Cot bumpers, swaddles and feet to foot

[pixiestix]

Hi all,

I'm 30 weeks pg with my first and trying to stock up on all the neccesaries!

Could you give me some advice on cots and sleeping positions? I have been reading all about the "feet to foot" position and am wondering how this fits in with using a swaddle or a gro-bag. Do you just ignore this if you aren't using sheets?

Also, cot bumpers seem to be the work of the devil from the leaflets I have been given, but they are on sale EVERYWHERE so are they something that most people have? If you are using the "feet to foot" position, and the bumpers are around the top of the cot (as they all seem to be in Mothercare) is the risk eliminated? And does that mean their only purpose is to look pretty, rather than keep the baby from sticking its arms out of the cot etc.

Sorry if this makes no sense! Its all a bit new to me...

you should still do feet to foot whatever they sleep in

the main purpose of cot bumpers is to look pretty and make ££ for Mothercare. Don't use them for a newborn even if they're up the other end of the cot.
From 3-4m ish they can be handy if you have a nighttime wriggler who persistently smacks their head and/or gets their limbs stuck. Sticking out is ok, it;s only if they get stuck and howl you want to fix it.

with this in mind the plain white Ikea one that goes all the way round the cot thus is more use than the themed ones that just go round the head end.

I never used a bumper as they seemed a bit pointless (and expensive!). They have neither good or bad effects re SIDS and should be removed when your lo gets mobile as they can try to use them to climb out. If you are not using sheets/blankets that have a possibility to go over the head then yes the feet to foot position is less important.