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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

cot bumper-yay or nay?

22 replies

sprite25 · 18/11/2013 11:22

My sister has just brought us a lovely matching cot bumper, duvet and cot mobile...but I didn't think it was advised to use bumpers and duvets? I dont want to offend my sister by saying we don't want it or by not using it cos its lovely but if there not safe to use I wouldn't want to put them in with the baby???

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Faverolles · 18/11/2013 11:24

Nay.
By the time it's safe enough to use the child is old enough to use it to climb out of the cot.

Duvet will be useful at some point, but not straight away.

Mildpanic · 18/11/2013 11:25

Not recommended I'm afraid.
Sorry can't do links on my phone but definite no no.

DropYourSword · 18/11/2013 11:25

Nay. Is a SIDS risk.

ilovepowerhoop · 18/11/2013 11:27

no real need for a bumper, duvet/quilt not recommended until age 1. Mobile is ok!

StillPukin · 18/11/2013 11:27

I would say definitely not. At least not while your little one is still,, little (sorry I dont know their age).
When I had my DS I didnt have one because I felt it would be better if the cot was as 'open' as possible so that air could circulate around it. Also, if baby was to turn over and land with their face against the bumper, would they be able to turn back? My figuring,,, the worse case scenario; without a bumper, if they turn over and bump their head on the cot bars all that will happen is a little bump on their head, but if they couldnt turn back over they could suffocate.
If you didnt want to upset your sister you could use the rest of the set but save the bumper part for the future and just explain your concerns to her, I'm sure she'd understand

SaucyJack · 18/11/2013 11:34

Cot bumpers were fine when I had my older two, and they're only 6&8 now.

Rockchick1984 · 18/11/2013 11:51

See here they are a SIDS risk, there has been deaths associated with them not worth taking the risk.

Debs75 · 18/11/2013 12:19

I wouldn't use one now. I did with my DD(17) but not for long as I couldn't see her from my bed (lazy mummy). It did help keep the cold draughts off her head but I never really liked it.

Now they say there are SIDS risks I wouldn't risk it. we are always learning more about keeping babies safe and I think we would be stupid to ignore it and do as we always did

mumoftwoboysS · 18/11/2013 12:24

agree with the others- they're not recommended till baby is a year old I think. So what I did with mine was keep it and use it once baby was over a year. Even then I found it a bit useless- it was nice and firm for a while then after a year of use it started to sag and would end up squished down into the cot but DC doesn't seem to mind.

You can get some netting style ones which are really thin and allow air to circulate and are safe and may prevent baby banging their head/getting an arm or leg stuck in the bars but they're not essential- more of an extra if you feel the need.

JoJo sell them and it says they're suitable from birth

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+airwrap-2-sided-cot-bumper-in-bumpers+B9232?gclid=CPWc8IOq7roCFTGWtAodESwAbA

ilovepowerhoop · 18/11/2013 12:26

bumpers should be removed well before a year as they are supposed to be removed when the child gets more mobile as they can then try to climb on them - they are therefore for use from birth until they get mobile. Duvets/quilts shouldnt be used before 1 year.

Bubbless · 18/11/2013 12:28

Tbh, my dd has always had a cot bumper, she was a sickly baby and it kept any drafts away from her head.. But the duvet is not on the bed.. It's up to you!!

Shellywelly1973 · 18/11/2013 12:32

Im so old I consider a cot not to be properly made up if it hasn't got a bumper on it.

How would you stop the baby bumping her head?
How would you stop the baby getting drafts & cold? My baby is due in January. Very old & cold house!

MomentForLife · 18/11/2013 12:40

Nay. Like others have said they're only meant for before the baby is mobile anyway. I'm not an expert but I can't imagine a pre mobile baby doing a huge amount of damage bumping their head a bit themselves on a cot bar, but I can imagine them wriggling about and getting trapped,tangled, over heated etc.

Original poster

sprite25 · 18/11/2013 13:29

Hmm I think I will leave off the bumper and just keep the duvet for when she's a year. I can't imagine her getting any drafts or anything, we have double glazing and central heating and the cot isn't near any windows or outside walls.

OP posts:

ilovepowerhoop · 18/11/2013 13:32

I never used a bumper for either of mine. You could try air wrap ones as they are supposed to be breathable.

mumoftwoboysS · 18/11/2013 13:56

I've never heard of advice about bumpers being removed before they're mobile- so what about the advice that says put them on after a year? very confusing! Mine would never have been able to climb on the bumper anyway as it's too soft. Interesting tho as I've never heard that before

ilovepowerhoop · 18/11/2013 14:35

there isnt advice to use bumpers after a year, just to remove them when your baby can get up on their hands and knees as they could use them to try to climb out.

From the above link about SIDS risk:

According to The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) there is no evidence that cot bumpers have contributed to any UK cot deaths.

It advises that cot bed bumpers are not necessary, but if they are used they should be removed when a baby is old enough to sit unaided and use them to climb out of the cot.

pumpkinsweetie · 18/11/2013 16:54

I have purchased a swinging crib set that comes with a bumper but i'm unsure of whether to use the bumper after reading this very tragic story
m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=229987167157257

It has made me think twice & i definetly would not use one for an older mobile baby

mumoftwoboysS · 18/11/2013 18:21

oh ok- obviously new advice or something I hadn't heard of when I had DC1 4 years ago. Makes sense- obviously mine were never very adventurous as they didn't use them to climb out!

sorry I didn't mean there was advice to use them after a year, just that the advice was not to use them till over a year old? Similar to the use of pillows?

anyway it's a shame they're not considered safe (or are advised not to be used) as they do brighten up the room/cot....

ilovepowerhoop · 18/11/2013 18:33

dd is 10 and ds is 7 and the advice was always to remove them before they got mobile. I have never heard of advice not to use them until after the age of 1 as they should have been removed by then. Duvets/quilts/pillows are from 1 year though.

I have never seen the need for bumpers anyway so didnt use them.

mumoftwoboysS · 18/11/2013 21:50

hmm, not sure where I read that then. I just can't understand when they should be used then if they shouldn't be used when baby is tiny, and not used when they're mobile that doesn't give much of a window for using them at all!

I think it's all a bit of common sense anyway and what mums decide on doing after weighing the advice up. Both mine have been fine with bumpers from 1 year and it makes it a bit softer for their heads- especially as my youngest tends to sleep right up against the bars.

Debs75 · 19/11/2013 21:53

Mumoftwo I think they are just another marketing gimmick. they aren't really needed and I bet a lot of mums have never used them. Like most things though accidents happen and then guidelines are published which is how many mums know not to use them after they become mobile

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