Why are cot bumpers still sold???

[xitedmum]

Walking around the Baby Show (London 20/10/18) I couldn't believe how many cot bumpers were on display. I thought these were a definite no-no. Why are they still sold or does anyone use one and why?? Are they not as dangerous as people made out? Thanks!!

I would never use them and I'm surprised they're still sold!

It's baffling how they're still on sale.

This thread has just been brought to my attention by a friend. My 9 month old son Preston lost his life in 2013 aged 9 months old. Preston had his whole life ahead of him but it was cut short by a cot bumper. His bumper was tied securely, knotted 3 times to his cot and was so secure that it needed cutting away but it didn’t stop the bumper from failing to stay attached to the ties. I’ve seen some comments on here saying they’re more dangerous in younger babies, that isn’t true at all. In fact they’re probably safer in younger babies but that doesn’t mean they are safe in younger babies and I would never advise somebody to use them for a younger baby either. The youngest baby to lose their lives to a bumper was 6 weeks old, the oldest 2 years old. I fought to get the lullaby trust to change their advice and they did, I fought to get safety standards updated across Europe and succeeded, why? Because the U.K. government, the European Parliament and the lullaby trust all agreed that cot bumpers are dangerous. America has already been banning them in some states and there’s currently a bill in NY congress to ban them there too. It’s ok to have an opinion and think they’re not dangerous but that doesn’t make it fact. My life has completely changed, my broken heart cannot ever be fixed, 5 years have passed but the pain remains the same and it will until I die. You can kiss a bump better but you cannot kiss death better. It just isn’t worth the risk. If you have a bumper please remove it, if you’re thinking of buying one please don’t because your baby is irreplaceable and if the worst happened you can’t get them back.

Justiceforpreston thank you for your post, Ive read your story before and reading it again brings a lump to my throat.
I truly hope they get banned in this country so no parent will experience what you have gone through.

@Justiceforpreston thank you so much for coming to share your story, I cannot imagine the pain x

Justiceforpreston
Thank you for posting and I can appreciate that it has probably brought back bad memories (which I’m sure are never far away 😢)
Hopefully, your post will make it crystal clear to people why cot bumpers should be banned. God bless

@Justiceforpreston thank you for your post and for the work that you’ve done in bringing this issue to other parents attention.

*lots of things that ARE dangerous aren’t banned

Doh! I wish we could edit posts!!!! I’ve just reread mine and noticed an autocorrect

Because money is more important than babies lives.

And while there are still people stupid enough to use them they will keep getting made. So the profits will keep coming in and the babies will keep on passing.

Because people buy them.

@Justiceforpreston thank you for sharing your post. So sorry for your loss. x

Had this conversation with a friend today. Baffling that anyone would make that risk.

Justiceforpreston I have read your story several times and I'm so sorry for your loss. As soon as I realised how dangerous bumpers were, mine came straight off.

wow I never knew they were deemed dangerous, used them for both of mine (now adults) it was a massive cot though.

I literally just came to say to research justice for preston.

Im not overly risk adverse or obsessed but I will never ever use a bumper

Thank you justiceforpreston that is so sad and thanks for informing us.

I use them because my ds bumps his head very, very hard throughout the night. He also likes sticking his hands thought the bars. Any suggestions what could be used to prevent this?

The ones we use are purely for him bumping his head. Theres a craze here with those braided bumpers which are just a fright and tacky. Those should be banned.

I never used them for DD and I had such awful remarks directed my way. My daughter has always been a restless sleeper and she would often bump her head in the night, but I was so worried she would suffocate. I brought a sleeping bag instead and that seemed to ease her restlessness.

Justiceforpreston,

I had read your son’s story on Facebook, a while ago. Thank you for sharing your story with us on here as well.
I can’t begin to imagine your pain, I wish you love and healing.

Lots of love justiceforpreston

❤️

@silverlining the mesh bumpers are, I believe, safe and would definitely help with both those issues.

A bare cot is the only safe option. Every bumper he risks and is not recommended by the NHS or any safety experts.

@meow1989 we keep an eye on the temperature, but it's a really cold room, so it's always been fine. The heating is on for an hour before bed time and an hour in the early morning, so not too much!

We got breathable ones to stop my son getting his legs caught between the bars. This happened to him a few times. There was also that terrible story of the little boy who got his head stuck and sadly died. I agree that non-breathable ones should not be on sale, but definitely agree with breathable bumpers.

Thank you drspouse. I will look our for them