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Parenting

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Original poster

Are cot bumpers safe to use??

12 replies

kbaby · 19/08/2004 20:19

Does anyone know the answer re the above.

I cant find anything in the baby books about their use and im unsure if I should take the ones I ahve on the cot off.

DD is 12 weeks

Thanks

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prettycandles · 20/08/2004 14:37

I think it's one of those things that you have to make up your own mind about, because the 'official' advice is so ridiculous: you're not supposed to use them before 6m, because of the risk of overheating and therefore cot-death, but you have to remove them as soon as the baby can pull themselves up or sit up, because of the risk of strangulation or falling out of the cot.

Personally, we didn't use them because I couldn't see the point of them! Someone else will be along no doubt who will be better informed !

poppyseed · 20/08/2004 14:42

Same as you pretty candles - we didn't use them due to the overheating issue and they are also supposed to be dangerous if they use them as a leg up when they're older to get out (fall) of the cot. The only time when I contemplated them was when DD and DS used to wake up screaming when their arms/legs got stuck in the bars... More rice pudding solved that when they got all cuddly and chubby!!!!
Kbaby - can't believe DD is 12 weeks already - have things improved at all?

Tetley · 20/08/2004 14:45

We've used one with both kids because they always ended up asleep in the top corner of the cot, with head pressed against bars, so it gave some padding!

Didn't realise that there was a safety issue with them.

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hmb · 20/08/2004 14:47

I was told that they were unsafe because the baby could roll over into it and overheat. I don't think that the official line is 'ridiculous' as my dd could roll at an early age and then couldn't roll back. She could have got 'stuck' quite easily.

cp3 · 20/08/2004 14:48

I didnt use one for Dd but i do for ds, he likes to curl up against it. he is 11 months now but has had it from birth.

From saftey point just make sure the ties are short so they dont get tangleded in them.

As pretty candles says its personal choice. Dont put a duvet in the bed though or a pillow till a year old

prettycandles · 20/08/2004 14:58

What I meant was ridiculouse was that you shouldn't use them before 6m, or after the baby can sit up, and what age do most babies start sitting? about 6m! So when can you 'officialy' use them?

edam · 20/08/2004 15:01

I know prettycandles, struck me that way too.

Gather the overheating/cot death idea has now been ruled out though, the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths says they are OK but the sitting-up advice still holds, apparently.

hmb · 20/08/2004 15:02

Intersted to real that the overheating thing has now been overturned, as people lose most of their heat via their heads.

Original poster

kbaby · 21/08/2004 18:08

poppyseed, i know time has gone so fast. dd is now absolutly gorgeous. still wont sleep during the day in her cot but weve got around that by going out and about in the pram etc. she is now such a happy baby and rarely cries much. i cant believe how much better she is. i am so happy to spend my days with her and watch her grow. she changed at about 8 weeks and i realised that she hadnt cried for a few days and since then its just got better. now shell play happily on her mat and give everyone big smiles all the time.

the cot bumpers have short ties at the top and i was using them because dd wriggles to the top of the cot all the time and i didnt want her to bang her head, but if theres a risk with them id rather remove them.

OP posts:

edam · 21/08/2004 19:38

Agree with HMB, it is counter-intuitive, but apparently not a major risk. Who knows...

gracielou · 23/08/2004 19:34

Dont know about cot bumpers, but does anyone know where i can get something called a guardian angel? Two bolsters jined by a piece of fabric to hold baby in place while sleeping.

prettycandles · 23/08/2004 20:03

Have you tried Blooming Marvelous or Perfectly Happy People?

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