Crib Bumpers

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Simple Question:

Are crib bumpers safe?

I have bought a swinging crib for the living room for the baby.

No. Not at all.

Look at The Lullaby Trust website: babies have died because of cot bumpers.

They should be banned.

Not safe and not necessary.

thanks everyone!

I dont know why stores are allowed to sell them!!

I got some breathable ones but they’re not really padded. Stopped my baby getting his legs trapped in between the cot bats

Not safe, nor are breathable ones..
No need

Not at all. And the breathable ones are not safe either. Babies have strangled themselves with them, rather than suffocated against them.
They should absolutely be banned.

I bought some from ikea that have a base the mattress sits in so no gaps between bumper and mattress.

Stopped her getting her legs stuck in the bars

They've strangled themselves with the ones with the ties. I have not read of an incident where a baby was harmed with the breathable ones with the velcro on, but I can see why people would be concerned. But I also put my boys teddy in his bed from 5 months.

Babies learn to get themselves unstuck by getting stuck: they get an arm or a leg stuck once or twice and they soon start to learn. There is absolutely 100% no need for bumpers (whatever kind they are). They also do not need teddies or bows in their hair or whatever other crap people put in babies cots because they look cute.

Yes mine needed a teddy to get to sleep- still has it and if he throws it out his cot he cries.

Really unsafe. Something like 37 deaths in the states are directly attributable to cot bumpers in past five years. No specific statistics for U.K. are available.
Getting a leg stuck isn’t an issue. Not breathing because they are trapped under a bumper in a position that restricts breathing is.

A child who hasn’t had a teddy won’t need one. At that young age anyway: slightly different when they get older (18 months to 2 years when they start to form attachments to things like that).

@CherryPavlova the bumpers i have don't have anywhere to get trapped under

Once they can roll over and sleep on thrir front, they can move their heads to breathe. My dd has also haf a confortor toy and blanket to sleep since about 9 months

Wow! So you must be an expert?! 😏Some babies like soothers to help them to sleep, my baby doesn’t have a dummy or a bottle or a breast. He has his teddy which allows him to sleep. Without it he can’t resettle in the night. So yes, at this young age he needs his teddy. It takes him about twenty mins to fall asleep with his teddy. Without it he would struggle.

I think it’s a good thing for him and I really don’t give a hoot what you have to say about it.

@Lazypuppy I agree. This was when we had the bumpers as that’s when all the movement started that led to his legs getting caught. Baby also seemed pretty strong at that stage and able to move head if needed.

I see people are saying there's no need for cot bumpers. However my daughter has started rolling onto her front at night and then when she rolls back onto her back again she keeps banging her head on the side bars! 🙈

I've not bought any cot bumpers cause I know they're unsafe... But I can see a need for them.

Not an expert at all, I just listen to the experts. No need to get snippy, you do what you want and take whatever advice you want. someone saying they don’t agree with the statement you are making isn’t a personal attack, it’s just someone disagreeing for their own valid reasons. I don’t think it’s safe based on the evidence of research, you do think it’s safe based on your own research so that’s fine :)

@Cosmoa they soon learn don’t worry. It’s just a phase and will pass like teething and tantrums, just temporary hurdles :)

OK Your baby, your choice. Every professional body and all research says they are unsafe but of course, the majority of babies don’t die when they are used. A slightly bumped head is not a real issue, is it? A minor inconvenience at most.
No, babies don’t learn to turn over to breathe as soon as they can roll. SIDS is most common under 6 months. Most babies can roll around 4 months. Sadly, deeply sleeping babies can become hypoxic if their nose is obstructed in any way - babies under about 4 months have not learned to breathe through their mouth. Hypoxia deepens the ‘sleepiness’ and makes them less able to move.

I had a cot bumper because it came in the bedding set from Mothercare. it looked lovely in DS's cot. As soon as I heard about the dangers the thing came straight off! I cannot believe they are still legal!

I was ‘snippy’ about your comment about teddys I know quite a few parents who have given their baby small teddys about six months to help them sleep- not a problem. As for cot bumpers, I was happy using mine around six months when I felt there was no danger to baby. I knew about the risk, I bought perforated ones with no ties and ensured they were securely fastened. I assessed the risks in light of my baby’s development at that time and decided that my baby would be safe. Just like when I co slept with my baby up until 3 month, I assessed the risks and went with it. There have also been many cases documented of children dieing during co sleeping and yet people continue to do it.