WTF re: bumpers

jessicah628

I know it's dead around here, but I'm bored. I was just poking around Project Nursery and reading a feature on Jonathan Adler's nursery line. First of all, LOL at his biggest piece of advice for new parents: "Decorate the nursery with just as much glamour and panache as you decorate the rest of your house. A baby surrounded by glamour grows up to be a glamorous adult." Obviously.

Anyway, I clicked through to his stuff on BRU's website and one of the first things that comes up is a set of padded crib bumpers. My question is, when the guidance has so clearly been given that bumpers are bad news (breathable bumpers are more of a gray area, I guess), why are they still being sold everywhere?? I've had the same thought at PBK, too. It just doesn't make sense to me.

SJU1982

I feel like such a bad person admitting this, but I picked up padded bumpers from PBK.  I read the warnings, but can't help thinking if they were really that bad, then why aren't they outlawed?

The baby will not be in his crib for the first couple of months, and after that I will likely re-evaluate my decision.   

PhillyGal34

They are outlawed some places. I think it varies state by state or even locally.

I find it odd that they still sell them too.

We didn't get them and I don't care what other people do but I wouldn't want my name attached to something that people could deem dangerous.

jessicah628

Outlawed or not, the AAP very clearly recommends against them:

"Bumper pads should not be used in cribs. There is no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment." 

That's good enough for me.

OnceInLoveWithAmy

What if the nursery doesn't have as much glamour as the REST of my house?!?!?  I will let this baby down!!!  oh yes Jonathan Adler.. please give me more maternal guilt.  That's exactly what we all need.

I am team breathable bumper.  Like @jessicah628 said, that is enough for me not to use a padded bumper.  I thought they were outlawed too, but I guess I am wrong..?? 

Kernel14

I'm actually still confused as to what the purpose the padded bumpers are? So the baby doesn't roll over and hit the side of the crib? My kids are doomed. They're constantly smacking their heads and body parts on all sides of their cribs.

We did do breathable after both kids got stuck between the crib and wall.

jessicah628

@kernel14 Yes, I think it's so they don't bang themselves and/or get limbs stuck between the bars. Neither of which happened to D in over two years of being in a crib.

Kernel14

jessicah628 said:

@kernel14 Yes, I think it's so they don't bang themselves and/or get limbs stuck between the bars. Neither of which happened to D in over two years of being in a crib.

No joke my kids smack their heads on the two "solid" sides ALL.THE.TIME. I'm sure they aren't the only kids in the world.

I'm pretty impressed he never got stuck. Both of mine have been stuck 2-3 times each. Now we just keep the breathable bumpers on the side between the crib and wall. The side that faces out has nothing.

jpfeifer

At first I thought you were talking about the ladies on the bump.

We did a breathable one with dd but I'm skipping it this time around.  It is a pita to change a sheet with those things on. 

Padded bumpers are made for photoshoots only, which is sad because it is implying that they are safe to uninformed parents.