Are Crib Bumpers Safe For Baby?

Crib bumpers are not recommended by the Academy of Pediatrics, or any organisation dedicated to preventing sudden infant death syndrome. (This includes recently introduced market staples like "breathable mesh crib liners.")

Yes, bumpers are still commonly included in crib bedding sets. The possibility exists that you'll want to utilise a crib bumper or liner to prevent your infant from squirming or hitting his or her head on the crib's hard surfaces.

However, there is no proof that using these items can keep you safe from harm. Also, there have been incidents of asphyxia, strangling, and trapping occuring as a result of using them. Some bumpers can block the baby's access to fresh air in the crib, which has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome.

Sleep sacks are useful if your baby is mobile and you're worried about her getting her limbs caught in the crib's slats.

The current safety regulations for cribs call for slats to be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent a baby's head from becoming trapped. That's why it's crucial that the crib your baby sleeps in follows all applicable safety standards. Please take a look at our piece on picking out a crib.

The answer to the question "Should you use a crib bumper?" is, however, a resounding no, as you will learn from the advice of professionals after you go into the research.

Research published in Pediatrics found that 69 percent of baby injury deaths were attributable to soft bedding, such as mattress pads, liners, and blankets.

Crib bumpers have been linked to 282 injuries and 107 infant deaths between 1990 and 2016, according to data compiled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Until around 4–6 months of age, and even then, sometimes later, infants are unable to roll over on their own accord from front to back or back to front.

Thus, a baby cannot free itself from a face-down position in any cushiony material. There is an increased risk of SIDS and other sleep-related baby fatalities.

The recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on this matter are also crystal clear: given that bumpers do nothing to promote the safety of our eldest infants, who pose the high danger for injury and death associated with bumpers, and given that bumpers increase the likelihood for accidental suffocation and trapping, bumpers should not be used in the crib.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted in March 2020 to move forwards with rulemaking on the a federal safety standard regarding crib bumpers that would ban the sale of bumpers that were not firm, were more than 2" thick, and did not allow for airflow.

However, that does not rule out the possibility of a youngster being hurt by the crib's slats. As mothers and doctors who specialise in paediatric emergency care, we can attest to the fact that we have seen and treated children whose legs were broken after becoming wedged between crib slats.

While fractures in toddlers are certainly concerning, they may and do heal with the right care. The same cannot be said, however, of sudden infant death syndrome and other sleep-related baby deaths.

Buy Crib Bumpers Only After Reading This Article.

Crib bumpers have undergone numerous innovations as of late. What follows is essential information.

Is it just me, or does everyone else have a desperate, fear-based connection with crib bumpers?

At first glance, they're so strikingly attractive...

• They prevent the baby's limbs from becoming wedged between the slats, resulting in an unending 3 a.m. scream fest.
• The peaceful slumber time isn't interrupted by loud rock concerts in the crib.
• In this way, the infant has a better chance of locating a pacifier on his own, as the pacifiers are gathered in one place.
• By employing soft sleep coaching methods, they shield the infant from our sight.

However, there is a less palatable side to crib bumpers that can't be overlooked.

• In a recent issue of Pediatrics, researchers found that 69 percent of newborn deaths from injuries related to soft bedding. (Which involves more than simply crib bumpers, but is worth mentioning because of that.)
• Crib bumpers have been linked to 107 infant fatalities and 282 injuries, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. *shudder*
• Crib bumpers are strongly discouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

After reading numbers like that, it's simple to decide against using crib bumpers. Nobody seems willing to take the plunge.

However, justification can sneak in with seductive words like "it won't happen to us" or "it's such a small minority" when you haven't slept in weeks.

Thankfully, there is room for more than one option.

A majority of people who wonder if crib bumpers are safe refer to the pads made out of fabric. However, there are different types of bumpers available, such as vertical bumpers, individual crib slat coverings designed to minimise mesh crib liners and head bonks installed to contain wriggling limbs.

Many parents ask if it's safe to use a mesh crib liner because it appears to have greater than a crib bumper for airflow pads and since, according to the CPSC notes, it's thinner than typical bumpers with little to no padding. No. Even with a mesh or slat cover, there is still a risk of suffocation or strangulation for infants in their cribs.

According to CPSC research, between 2008 and 2019, nonfatal events and concerns involving a breathable bumper or mesh lining accounted for 13%. Even with the inclusion of a mesh bumper, "slat entrapments" occurred when a child's arm or leg were stuck between the crib slats.

The CPSC is conducting further research on the safety of mesh and vertical bumpers. This concern is shared by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), who warned in a 2019 study that "additional research is needed to evaluate the safety of apparently 'breathable' crib liners, as the dangers of asphyxia may outweigh the limited safety advantage."

There are various crib bumpers that are marketed as safe, however there is not enough data to verify that they are safe at this time.

Now is the moment to play it safe rather than sorry. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep guidelines are the best way to ensure that infants are safe when sleeping in their crib. To prevent SIDS, always put your baby to bed on their back and use only a fitted sheet in their crib. Never use loose blankets, cushions, stuffed animals, or bumpers.

The Deal About Bumpers And Crib Bumper Alternatives

Do you plan on buying a crib bumper for your soon-to-arrive infant? Crib bumpers have been sold by major merchants for decades; they are patterned, fluffy, and soft to the touch.

Crib bumpers, while seemingly innocuous, actually raise the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

(Yikes!) Crib bumpers were linked to 107 deaths and 282 injuries (including strangulation, suffocation, and entrapment) between 1990 and 2016. What's even more unsettling? Rates of death attributed to crib bumpers nearly tripled between 2008 and 2012, the most recent years of the study.

There should "absolutely not" be a market for crib bumpers, and he gave us three reasons why parents should keep them out of the crib:

• Up until the age of three or four months, infants do not roll, thus it is quite improbable that they would create enough force to cause injury.
• Babies can use a crib bumper as a pillow if they are 4 to 9 months old or younger. Potential suffocation danger exists.
• Most babies are able to pull themselves up to a standing position and utilise the crib bumper as a step after 9 to 10 months of age.

The American Academy of Pediatrics adds to the chorus of voices saying babies shouldn't have crib bumpers by saying the same thing.

There's really no need for crib bumpers. Crib bumpers may seem like a good idea to prevent a child's limbs from becoming entangled in the rails, but they actually pose a serious danger to infants.

There is no denying the obvious hazard that comes with using conventional crib bumpers. Even so, many parents still consider bumpers to be an important component of the crib's furniture. who helps parents who can't bear to give up the security of a crib bumper, suggests a mesh option.

Of course, there are the purists who will choose for no crib bumper at all, but for the rest of us, mesh is the only option.

There are options to using bumpers on cribs. They are frequently constructed from mesh or another similarly permeable material. If you go with one of these options, you'll have to take it away before your child can learn to stand on their own. A child could use them as a footstool to climb out of the crib, putting him or her at risk of injury.

Get rid of the thought of taking home a crib bumper and replace it with something safer. In case you're not quite ready to forego the comfort of a crib bumper, we've compiled a list of seven of our favourite alternatives.

Pottery Barn Baby Linen Mesh Liner With Breathablebaby

Use a soft, light grey liner to maintain a low profile. This alternative to standard crib bumpers is made of breathable mesh and utilises air channel technology to ensure that parents have a peaceful night's sleep. It's not a bad idea to get two, so that you always have a spare while one is being cleaned.

Two-In-One Convertible Mesh Mini-Crib And Mattress

You can skip the extra step of buying a separate bumper for the crib if you purchase one that surrounds the entire mattress. Breathable Baby's mini-crib is a hardwood structure with full mesh sides. It's slightly bigger than a play yard and includes a mattress. This harmony between the two is excellent.

Struggle Infant Crib Side Air Bedside

She's stunning. To put it simply, she exudes elegance. She is a state-of-the-art, airy baby crib.

Depending on your needs, Beaba's convertible crib can be used either at an infant's height and depth or at a full-size mattress depth. The exterior is mesh, so there's no danger of the baby's arms or legs becoming trapped. It is aesthetically pleasing, functionally accommodating, and a technical marvel in every way.

Cribwrap Pink Fleece Rail Cover Wide Long

Perhaps you no longer want to use a crib bumper but are concerned about the safety of your baby sleeping alone. A cushioned railing cover will prevent your child from accidently hitting their head without obstructing their airflow.

Crib Liner In Classic Breathable Mesh

This patterned, protective-mesh crib liner will keep your infant safe and secure so you can focus on having fun with your little one instead of worrying about them getting stuck. This owl liner is ideal if you're going for a forest-inspired look in the baby's room.

This star-patterned mesh liner can be used in place of a crib bumper for a more gender-neutral look. To liven up your baby's nursery, check out BreathableBaby's assortment of fun and interesting patterns.

This would be a lovely accessory for a nursery that doesn't have a certain theme.

Is there an alternative to using blankets or pillows in a baby's cot if bumpers aren't recommended? We can now comprehend the allure of crib bumpers. When they were younger, our children occasionally got their legs caught between the slats. However, a viable substitute for crib bumpers does not exist.

But there is one thing that Hammond recommends, and that is a play yard or a portable crib (frequently used while travelling). For her third child, according to Hammond, she used one. Infants can't put their feet through the mesh and can't bump their heads because to the mesh's flexibility.

One additional secure option to keep infants and toddlers from getting their feet stuck in the crib's slats is the use of sleep sacks. Like miniature sleeping bags, these blankets can be worn around the shoulders and legs at night to keep feet warm and cosy without restricting movement.

Don't let the occasional head bump or futile attempt to place arms where they don't belong keep you up at night. With such a low potential for harm in a baby's crib, [a bumper] is superfluous. Baby crib bumpers pose more risks than they're worth.