cot bumpers

[sparkle]

I used a cot bumper for my ds but was told that they are not safe to use as they could impede air flow around the cot.

My dd is 3 months and she keeps moving sideways in her cot and banging her head on the bars. I'm now wondering about getting a cot bumper but does anyone know if they are safe?

I think the views on midwives/health visitors conflict on this one. I had a cot bumper with ds in his crib and his cot but didn't use them for dd. Exactly why I didn't use them with dd I don't know. If I was in your position sparkle I'd just go and get one. Our parents all used to use cot bumpers and we're all all right aren't we???

I have an american cot bumper which goes all around the cot except the foot end. My ds is so active in bed that he is already in a gro bag, but keeps cracking is head, arms, legs etc into the bars and waking himself up in pain .
He is nearly 9mths. Same quandry - should I fit it? It fits onto the bars, so if used as a step it would just slide down the bars. Would they sell them if they were unsafe? As you Sparkle, I to would love to hear others views.

American bumpers are huge aren't they Oooggs?? On all the american baby programmes they are all sitll using them and like you say they wouldn't sell or use them if they were unsafe would they?? DD used to bang her head but she liked to have one of those V type pillows in her cot she used to snuggle into the middle of it from 3 months old. Health visitor went mad when she saw it so I took it out. DD wouldn't sleep without it so it went back in.

I've got 2 bumpers on DS cot, one at the top and one at the bottom I know they say not to use them but he is just such a wriggle bum that if I didn't he'd be covered in bruises and very grumpy through lack of sleep.
I think the reason for not using them is overheating and as babe gets bigger using it as a step, well at present DS is in a nappy with a 1tog grobag on so I'm not worrying about the heat thing and like Oooggs it ties onto the bars so if he tries stepping on it it just slides down.
I think there are lots of mums out there that are using them and not telling their HV's

I use them, but if you are worried maybe you could wait until the weather turns cooler, and then make sure her room is well ventilated so the risk of overheating is reduced.

Im looking at cots to buy again, and I'm suprised at the ones which have solid ends, so I think a cot bumper wouldn't actually be much different than them.

Thanks everyone. I think I will wait until the colder weather and maybe get one then as you suggest Smellymelly. Dd has gone in her sleeping bag for the first time tonight and so this may stop her banging around so much.