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Original poster

Freaking out about cot bumpers please talk sense to me

30 replies

blossombath · 26/08/2012 15:04

We'll soon be moving ds out into a clothed in he own room (he's nearly 6mo and has outgrown his crib in out room). Freaking out a bit about it, channelling that freaking out mainly onto cot bumpers. So sorryfor long rant on tedious subject.
When in cotbed for daytime naps or play he tends to roll around getting his legs or arms stuck, which I'm not too worried about, or he lifts his head up to look out and bangs it on the top bar of the cot. I am worried about at, not even sure if I should be...

So having read various threads about cot bumpers I still have some questions I hope you can help with

Bumpers/air wraps/bumpsters etc all seem to protect against trapped limbs and bumping head onthe actual bars etc...has anyone got a way to stop them banging head on the top (lateral) bar?

If I did get or make a cot bumper (since none fit a cot bed and they are so expensive), how could I fit it safely to the ends

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Original poster

blossombath · 26/08/2012 15:06

Sorry, a cot bed in own room...

OP posts:

HappyCamel · 26/08/2012 15:08

Cot bumpers aren't advised. It's much safer for them to get a small bruise from a wooden bar than push their face into the fabric or get caught in the ties.

fhdl34 · 26/08/2012 16:16

I thought it was no cot bumpers till over 1yr and prob by then they wouldn't need it. When DD could roll from back to front but not back again, she rolled to the edge of her cot and her arm was hanging out down the side so she couldn't even prop herself up. If she'd have had a cot bumper her face would've been stuck in it and I wouldn't have heard her on the monitor. She does bump her head regularly on the bars but hasn't got a bruise yet, it's just a pita as it wakes her up

Iggly · 26/08/2012 19:21

Dd had air wrap cot bumpers from birth (you can create through them and cannot climb on them).

How on earth would your ds hit his head on the lateral bit??

Iggly · 26/08/2012 19:22

And the air wrap bumpers fit using Velcro so no ties.

MrsPnut · 26/08/2012 19:24

He won't be damaged from bumping into bits of the cot but could possibly be from a cot bumper.

Kids are resilient, I know this because amazingly I have got one to 15 and another to 6 when I am the most relaxed parent possible.

JustFabulous · 26/08/2012 19:26

Bumpers are awful.

I can't understand why anyone would use them.

They are a pointless but of kit.

JustFabulous · 26/08/2012 19:27

bit, not but.

Nevercan · 26/08/2012 20:25

Sorry but I have always used bumpers and they are great for stopping them catching arms and legs in gaps and bumping heads etc.

emsyj · 26/08/2012 20:26

Please don't use a bumper. I know someone who lost a 9 month old baby due to suffocation on a cot bumper. They are dangerous and totally unnecessary.

CumberdickBendybatch · 26/08/2012 20:28

Airwrap

I had the idea for these when DS was about 7mo, didn't exist when he was tiny. should probably have patented it, whoops. Still.. they look v good.

CumberdickBendybatch · 26/08/2012 20:29

He will learn not to bang his head on the top bar before long, don't worry.

pmgkt · 26/08/2012 20:32

If he is bumping his head on the top bar when rolling I would be more concerned about him going over the top then a few bruises, lower your cot please before its too late. Sorry if I have miss understood your post.

notwoo · 26/08/2012 20:33

Lower the cot to the next level?
Air wrap is good

JustFabulous · 27/08/2012 08:19

Think about it. Cot bumpers and quilts are sold as matching items for your baby's cot. You shouldn't use the bumper (at all imo) once they can pull themselves up and you shouldn't use a quilt until they are one. Therefore you are never going to have them in the cot together. Mums buy them as they look pretty but more than one child has died because of something happening with the bumper.

Nevercan, you were lucky. And why say sorry if you think you were right to use them?

Original poster

blossombath · 27/08/2012 21:09

He hits his head on the lateral bit when he rolls onto front and lifts his head up to look about but doesn't quite have proper control so sometimes his head flops sideways onto the bar iyswim. He can't sit up by himself or pull up yet; do you really think we need to lower cot? Was avoiding doing this as worried about knackering back lifting him in and out but obviously would rather knacker back than injure DD.

OP posts:

CumberdickBendybatch · 27/08/2012 21:35

Yes, definitely lower the cot.

princesssmartypantss · 28/08/2012 12:24

Its my understanding that you shouldn't use cot bumpers when babies are small because they can get caught under them, or overheat as they reduce air flow, which as previous posters have suggested can at worse result in cot death. As they get older they apparently can use them to help them climb out, so we didn't get one.
Ds used to roll about quite a bit, so tucking him in (with his feet to foot of cot) helped a bit, then we bought a sleeping bag and so now he doesn't get his feet stuck, and seems to be able to sort out his hands, although he is a bit older?

Iggly · 28/08/2012 12:28

Yes lower the cot. Because he might stand up before you realise he can do it - dd did it in the cot when it was higher! Scared me!

dontlaugh · 28/08/2012 12:37

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend bumpers are NEVER used here. Anyone that ignores this advice is simply looking for trouble, imo.

Flisspaps · 28/08/2012 12:44

I though you should lower the cot at 6mo when they start rolling and sitting up anyway?

Lexiesgirl · 28/08/2012 12:53

Definitely lower the cot.

I was thinking about a bumper during the recent heat when DD was napping in just a vest and once got her leg stuck between the bars, fortunately while she was asleep so I was able to move it before she tried to pull it out. But she normally naps in her grobag, so she can't get legs stuck. Have you tried that?

Original poster

blossombath · 29/08/2012 10:47

Ok folks you have indeed spoken sense to me, thank you! I think the whole desire for a cot bumper was really just about me feeling the need to do something to mark/prepare for ds moving into his own room which is currently still filled with junk also acting as a spare room.

But I think moving the cot down to its next level will be a better way to prepare the room for him, and maybe spending one of his naptimes sorting out the room instead of freaking out on MN will help, too.

OP posts:

Original poster

blossombath · 29/08/2012 10:50

oh, and while I have anyone's attention, and since I'm asking stupid questions that make me seem a bit like a useless mum....

Now he's in the cotbed for naps he tends to roll around alot more and sometimes ends up on his front. I'm assuming that since he got there himself it's ok to leave him; I seem to remember nieces and nephews sleeping on their front as older babies. I've been leaving him at naptime since I'm awake and popping in to check him regularly, but would be more worried at night. However, one time we did move him back to his back when he was asleep in a friends cot and we were going to bed he woke up and was rather upset. Not keen to do that every night.

Any sense you can speak would be welcome.

OP posts:

Flisspaps · 29/08/2012 11:24

If he can roll then leave him be.

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