[dontriskit]

The ties on Prestons cot had to be cut off after he died they were tied on so tightly. They tore away from the bumper in his struggle to break free.He died

[Igggi]

You said there is no way of reducing the risk of SIDS in your earlier post. That wasn't just about this case.
It is that statement which I said was wrong, not how parents should feel about cot bumpers,

[wheresthelight]

And my statement is correct igggi, whether you like it or not there are no known causes so whilst people can do reports into reducing perceived risks there is no way of knowing

[Handsoff7]

OP the data on car deaths I mentioned comes from the office of national statistics www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths-registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/2012/dr-table5-2012.xls

Look at 5.19 external causes, v01-99. In the under 1 group l there were no deaths as a result of traffic accidents. I found this data reassured me about a lot of things I was worried about.

As bumpers kill more babies than cars and I'm in favour of car seats being compulsory, I think banning the sale of this product makes sense

[Dontlaugh]

YABU,
use an Airwrap. Airwrap
Bumpers kills babies, that is not an opinion, it is a fact.
How could anyone dispute a fact?

[LettertoHermioneGranger]

They're not banned in the US, but they're strictly against guidelines. I think they even come with warnings if you buy them. There's no use for them, and they're a risk. I would be happy if they were banned. They are just tat for new parents to spend money on to make the nursery look naice.

Like as been said: safer for a baby to bump their head than suffocate. Better sticking his arms through than suffocating. As little bedding as possible. If you're not meant to put a stuffed toy in, why is it ok to put plump pillowy things all around?

So yes, YABU.

[Dontlaugh]

SIDS did not kill the baby in the OP. Strangulation on a cot bumper did.
They are 2 separate issues, why is SIDS entering the fray?
Cot bumpers for under 1's are dangerous, lethal and unnecessary. This has been verified, recommended and is now common practice.
I absolutely cannot see any argument against this.
It's a bit of a flat earth argument, tbh.

WHY would anyone put a cot bumper on their infant's cot, in light of cold hard facts suggesting it may kill them?
Because it matches the curtains?

[Monty27]

It was SUDS not SIDS

[wiltingfast]

Bottom line is, if the bumper wasn't there that 9 month old child would still be alive.

No vigilence or checking required if bumper is not there.

No risk from bumper if it is not there.

This was a 9month old, not a newborn. If a bumper poses a risk to a 9m old why the hell use it?

So yes, ban the damn things I say. Sometimes you have to save people from themselves...

[eskinosekiss]

I have to say, I am a bit shocked at the posters on here who say they have bumpers, and will continue to use bumpers because they 'look pretty'