The Bumper Debate

MBMcC421 · April 2011

They won't kill your baby.

There.

michelle142 · April 2011

That's what I always think too.

I mean, my mom used bumpers for all 4 of her kids and my sister for all 3 of hers. All kids are still alive and healthy!

amelianguy · April 2011

Ha. I was just about to post this.

Well, not that they won't kill your baby, but about bumpers.

FWIW, I can't weigh in because we co-sleep and my child has only slept in her crib like, 5 times. GASP.

But, I will tell you that my sister and my x-bff both used bumpers (my sister for all three children), and both of their children are still alive.

macdidlyicious · April 2011

I love you.

I tend to agree. I just dont know exactly what I want to do. Stick out tongue

MBMcC421 · April 2011

Its common sense. We've had Sami's on her crib since the day she was born, and believe it or not, they actually protect her! A couple of times she has fallen over and hit her head against the bumper where it would have crashed into the crib instead... yay bumpers for doing your job!

I mean, obviously we'll take them off when she can start pulling herself up and potentially use them for leverage. But really -- they look nice, and they do what they're supposed to to boot!

Diamond_Doll · April 2011

I don't think we'll be using one. I know babies survive bumpers every day, and it isn't some death trap, but if it increases the risk I'd rather just not have that worry. You're told to remove them once they become mobile anyway. Plus, it'll save money because bedding set will be one less thing to buy. Sometimes, only sometimes, I'm willing to sacrifice cute for safety.

I also really really want a chandelier in the nursey if we have a girl, but I'm thinking I'll have to have a ceiling fan instead, because that also is suppose to reduce the risk of SIDS. Stupid nursery design blogs making me want pretty things.

billyandsara · April 2011

Teaghans are on her bed and I don't plan on taking them off until she stands.

kmo630 · April 2011

I didn't use a bumper until the last few months. Call me paranoid, but I was going to do whatever possible to reduce the risk of SIDS. I needed one once he started sleeping on his side and stomach since his limbs where getting stuck. The breathable bumper collapses, so it doesn't allow him to get leverage to jump out.

MBMcC421 · April 2011

SIDS is genetially predisposed. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I understand wanted to be overly cautious, so please don't think of me as a mother who prefers cuteness over her child's well-being. As it is, she was in her RocknPlay sleeper in our room until she was 3 months old, she only wears a sleep-sack to bed -- no blankets, I keep a humidifier on in her room all the time and leave her door open to maximize circulation. Even though they say the risk of SIDS decreases cramatically after 6 months, I still go in to check on her before I go to bed at night... but for the bumpers? Like I said, too many times she's whacked her head against the side of the and the damage would have been far greater if the bumpers weren's there. Plus, she's a back-sleeper and very rarely rolls over until she's awake, and by then she's babbling so I can hear her anyway. I think we made the right choice.

kmo630 · April 2011

MBMcC421:
SIDS is genetially predisposed. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I understand wanted to be overly cautious, so please don't think of me as a mother who prefers cuteness over her child's well-being. As it is, she was in her RocknPlay sleeper in our room until she was 3 months old, she only wears a sleep-sack to bed -- no blankets, I keep a humidifier on in her room all the time and leave her door open to maximize circulation. Even though they say the risk of SIDS decreases cramatically after 6 months, I still go in to check on her before I go to bed at night... but for the bumpers? Like I said, too many times she's whacked her head against the side of the and the damage would have been far greater if the bumpers weren's there. Plus, she's a back-sleeper and very rarely rolls over until she's awake, and by then she's babbling so I can hear her anyway. I think we made the right choice.

I understand that it is predisposed and I am not judging your choice what so ever. I had a hard enough time dealing with him him turning blue and having his oxygen levels drop everytime he spit up the first week of his life. And him needing to be connected to wires when he slept the first month and a half. If I could do anything possible to ease my mind, even the slightest bit, that was what I was going to do. Just like you, I feel like I made the right choice for my family.

mz_zane · April 2011

Phoenix didn't use her crib until 4mos because of her reflux. We left the bumpers on at first, but it wasn't long before she stared rolling on her belly and once she could do that she became almost exclusively a tummy sleeper. She would also sleep against the side of the crib. So I didn't feel comfortable leaving the bumpers on anymore. Plus at her 4month checkup the pediatrician suggested taking them off anyway since she was becoming mobile. Phoenix has never really banged into the sides hard enough for me to think "oh I wish the bumper had been there" and her legs/arms have gotten stuck a few times but really no permanent damage.

I don't think they kill babies or even increase the risk for SIDS but at the same time, I don't really consider them a life saver either. Many babies turn out fine with them and just as many turn out fine without them. I think its really a to each his own kind of thing.

MrsMeMo · April 2011

MBMcC421:
SIDS is genetially predisposed. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I understand wanted to be overly cautious, so please don't think of me as a mother who prefers cuteness over her child's well-being. As it is, she was in her RocknPlay sleeper in our room until she was 3 months old, she only wears a sleep-sack to bed -- no blankets, I keep a humidifier on in her room all the time and leave her door open to maximize circulation. Even though they say the risk of SIDS decreases cramatically after 6 months, I still go in to check on her before I go to bed at night... but for the bumpers? Like I said, too many times she's whacked her head against the side of the and the damage would have been far greater if the bumpers weren's there. Plus, she's a back-sleeper and very rarely rolls over until she's awake, and by then she's babbling so I can hear her anyway. I think we made the right choice.

"Genetically predisposed" is synonymous with "hereditary" right? If so, I'd love to know where you got that info? All the research ive read states that SIDS is NOT hereditary? I'm curious about his now....

MrsMeMo · April 2011

MBMcC421:
SIDS is genetially predisposed. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I understand wanted to be overly cautious, so please don't think of me as a mother who prefers cuteness over her child's well-being. As it is, she was in her RocknPlay sleeper in our room until she was 3 months old, she only wears a sleep-sack to bed -- no blankets, I keep a humidifier on in her room all the time and leave her door open to maximize circulation. Even though they say the risk of SIDS decreases cramatically after 6 months, I still go in to check on her before I go to bed at night... but for the bumpers? Like I said, too many times she's whacked her head against the side of the and the damage would have been far greater if the bumpers weren's there. Plus, she's a back-sleeper and very rarely rolls over until she's awake, and by then she's babbling so I can hear her anyway. I think we made the right choice.

"Genetically predisposed" is synonymous with "hereditary" right? If so, I'd love to know where you got that info? All the research ive read states that SIDS is NOT hereditary? I'm curious about his now....

MBMcC421 · April 2011

kmo630:

MBMcC421:
SIDS is genetially predisposed. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I understand wanted to be overly cautious, so please don't think of me as a mother who prefers cuteness over her child's well-being. As it is, she was in her RocknPlay sleeper in our room until she was 3 months old, she only wears a sleep-sack to bed -- no blankets, I keep a humidifier on in her room all the time and leave her door open to maximize circulation. Even though they say the risk of SIDS decreases cramatically after 6 months, I still go in to check on her before I go to bed at night... but for the bumpers? Like I said, too many times she's whacked her head against the side of the and the damage would have been far greater if the bumpers weren's there. Plus, she's a back-sleeper and very rarely rolls over until she's awake, and by then she's babbling so I can hear her anyway. I think we made the right choice.

I understand that it is predisposed and I am not judging your choice what so ever. I had a hard enough time dealing with him him turning blue and having his oxygen levels drop everytime he spit up the first week of his life. And him needing to be connected to wires when he slept the first month and a half. If I could do anything possible to ease my mind, even the slightest bit, that was what I was going to do. Just like you, I feel like I made the right choice for my family.

Oh Kelly, no no no - I wasn't saying anything against your decision AT ALL and I'm sorry if it came across that way.

MBMcC421 · April 2011

m.mckee1224:
MBMcC421:
SIDS is genetially predisposed. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I understand wanted to be overly cautious, so please don't think of me as a mother who prefers cuteness over her child's well-being. As it is, she was in her RocknPlay sleeper in our room until she was 3 months old, she only wears a sleep-sack to bed -- no blankets, I keep a humidifier on in her room all the time and leave her door open to maximize circulation. Even though they say the risk of SIDS decreases cramatically after 6 months, I still go in to check on her before I go to bed at night... but for the bumpers? Like I said, too many times she's whacked her head against the side of the and the damage would have been far greater if the bumpers weren's there. Plus, she's a back-sleeper and very rarely rolls over until she's awake, and by then she's babbling so I can hear her anyway. I think we made the right choice.
"Genetically predisposed" is synonymous with "hereditary" right? If so, I'd love to know where you got that info? All the research ive read states that SIDS is NOT hereditary? I'm curious about his now....

www.SIDS.org

"Undoubtedly there are several underlying causes for sudden (and currently unexplained) infant deaths. However, we now know that most (60% - 70%) of the deaths are related to a subtle chronic abnormality, which occurs before birth. At this time we do not know the specific pattern or nature of this chronic abnormality. Therefore, our clinical efforts have been aimed at identifying high-risk infants, and seeking to reduce the death of the infants, through the use of home monitors and parent education."

kmo630 · April 2011

Thanks JA!

MB, it's all good

wamozart12 · April 2011

MBMcC421:
m.mckee1224:
MBMcC421:
SIDS is genetially predisposed. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I understand wanted to be overly cautious, so please don't think of me as a mother who prefers cuteness over her child's well-being. As it is, she was in her RocknPlay sleeper in our room until she was 3 months old, she only wears a sleep-sack to bed -- no blankets, I keep a humidifier on in her room all the time and leave her door open to maximize circulation. Even though they say the risk of SIDS decreases cramatically after 6 months, I still go in to check on her before I go to bed at night... but for the bumpers? Like I said, too many times she's whacked her head against the side of the and the damage would have been far greater if the bumpers weren's there. Plus, she's a back-sleeper and very rarely rolls over until she's awake, and by then she's babbling so I can hear her anyway. I think we made the right choice.
"Genetically predisposed" is synonymous with "hereditary" right? If so, I'd love to know where you got that info? All the research ive read states that SIDS is NOT hereditary? I'm curious about his now....

www.SIDS.org

"Undoubtedly there are several underlying causes for sudden (and currently unexplained) infant deaths. However, we now know that most (60% - 70%) of the deaths are related to a subtle chronic abnormality, which occurs before birth. At this time we do not know the specific pattern or nature of this chronic abnormality. Therefore, our clinical efforts have been aimed at identifying high-risk infants, and seeking to reduce the death of the infants, through the use of home monitors and parent education."

All my knowledge is based on the med school classes I took in grad school, but basically, SIDS is a very general term that covers a large number of different developmental problems that don't appear until after birth. It's the same kind of thing that in an embryo that doesnt' develop normally would result in a miscarriage. Back in the day, it referred to an unexplainable death, but now we know more.

tarmar81 · April 2011

I'm using a breathable bumper. Just seemed like the best choice for my baby. That is all.

YouandMe912 · April 2011

I agree that bumpers are harmless. I do not have them on but only bc they're a PITA to take on and off for changing the sheets. I have both a the bumper and a breathable. I honestly only bought the breathable as a precautionary. It is still in the package but at least I have it. I feel like I am not jinxing myself by having both. Silly, I know but it makes me feel better lol

MBMcC421 · April 2011

tgoff248:
I agree that bumpers are harmless. I do not have them on but only bc they're a PITA to take on and off for changing the sheets. I have both a the bumper and a breathable. I honestly only bought the breathable as a precautionary. It is still in the package but at least I have it. I feel like I am not jinxing myself by having both. Silly, I know but it makes me feel better lol

I could not agree more. And believe you me, it gets more annoying the older they get... I had to change Sami's sheets 3 times last week, and each time the bumper came off and went right back on. Why did I put it on after the 3rd time and now just say screw it? Well, by that time I had already done it 2 other times... whats once more?

K-hart · April 2011

I don't really have an opinion either way. Our sons crib does not have a bumper....or bedding. Just a plain sheet. I guess at the infant stage I kind of feel like that stuff is a waste of money and a pita to wash/clean/change.

mrs pH · April 2011

I agree with the "to each his own" on this subject.

We're not using a bumper... or even the breathable one. I think the breathable ones are kind of ugly, actually. We're only using a bed skirt and coordinating sheets.

I think bumpers are cute but because there's so much caution we skipped out. If she tends to be "clumsy" in the crib, I'll probably get the breathable bumper just to cushion a fall or to prevent her limbs from getting stuck. I'm hoping she's not because ditto Tonia on the point about the ease of changing the sheets.

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