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Sleep

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Original poster

Technically not sleep related but cot bumpers? Good or bad?

24 replies

CosyPinkBlanket · 13/05/2017 23:36

So I'm trying to get dd out of her crib in our room and into her big cot in her own. She's a fairly restless sleeper and the few times she's been in her cot through the day (when I'm putting her clothes away or keeping her safe while I shower), she gets limbs various poking out between the bars on the side of the cot. I am thinking of getting cot bumpers for that reason but have read various articles saying that they're dangerous. Dd is 9 months old if that makes any difference...

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tissuesosoft · 13/05/2017 23:39

We use Air Wrap cot bumpers- mesh material but our cot gymnast can't get her legs through

tissuesosoft · 13/05/2017 23:40

The brand we use is Breathable Baby

TuddlesAndSisses · 13/05/2017 23:40

They're a SIDS risk, don't get them. They really shouldn't be sold. If you really must use something to stop your DD poking limbs out then get one of those air wrap things that are breathable but then only until she can sit up herself.

kel1493 · 13/05/2017 23:46

I used them on my sons crib and cot. As did my mum for all of us
As long as they are tied securely they don't pose any risk IMO.
My lb never pulled his down or anything like that
I will use them when we have baby number 2 in a few years
And they look lovely. And the y couldn't sell them if they were that bad. There are many baby products out there way worse IMO

Original poster

CosyPinkBlanket · 13/05/2017 23:48

Thank you, will definitely have an investigate.

That's what I read too but was hoping dd would be ok as she rolls about plenty and can sit (and stand) herself up.

Of course she's not actually there yet and making it difficult for me to get her into her cot. She'll be walking and talking by the time I get her in at this rate!

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CormorantDevouringTime · 13/05/2017 23:50

I found GroBags solved the leg through bars problem.

MerlinEmrys · 13/05/2017 23:53

Bad bad bad. Strangulation risk!

Original poster

CosyPinkBlanket · 13/05/2017 23:54

We use the sleeping bags in the winter but we have a really warm house so don't tend to use them in late spring and summer. She's also really restless and I worry about getting her hands or arms stuck or banging her head. Will be so much easier when she's bigger and in a bed with a pillow and a duvet!

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MerlinEmrys · 13/05/2017 23:55

And yes they do sell them and they are that bad!!

www.facebook.com/Justice-for-Preston-229987167157257/

ScarletSienna · 13/05/2017 23:58

I absolutely wouldn't. Just because people claim anecdotally, 'we were all fine" doesn't mean they are safe. They restrict airflow and are a strangulation and suffocation risk. The Lullaby Trust is a good place to read about things like this. I'm not sure that there is any reputable organisation now that recommends them. Some NHS trusts list them under dangerous equipment.

MrsJamesMathews · 14/05/2017 00:02

Good God no!!! Don't go there.

A little bump on the head is better than death.

It's not just the risk of suffocation and strangulation there's also a risk of over heating.

GroBags come in summer versions.

NerrSnerr · 14/05/2017 00:08

I agree with PP, read the justice for Preston stuff.

Bethan2 · 14/05/2017 08:21

We use a breathable mesh cot bumper - think it is the Safe Dreams one (from Amazon). Velcro fastening and no ties. It's great as my son was getting his arms stuck in the bars! We also use sleeping bags - lower tog ones for warmer nights. He's 8 months now and rolling around and crawling and glad we got the bumpers to protect his little head! X

QuitMoaning · 14/05/2017 08:24

For the people saying they used them and all was well, I didn't use them at all and all was well too. No bumped head, no twisted limbs, nothing.

Really not required so why bother?

Scentofwater · 14/05/2017 08:30

You can get 0.5 tog sleeping bags that are like a thin sheet (we use them for naps over clothes). Might be worth a shot?

If your dd is already moving well then I would worry about her using the bumpers to climb and get herself in a mess that way, or generally find them too distracting.

SusannahD · 14/05/2017 08:33

Don't get the cot bumpers, they are a sids risk. My DS never had them and had no bumps or bruises on the bars.

RichardSimmons · 14/05/2017 09:00

I can't believe people still use the "we all did it and it was fine" justification for anything! We all did a LOT of things that we now know better about. It's true that the vast majority of babies will be fine with cot bumpers, forward-facing car seats, sugar-filled formula, sleeping on their stomachs, etc. But would you really want to put your baby at any degree of increased risk of being one of the few who aren't OK? Then again, cot bumpers look lovely, so that's definitely an important thing to consider .

Timetogrowup2016 · 14/05/2017 09:24

" sugar-filled formula"

Formula is not bad for babies !
Wtaf.

Loulou2kent · 14/05/2017 09:33

I don't know how true this is but I was told that once they could stand not to use them. They can use them to climb on & then fall out of the cot. We never used them anyway because of the other risks, and then I heard this it just reaffirmed it for us that it wasn't worth it.

DeleteOrDecay · 14/05/2017 09:38

As long as they are tied securely they don't pose any risk IMO.

This is wrong and incredibly Ill-informed advice. Google Justice For Preston.

Op don't bother, they are not necessary at all.

Original poster

CosyPinkBlanket · 14/05/2017 09:47

I could try the super thin grobags once she's in her own room. Our bedroom (which she is still in) is a constant 23-25 degrees (and hotter still in the summer) so too hot really for a sleeping bag when she's got her pyjamas on. I'll put a thermometer in her room to see how hot it gets and take it from there. It may be cooler so would use a light sleeping bag.

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Timetogrowup2016 · 14/05/2017 10:29

You can put her in 0.5 bag with no pj's just a nappy on underneath

Original poster

CosyPinkBlanket · 14/05/2017 11:10

I'll see how warm her room gets and I might find that I'll need a grobag anyway as it may be cooler than our room. That will solve the legs getting stuck and she's generally less restless in them as they restrict her movement. I do have visions of her trying to stand up whilst wearing one, tripping and banging her face. We had a heatwave when she was born last summer and she had a short sleeved body suit on and no bag. And we had a portable air con unit rumbling away. The room was around 28 degrees so we had to buy an air con unit. Am definitely hoping her room will be cooler!!!

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sashh · 14/05/2017 11:24

She's also really restless and I worry about getting her hands or arms stuck or banging her head.

Cots are designed so that children do not get their limbs stuck. Better to bang her head than die. Cot bumpers are really bad news.

Plus they make the cot look like a coffin.

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