To be utterly annoyed that things are sold for babies that aren't advised??

[minniemummy0]

I'm expecting my first baby soon. I'm 35 and consider myself fairly intelligent, and I've not been completely sheltered from babies, I've got a niece and nephew.

But honestly, it annoys me so much finding out that things available freely are potentially harmful. The two examples I can specifically think of are cot bumpers and walkers.

Even at the Mamas and Papas baby event I went to, the gentlemen who gave a talk on sleeping, which wasn't essentially an advert for their own products, said the bumper was for show and not safe for baby, and even when they are older could be used as a leg up to get out of the cot, so still not really safe.

And then now I read in another thread tonight that baby walkers stunt baby's development! What the heck! Why are they even sold?! I thought they helped baby to start walking safely! I was obviously wrong but can you honestly blame someone for presuming that?! It seems not something that would ever have occurred to me!

Aibu to think you should be able to presume baby related items are safe, and not damaging to baby, and if they are they shouldn't be bloody sold?!!!

[breadedbrielarson]

I really don't think a baby could suffocate in a sleepyhead.

[Louiselouie0890]

Breaded mine wasn't it was one that would have restricted his airways

[SarahJonesS]

I understand why cot bumpers pose suffocation/strangulation risks but I don't understand how sleepyheads are safe? Surely it's the same suffocation principle with the babies face against fabric?

I get a bit judgey about bunting/mobiles on/above cots. I sew, a few friends have asked me to make bunting for their babies but I've refused as I'm not convinced they won't tie it to the cot and don't want some child strangling itself on my conscience. I see a lot of hand made mobiles on instagram/fb. Look divine but the string is too long and poses a strangulation risk if it was to break.

BTW Aveeno is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.......

[teainbed]

@Windbeneathmybingowings no academic research cited on that website though. Where is the evidence?

[dannydyerismydad]

It amazes me how lax the car seat laws are in this country. So many seats on the market that pass our very basic crash tests, but when tested more rigorously provide no protection at all. People assume that they are safe or they wouldn't be sold.

Cot bumpers, of course. Unnecessary and dangerous.

Very mixed reports about the safety of the perfect prep. It's an expensive bit of kit, but there are risks of bacteria in the filter and the hot shot not being hot enough to kill bacteria in the milk powder.

High chairs that recline. Why? Eating in a reclined position isn't safe for anyone, let alone a baby.

[breadedbrielarson]

There's nothing wrong with slings if used properly though.

[Louiselouie0890]

It amazes me how little people still don't know about car seats. I've had to tell 3 different family members that they were putting mine or there child in wrong one of them the belts wasn't even touching the kid they were more bothered about them being uncomfortable and thought they were safe. I hate cot bumpers and socket covers I really do think there should be some sort of class to give general awareness. I fell for the sling one and always wondered out of all the crap leaflets and information I got that there was no safety information.

[breadedbrielarson]

See, this thread has gone off on a tangent now, the only things I can see which are actually unsafe are cot bumpers and the plug protectors. Everything else is safe when used properly. Surely it's common sense to take a rain over off when you're inside, or to not let a baby in a baby walker scoot around near stairs etc.

We all risk assess, I have a noisy toddler and an 8 week old and am wondering if I may need to put the baby in another room for naps as he gets older and more easily woken. I also swaddle him, it's the only way he sleeps. I don't think I'm a bad parent, I'm just trying to be safe whilst also leading a normal life.

[Windbeneathmybingowings]

I think they do bertie

From hipdysplasia.org

Some types of baby carriers and other equipment may interfere with healthy hip positioning. Such devices include but are not limited to baby carriers, slings, wraps, pouches, car seats, exercisers, rockers, jumpers, swings, bouncers and walkers, and molded seating items. These devices could inadvertently place hips in an unhealthy position, especially when used for extended periods of time. Any device that restrains a baby’s legs in an unhealthy position should be considered a potential risk for abnormal hip development

[RobotGoat]

Haven't RTFT but so much yes to socket covers. They're so dangerous that I can't believe they haven't been banned outright! At the safety lesson we had (in a group) with the HVs they recommended them and when I said they were dangerous not a single person in the room had heard about it. Really needs to be something that HVs explicitly warn against IMO.

[BertieBotts]

I don't think baby bjorns cause hip problems. They shouldn't be used when babies already have hip problems though.

I think baby bjorns are popular because men tend to find them comfortable. And good marketing, of course.

[teainbed]

@Wreckingball25 nobody has ever been able to produce any clinical research that shows me that Baby Bjorns cause hip problems. All seems to centre on a blog post from a chiropractor but no research quoted. There's a bit on the Baby Bjorn website about it. That said I found other carriers more comfortable.

Sleepyheads shouldn't be covered with muslins or sheets other than the official ones as that means they're not breathable anymore and therefore unsafe for unsupervised sleeping.

[hannah1992]

I've not read all replies. They didn't have jumperoos when I had dd1 but they did when I had dd2 so I got one. It was useful for when I was hoovering or cooking or even just to keep her occupied whilst I had a cup of tea. She was only in it 15-20 mins a time. Any longer she got bored anyway. I've never had a baby walker or a door bouncer or a bumbo. What I learnt from having dd1 was babies don't actually need that much! Just a safe place to sleep a good pram/travel system. I've never had bath seats or baby baths either. When they were tiny I just washed them then as they got a bit bigger I just put a tiny bit of water in bottom of bath and laid them in it they used to love kicking about etc then sitting she the same bit of water in bottom few toys. I think accidents happen if you're not watching them especially in dangerous place like the kitchen or if they're in bath. I didn't bother with bumpers either.

I think when buying things I always said to myself yes it looks nice but does she need it? Both my girls had a bouncer chair, pram, car seat, then when older a highchair for dd1 but with dd2 we decided on a highchair that you could take the seat off and make it so it fastened on a dining chair. Then various toys. Only safety thing I got was stair gates. They were only in the kitchen when I was and if cooking I either sat them in highchair or jumper depending what I was cooking

[redjoker]

re: cot bumpers, I've heard these are a 'safer' alternative

These

Its a minefield i feel overwhelmed by all of it

[BertieBotts]

Yes sleep positioners are not great - what annoys me about those is that they are sold as being a safety aid to stop babies rolling onto their fronts! But anything that you put into the cot is a suffocation hazard, and even if your baby can't wriggle out of it now, they can very suddenly develop rolling or pushing up abilities that you didn't realise they had.

See also those little in-bed things they sell which supposedly promote safer co-sleeping, but the way they are designed encourages very unsafe co-sleeping practices. These are actually banned in Europe, but it's to do with chemicals in the foam, not the co-sleeping safety aspect. They used to be a little plastic hard frame like an in-tray with padding to make it soft for the baby. All of the pictures show the baby in between the parents or in between the pillows! This is all awful co-sleeping practice, first of all if you're going to co-sleep, part of the safety comes from the fact that you're in such close contact with the baby that you're hyper aware. This product removes that proximity and hence the awareness. Secondly, if you're worried that you might roll on the baby because you're in a deep sleep, why do you think that a small lip of plastic is going to stop you? If you're that deeply asleep, it wouldn't. Thirdly, putting them in the middle like that is just awful as there will be two adults moving around, moving the duvet around etc so that the duvet could easily creep up and cover the baby's face. And if you're putting them between the pillows, have you never moved your pillow in the night when you're half asleep? Awful product IMO.

A little known one. Children's cycle helmets, obviously a vital piece of safety equipment, but make sure you take them off if your child is going to climb trees or play on a climbing frame. If they slip or jump down from a narrow and the helmet (being wider than their head and wider than their body front - back, so not naturally accounted for) gets stuck between narrow branches or gaps, it can be a strangulation hazard before any adult even notices or is able to run over and free them.

I don't think that parents should be unduly alarmed by all of these dangers but they are useful to be aware of so that if you do choose to use a product you can be aware of all the implications.

[littleshirleybeans]

serfterf
Suit yourself then. Preston died when he was 9 months old. I actually know his mother.
Any sort of cot bumper is dangerous but go right ahead if you want.

[mymycherrypie]

I've noticed newer prams have a kind of mesh at the back of the hood which can be opened to provide air when the rain cover is on. I open it in summer just to provide more breeze while the hood is over to protect from the sun. My kids all kicked their rain covers to shreds any way, so they let in ALL the air

[PotPlantAddict]

@RolfNotRudolf

I agree with you about indoor use of rain covers but remembered reading the below earlier in the year.

Goes to show that with some things its not clear cut.
amp.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/09/use-buggy-covers-to-combat-air-pollution-danger-parents-warned

Re cot bumpers, I've been brought two sets now from well meaning friends / family. I was already aware of the risk so put them on for a few photos before tucking them into storage.

No warnings on the box but the label on the bumper states not for babies who can sit, and the matching duvet says not for babies under one.

Essentially the manufacturers are aware of the risks, put on hard to see warnings so they are legally covered, but choose to continue to sell them anyway in order to make a profit

[OuchBollocks]

Had just been reading this thread then looked at Facebook and saw this thing advertised - surely it's a SIDS risk? Wedging a child onto its side, not on its back, big foam thing for it to suffocate on if the baby managed to roll over?

[RolfNotRudolf]

Thank you Sleepthief that's interesting

[FlandersRocks]

Personally I think cot bumpers should be banned. They're just unnecessarily dangerous

I agree.

What particularly winds me up is not so much that bumpers are sold (although they shouldn't be)...but that it's often difficult to buy a cot 'set' without the bloody bumper included. It's not so much choice then as it being given freely when all you wanted was some sheets, a nice coverlet and a mobile.

[Sleepthief84]

Sleeping bags are fine, like many other things, as long as you use the correct one for the temperature and dress baby appropriately. Also buy one that's been accredited - the official Gro-Bags are. Once zipped the ends are popped away so baby can't get the them and you know any poppers etc are safe. We have a 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 3.5 tog one, all with no arms. Not cheap but they are 6-18 months so last ages. Only used to 3.5 tog when away in a chilly holiday let and the 2.5 for winter. While it's been hot I've mostly used the 0.5 (which is basically a sheet with a zip) with DD in either just a vest or just a nappy when it's been 28-30 degrees in her room. On slightly cooler nights like the past day or so she wears a sleepsuit with it or sometimes if needed the thicker 1 tog. She's 15 months now so at less risk than a young baby but I used them from almost newborn (babies must be over 9lbs and not be able to fit their head in the hole).

[KaosReigns]

Our basinete came with a pillow😑

[RolfNotRudolf]

I just googled rain covers to see if they come with a safety warning and came across this:-
<a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-Travel-Universal-Carrycot-Cover-x/dp/B0088D39D6?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-Travel-Universal-Carrycot-Cover-x/dp/B0088D39D6?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
It does come with a warning about indoor use, but doesn't look very safe for outdoor use either as it appears to completely cover the carry cot with very little opportunity for air flow.