How Do I Protect My Baby From Crib Rails?

Baby Bumper Pads: Safe and Comfortable, but Dangerous

Bumper pads for a crib are padded partitions that go along its inside walls. Your baby will be safer if she doesn't have to worry about getting her head or limbs caught between the slats. Despite this good aim, these tools are not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In 2005, the AAP first voiced its concerns about crib bumpers, pointing out that some versions may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (sudden infant death syndrome). Six years later, the AAP reversed course, telling CNN that no bumper pads, of any substance or texture, should be used in infants' cribs.

Since the AAP first advocated back sleeping in 1992, the number of sleep-related newborn fatalities has gone down. Suffocation, trapping, and asphyxiation deaths, however, rose throughout the same period. Many injuries sustained in infants' bedrooms might be traced back to their bumper pads.

It's quite challenging for a newborn to remove a limb that has become wedged between a crib slat and the attached pad. A similar situation occurs when an infant rolls too near to the pad and her airway becomes closed.

The AAP also discussed the intended function of bumper pads, which is to protect users from sustaining minor head trauma. Soft padded crib walls may seem like a harmless precaution, but they can really lead to catastrophic injuries.

Baby's Gums Need Protection From Crib Rail Guards, Too!

Crib rail guards, as opposed to bumpers, are installed above the mattress of your baby's sleeping area. That's why it's wise to utilise a crib rail guard rather than just bumpers.

The functions they do are distinct from one another. Rail guards prevent your teething baby's gums from coming into contact with the crib's paint, wood, or other materials. (It also prevents your infant from damaging the crib by teething.)

While they are usually accepted as safe, you should still pick your rail guards with care to ensure that the ones you instal don't cause any issues. If you decide on tying-in place guards, ensure sure the knots are always above the baby's reach.

The guards may break loose with a good tug and tumble into the crib, where they would be as deadly as any other pillow. Ties should be no longer than nine inches.

If the rail guard comes loose and the charming buttons fall into the crib, they could be a choking hazard. Snaps are secure but can be difficult to use if your crib has curved or thick rails.

As your baby may try to soothe her sore gums by chewing on the cover, it's important that it be made of sturdy, washable material and, ideally, one with a waterproof backing to protect it from all the drool (you'll be shocked at how much drool your baby produces).

Infant Restraints

As a parent, you will make many crucial choices, but none more so than the one you make while choosing your baby's bed. Your child will be spending a lot of time in her crib, thus its safety is of paramount importance. The following are some things to look for and consider when buying a crib or evaluating a used one for safety.

• Whether you're shopping for a new crib or using one you've borrowed, it's important to verify that it was manufactured after 1989, when mandatory safety regulations were first put in place.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission implemented new crib rules in 2011 that forbid the selling of drop-side rails. Under no circumstances should you utilise this style of crib.
• To avoid the risk of suffocation, the space between the crib's slats should be no more than two and three-eighths of an inch. Verify that all slats are present.
• Avoid using a crib that has any loose hardware or sharp corners that could cause injury to your child.
• Cribs with protruding corner posts can cause serious strangulation or other injuries to infants who become entangled in their clothing.
• A snug fit between the mattress and the crib is required (less than two fingers should fit between the mattress and sides of the crib). Crib end panels should dip well below the mattress on their lowest setting. Because of this, there will be no places for the infant to become stuck and suffocate in between the mattress and the bed frame.
• If you don't want your infant to get tangled up, make sure the crib sheet fits snugly in all of the corners and along the sides of the mattress.
• Locking latches on the crib's movable sides are essential. The latches shouldn't be easy for your toddler to loosen or adjust.
• It's important to safely fasten the mattress support in the crib.
• Your baby should not be able to get stuck in any cutouts in the crib's end panels.
• It's important to use a safe paint for the crib's interior.
• When your baby first starts standing, lower the crib mattress to its lowest setting.
• Once your child reaches 35 inches in height, or the side rail is lower than 75% of her height, it is time to transition her to a bed.
• After picking out a crib, the next step is to put it together correctly. In addition to the basic steps, these instructions should also include any necessary upkeep or cleaning procedures. You should save the directions for future use.

Replacements For Crib Rails

In this article, we'll take a close look at the three most popular crib rail covers and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Fabric Rail Protectors for Cribs

Advantages:

• Usual and Typical
• sucking infant saliva
• Multiple sizes are readily accessible.
• Conforms to standard and nonstandard crib rail heights and designs.

Disadvantages:

• Observe the laundering guidelines to a tee.
• covers up a portion of the baby's bed

Fabric covers for crib rails are by far the most typical and widely used option. The fabric will keep your baby safe from teething on the cot and will also act as padding in the event of a fall.

Straps run the entire length of a fabric cover at regular intervals. These fasteners keep it in place, so your curious infant can't yank it off.

Soft materials like ribbon, fabric ties, or even Velcro can be used to create the straps.

Teething rails made of fabric are available in a wide range of colours, prints, and patterns. The variety of designs makes it simple to find one that complements your baby's room's aesthetic.

You'll have to do laundry somewhat often if you go with a fabric choice. Your baby's excessive drooling may be a result of his or her habit of chewing on the cover for the crib's rails.

The cover will eventually start to smell because of the drool. In the same way that having a spare set of sheets is convenient for alternating between washing and drying, having a spare blanket or comforter is as well.

Crib Rail Protector (Plastic)

Advantages:

• Does not take away from the aesthetics of the crib
• Setup is fast and painless.
• Made to be easily wiped off and cleaned

Disadvantages:

• Comfortable for your infant to use
• While some infants may appreciate the taste of hard plastic, others may prefer something softer.
• The drool will drip on the floor.

There is no point in covering up an interesting baby cot with a fabric teething rail if you intend to display it.

Plastic rail coverings for cribs are see-through, so you can protect your new furniture from your teething baby without hiding its beauty.

The plastic crib rail covers easily snap onto the rail. One drawback to the straightforward setup is that a resourceful infant might soon learn to peel off a plastic cover. Keep the guard rail in place with transparent zip ties if your child is too smart for his own good.

Plastic crib rail coverings are hygienic since they don't soak up saliva like their cloth counterparts. Drool from your baby's lips while they are chewing will drip directly to the floor or their crib mattress, creating a mess that will need your attention.

Cot Rail Protector (Rubber)

Advantages:

• Keeping the crib's aesthetics intact
• Setup is fast and painless.
• Made to be easily wiped off and cleaned

Disadvantages:

• Cannot be firmly attached to cribs with uneven or elevated rails.
• The adhesive must be eliminated prior to removing the rail cover.
• If you drool too much, it will spill.

When compared to plastic covers, rubber ones are significantly more comfortable to ride on. Your baby will have an easier time chewing this kind than the plastic one since the surface compresses.

The adhesive-backed rubber crib rail coverings are easy to instal on any crib. Because of this, you should prepare yourself to clean up some sticky gunk whenever you take off a rubber crib rail cover.

Rubber, like plastic, will not soak up your baby's dribbles. This makes it simple to wipe down the rail cover, but it also ensures that any drool your baby produces will fall to the floor.

Crib Bumpers Are What?

Crib bumper pads, made of cotton and typically included in crib bedding sets, are affixed to the crib's perimeter to prevent the mattress from sliding off the mattress support. They were first designed to prevent a baby's head from becoming caught between the crib's bars.

However, many parents still choose to use them because they prefer the way the bumper looks, particularly if it coordinates with the rest of the crib set.

Some parents instal bumpers around their child's crib out of concern that he or she would hurt themselves by banging their head on the railing or reaching out to retrieve a toy.

But even if your infant manages to get their limbs stuck between the crib's bars, they probably won't be seriously hurt. They will generate enough noise to get your attention or free their limb from the slats. Instead of protecting your baby's fragile body from harm, crib bumpers only make matters worse by making even tiny collisions potentially life-threatening.

Dangers Associated with Using Bumper Pads in Cribs

A baby's risk of suffocation, sudden infant death syndrome, strangling, and even falls may increase if you use a bumper pad in the crib. Bumper pads can also obstruct ventilation, leading to overheating and the inhalation of stale air.

Crib bumpers are also discouraged by child safety groups due to the risk of suffocation they present to infants. Crib bumper pads, like a pillow or thick blanket, can obstruct a baby's airway if they are placed too close to the infant's face.

SIDS

When newborns are too small to move away from dangers like crib bumper pads, they are at increased risk of suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports that some infants cannot awaken from slumber quickly enough to avoid death if they become overheated or run out of oxygen.

While the official AAP policy statement on SIDS acknowledges that biological characteristics, such as brainstem development or serotonin levels, may make some infants more vulnerable to SIDS, the organisation cautions that we cannot ignore other possible causes.

Parents should avoid using crib bumpers and other environmental risks, such as smoking, because it is impossible to predict which infants will be genetically prone to sudden infant death syndrome.

Strangulation

Strangulation is a secondary danger associated with crib bumpers. Crib bumpers and ties provide a strangulation risk to infants who play with them or try to climb in and out of the space between the bumper and the crib. Some crib bumpers have also been recalled because of potential harm caused by loose stitching or trim.

According to research conducted by Washington University in St. Louis, 27 infants younger than 2 years old died from strangling or suffocation caused by bumper pads or their ties between 1985 and 2005. Twenty-five additional children were hurt, though not fatally, by bumper pads.

Falls

Although babies can safely stand up in their cribs without the support of bumper pads, many parents continue to use them. Your baby may be at risk of injury from falling out of the crib if the bumper is present. Furthermore, toddlers may utilise bumper pads as a foothold when attempting to escape the crib, which can lead to falls and injuries.

Detach the Bumper Covers

Crib bumper pads have been a point of debate, with several leading children's safety organisations advising parents to stop using them. In addition, CPSC Commissioner Elliot Kaye has referred to crib bumpers as "deadly clutter" in American nurseries. This announcement accompanied a report that looked at 107 fatal and 282 non-fatal occurrences involving bumper pads. All of these occurrences occurred between 1990 and 2016.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) then proposed a nationwide prohibition on crib bumpers in March of 2020. While some states have already outlawed the sale of crib bumper pads, others have legislation pending that would do so.

Replacements for Crib Guardrails

Crib bumper pads should be avoided at all costs because the AAP and other organisations for the protection of infants advise against their use. Because of this guideline, the AAP also advises against using bumpers and slat covers made of mesh or other air-permeable materials.

Meanwhile, if you're worried about your infant getting cold in the middle of the night, resist the urge to cover him or her with a blanket or sheepskin. As an alternative, you may put your infant to bed in a onesie and a sleep bag. As an additional precaution, you should maintain a warm but not too hot temperature in your baby's room.

How to Sleep Safely

Over 3,500 infants annually die in their sleep from unknown causes. The leading causes of death in these cases are sudden infant death syndrome, asphyxiation, and strangling. Therefore, the AAP provides advice on how to make the bedroom a secure place for kids to sleep. All the information you need to know about enforcing safe sleeping habits is here.

When putting your infant to sleep, make sure they are on their back.

Until their first birthday, babies should always be placed to sleep on their backs, whether for naps or overnight. They need not be relocated if they roll over in the night.

• A firm mattress is best for your baby's development.
• Mattresses in cribs, bassinets, play yards, and portable cribs should be firm and well fitted, and should be covered with a fitted sheet made for that type of mattress.
• If your infant is still young, you might want to try having him or her sleep with you.
• If at all possible, you should keep your infant in your room with you for the first year of their life (at least for the first six months).
• Do not give in to the temptation of sleeping with your kid.
• You can sleep with your infant, but they need to sleep in their own bed. In the event that you feel sleep coming on, remove any items that could be used to bury your child's head, such as a blanket or pillow.
• Don't put anything in the baby's crib or bassinet.
• Babies shouldn't have anything in their cribs except for themselves. Don't put your baby down in the crib with any extra bedding, sheepskins, toys, books, etc.
• Stop putting your baby to sleep in the swing or carrier.
• As soon as possible after your baby falls asleep in a car seat, swing, infant carrier, sling, or other equipment, place them on a hard sleep surface on their back.

Conclusion

You should make sure the infant is as relaxed and secure as possible before putting him to sleep. Put the baby's sleep sack on him and leave some soft blankets and pillows in the crib. When your baby is teething, you can protect her gums by placing a crib guard rail across the top. No bumper pads, of any substance or texture, should be used in infants' cribs. Soft padded crib walls may seem like a harmless precaution, but can lead to catastrophic injuries.

Since the AAP first advocated back sleeping in 1992, the number of sleep-related newborn fatalities has gone down. Crib rail guards prevent your baby's gums from coming into contact with the crib's paint, wood, or other materials. It also prevents your infant from damaging the crib by teething. They are usually accepted as safe, but you should still pick your rail guards with care.

Content Summary

1. You should make sure the infant is as relaxed and secure as possible before putting him to sleep.
2. Put the baby's sleep sack on him and leave some soft blankets and pillows in the crib so he may become comfortable before going to sleep.
3. The crib's rigid bars are a source of worry for many parents who are concerned about their child's safety and comfort.
4. It's natural to lose sleep over the prospect of a head injury from your child's plaything being made of wood or plastic.
5. Also, as his teeth come in, he'll start nibbling on everything in sight.
6. You'll have to worry about splinters or paint chips getting into his already sore gums once he starts chewing through the guard rails like a miniature beaver.
7. In an effort to calm their nerves and make the crib as safe as possible, many parents instal bumpers and rail guards made of soft, padded materials.
8. Don't rush into picking one of these gadgets.
9. Make sure you're making an informed choice for your developing child by doing some reading.
10. Baby's crib should have protective rail guards installed.
11. When your baby is teething, you can protect her gums by placing a crib guard rail across the top.
12. Baby Bumper Pads: Safe and Comfortable, but Dangerous Bumper pads for a crib are padded partitions that go along its inside walls.
13. Your baby will be safer if she doesn't have to worry about getting her head or limbs caught between the slats.
14. Despite this good aim, these tools are not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
15. In 2005, the AAP first voiced its concerns about crib bumpers, pointing out that some versions may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (sudden infant death syndrome).
16. Six years later, the AAP reversed course, telling CNN that no bumper pads, of any substance or texture, should be used in infants' cribs.
17. Since the AAP first advocated back sleeping in 1992, the number of sleep-related newborn fatalities has gone down.
18. Suffocation, trapping, and asphyxiation deaths, however, rose throughout the same period.
19. Many injuries sustained in infants' bedrooms might be traced back to their bumper pads.
20. It's quite challenging for a newborn to remove a limb that has become wedged between a crib slat and the attached pad.
21. A similar situation occurs when an infant rolls too near to the pad and her airway becomes closed.
22. The AAP also discussed the intended function of bumper pads, which is to protect users from sustaining minor head trauma.
23. Soft padded crib walls may seem like a harmless precaution, but they can really lead to catastrophic injuries.
24. Baby's Gums Need Protection From Crib Rail Guards, Too!
25. Crib rail guards, as opposed to bumpers, are installed above the mattress of your baby's sleeping area.
26. That's why it's wise to utilise a crib rail guard rather than just bumpers.
27. The functions they do are distinct from one another.
28. Rail guards prevent your teething baby's gums from coming into contact with the crib's paint, wood, or other materials. (
29. It also prevents your infant from damaging the crib by teething.)
30. While they are usually accepted as safe, you should still pick your rail guards with care to ensure that the ones you instal don't cause any issues.
31. If you decide on tying-in place guards, ensure sure the knots are always above the baby's reach.
32. The guards may break loose with a good tug and tumble into the crib, where they would be as deadly as any other pillow.
33. Ties should be no longer than nine inches.
34. If the rail guard comes loose and the charming buttons fall into the crib, they could be a choking hazard.
35. Snaps are secure but can be difficult to use if your crib has curved or thick rails.
36. As your baby may try to soothe her sore gums by chewing on the cover, it's important that it be made of sturdy, washable material and, ideally, one with a waterproof backing to protect it from all the drool (you'll be shocked at how much drool your baby produces).
37. Infant Restraints As a parent, you will make many crucial choices, but none more so than the one you make while choosing your baby's bed.
38. Your child will be spending a lot of time in her crib, thus its safety is of paramount importance.
39. The following are some things to look for and consider when buying a crib or evaluating a used one for safety.
40. Whether you're shopping for a new crib or using one you've borrowed, it's important to verify that it was manufactured after 1989, when mandatory safety regulations were first put in place.
41. The Consumer Product Safety Commission implemented new crib rules in 2011 that forbid the selling of drop-side rails.