Does anyone still use cot bed bumpers

[Rachjones]

Hi there my daughter is nearly 9 months this old and we are struggling with her going from her next to me crib into her cot bed. She likes to sleep right up to the side of the next to me so I think she finds the big spacious cot bed with the bars not comfortable. I have a 7year old daughter who I used cot bed bumpers with without any issues and all of a sudden 7yrs later the rules have changed. My head is telling me I've done this before just do what you know and worked but then you Google stuff and listen to health visitor and it puts doubt in my mind to use them again. Any opinions or advice would be appreciated xx

Nothing has changed since you had your 7yo. It's just the dangers are now more widely known and publicised. Obviously the majority of babies won't die but now we know there's an increased risk of death we wouldn't do it.

It's like car seatbelts back in the 1980s. As a kid I spent years not having to wear a seatbelt and I was fine. But then the stats showed it was more dangerous and now everyone uses seatbelts.

I always belted dd, it never crossed my mind to think I was ok without a seatbelt when I was little so she would be.

My oldest is nearly 9. Was advised no bumpers then too.

Have you considered a travel cot? They have nice soft mesh sides.

I use one. I'm satisfied it is safe. it's woven tightly in and out of the bars and very securely knotted.

I have a 16 year old and advice about cot death back then was not to use bumpers or pillows in the cot.

Have a look at the Justice for Preston FB page. They lost their baby because of cot bumpers it's not worth that risk.

Cot bumpers were regarded as a hazard when I had my oldest who is now 19. Didn't stop some people still using them though.

Have you considered a smaller basket or carrycot in there if she's a bit lost? Or perhaps the breathable Ines but do check them out safety wise properly.

And of course she can sleep on her own at 7 months, both mine did from much smaller than that, they only expect to be held allnight if they learn that's normal.

I'm mortified by some of your respsonses.

Why are you embarrassed @Rachjones

Dangerous and unnecessary. If you don’t want people to respond then why post on a public forum? You can’t ask for responses then get annoyed when people respond in their own manner with their own opinions.

@Oly4 your post was widely incorrect and unnecessary! Lots of babies much younger than 7 months sleep well in their cots! The thing to remember is to keep a good routine and expectations the same each night, if that routine and expectation is to sleep in their cot, that is largely what they will do, if the routine is fall asleep on mum or dad, that's what they will learn is where they sleep. Thus actually happens as early as 4 months for some babies! Good sleep habits are essential! Of course babies vary and their needs change, but it is totally incorrect of you to say that a 7 month old cannot sleep in a cot.

Please, please don't use cot bumpers.

They are not safe. Including the mesh ones.

I'd be particularly concerned if the reason you want to use them is to give your little girl something soft to press against instead of the cot bars.

It's really not worth the potential risk.

If she is small for her age, could you put her in a Moses basket within the cot? That is how I transitioned my daughter from Moses basket in my bedroom to cot. Worked a charm.

No bumpers though op, please don’t use them.

I saw a campaign about them being unsafe on Facebook her baby died by strangling himself on the ties ..don’t take the risk..baby will probably get used to cot soon just persevere, pop them down for day naps in there when your home and let them learn the cots a nice place x

@pajamallama I was about to post the same. We used those. They just helped to stop his dummy falling between the bars at night or him sticking his little legs out.

I never used them or these new breathable ones, 14 years ago it kept falling down so I gave up in the end lol. Didn't bother with the next two and was given 1 with number 4 and I've not used it at all. I suppose the new mesh ones are a good option if your worried hunni.

I would just let her press up against the bars. Babies are soft and squishy, and don't have all the wear and tear on their bodies that we do, so they can make themselves comfortable in ways that we might not.

At her age she may just be going through the 8 month sleep regression.

Unfortunately baby sleep conditions look very Spartan and spare, which goes against our instincts. I would suggest finding some lovely soft things to indulge her during her waking hours.

She won’t sleep in the cot because she’s seven months old. They just don’t.. they still expect to be held all night at that age

What a load of crap.

The bumpers linked above still make it easier for a baby to climb over the bars and suffer a nasty fall Yes!

No bumpers,breathable or whatever are safe. They weren't 30 years ago and they aren't now,I can't believe they still sold tbh.

They weren’t safe when I had eldest - now in their 20’s I had a massive row with the MIL as she’d made them herself 😂 we didnt use anything. She probably just struggling not being next to you- she’ll get used to it

They're just not worth the risk.

My health visitor said to me "a baby can survive a bump on the head but they can't survive suffocation"
That always stuck with me.