Ways in which cot bumpers cause death/injury

[LisasCat]

I hope this post doesn't prove offensive, but I'm hoping people can give me precise details of how babies get injured by cot bumpers, so I can try to avoid anything happening.

Basically DD2 has just gone from co-sleeping into her own cot. DD1 had a cot bumper in it, to soften the blow to her head when she learnt to 'caterpillar' her way to the top of the bed (that back arching and pushing with the feet move they do), but it never seemed to pose a risk. DD2, however, likes to bury her face in it. I think she's recreating the comforting sensation of covering her face, in the way she does in my sleeve when she sleeps in my arms and in my body when she sleeps next to me on the bed. So I don't want to remove the bumper, as I think she'll struggle to fall asleep with her face completely exposed.

But it worries me when I see her entangled in it. She hooks her arms around it, one from underneath and one over the top, and nuzzles it into her face. Then she falls asleep, and in her sleep rolls away from it a bit so she has a clearer passageway for breathing.

I've read the warnings about children using it to climb out of the cot (she's a long way off that - can't even sit unaided yet), but my main concerns are about strangulation from the ties and suffocation. I can't quite figure out how this happens, and so how I can prevent it. This is why I'm hoping a midwife or HCP here can give me the detailed explanation, but like I say, I really hope this request doesn't cause any offence to anyone who may have experienced this.

Just wanted to point out we have an all around cot bumper from a company called sleepsafe - if you google breathable cot bumper it should come up.

Not a MW of HV, but I thought the main danger was suffocation, they say babies can bury their face in the bumper and not be able to roll away if they fall into a deep sleep?

I have the airwrap and love it. How old is your DD? I'm not sure what age you can give her a lovey from, DS has a soft comforter and rubs his face with it before falling asleep, but he's almost 1.

DD is 6 1/2 months. She has a couple of blankie type toys, but doesn't seem to have formed an attachment to them, at least not enough that they satisfy her face burying night time need.

I stay with her until she's fallen asleep, so I'm always there to make sure she's got a clear airway when she drifts off, but I worry that in her sleep she might cover her mouth again, or wake during the night and self-soothe by doing it again, without me waking up.

I'll have a look for those breathable ones. That sounds like it might do the trick. But does that tackle the strangulation issue with the ties? (which I still can't figure out - there's certainly not enough room for her to get her head through)

They don't have ties, but velcro. It took a while for DS to "use" his comforter, I had to keep it between us when feeding or cuddling him to sleep, then put them both in the cot.

I also have the airwrap and have found it as good as a trad bumper.I even got it in pink so it looks quite nice.

We bought a Mama's and Papa's crib bumper set before our dd was born - she is now 15 weeks old and it is still in its packaging in the cupboard! I read some things online and decided not to use it from a SIDS point of view for fear of it restricting airflow/ baby breathing stale uncirculated air. I am a massive worrier though!

I also used an airwrap. They velcro on so that if the baby become tangled and pulls, they come off.

Much better than ties.

I have the air wrap too