Are cot bumpers advisable?

[northlondonchoclover]

Planning to put newborn straight into a cot. Conflicting advice on whether cot bumpers are advisable. Mums, what do you think?

I think official advice is not recommended but I used one. DS went into cot at 4mths and we had a lovely bumper as part of his bedding set (can get fabulous ones in the US). I shoved it right down below the mattress and the sides of the cot, it was wedged tight and honestly no way baby could get caught up in it.

I think the advice not to use them is not just based on them getting stuck under the bumper - its to do with keeping their heads uncovered when they are in bed. Once they are old enough to roll they could move so that their head was jammed up against the bumper, and since they evaporate heat out of their heads, having their head covered like that could cause them to get hot, which is linked to cot death.
I doubt its a particularly significant risk. I agonised over a gorgeous liberty print bumper in john lewis but decided to stick to the letter of the SIDS advice in the end, even though I am sure its a bit overcautious.

I wouldn't have felt comfortable using them.

How about an airwrap?

mine said on the packet not to use before 12 months due to risk of suffocation and reduced air circulation

thanks for the advice, I'm surprised at how widely available they are in baby shops even with these risks.

I know lots of people don't, but
i used them with both dc's, otherwise they would have bashed their heads black and blue. Did make sure they were tucked well in and securely tied.

I am sure they don't give the advice lightly and somebody must have had a horrible experience with them at some point but I am hard pushed to see how a baby could really do any harm on them

My two both had one after 6 mths when they went into it - the cot looked bare without it and it also provided a tiny bit of protection against them wacking their heads against the bars. That isn't really an issue with a newborn though because they don't move that much. Also the cot bumper usually goes round the top end of the cot whilst a newborn at least with be put to sleep with its feet near the bottom so they can't disappear under the bed covers so the bumper is pretty redundant then except as decoration.

I take the point about airflow but a cot bumper goes round only half the cot and babies often spend their first few months in a moses basket which is complete covering around the sides so surely that is more of an issue?

Go with what you feel comfortable with and trust your instincts.

Everything I've read suggests they are a 'fashion' which has come over here from America - are completely unnecessary and really ought to be avoided. They prevent airflow, can cause overheating or the baby can become trapped. Like a lot of stuff associated with having a baby its a way of making money - similar to the wedding industry baby = big bucks! Call me cynical, but how many of our mothers used them?! They might look cute but as far as I can tell that's all they're good for!