OT-Need help regarding crib bumpers!

[jennilouwho]

Hi there!

I'm hoping someone might have an idea for me. My just turned 2 month old is somehow managing to turn 90 degrees in the night and getting his legs stuck in between the crib slats. He woke up SCREAMING bloody murder 4 times last night because of this. I felt awful! I have read that you shouldn't use crib bumpers, so I'm not sure what to do. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Jen

 

[Grendalynn]

Hi there!

I'm hoping someone might have an idea for me. My just turned 2 month old is somehow managing to turn 90 degrees in the night and getting his legs stuck in between the crib slats. He woke up SCREAMING bloody murder 4 times last night because of this. I felt awful! I have read that you shouldn't use crib bumpers, so I'm not sure what to do. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Jen

Hi! I haven't yet heard anythingof the sort regarding not using crib bumpers.... They can't be that bad as 90% of the crib bedding sets I see include a crib bumper. Wouldn't imagine there would be such a market for this is if were not safe...

I think that the reason for the crib bumpers is just for your reason, so keep the baby's arms and legs in the crib itself. Have you considered one of those wedge thingys? They keep the baby in a designanted area, I have seen them online and at Baby's R Us.... Food for thought!

Expecting myself in October, I am deep into the hunt for the "perfect" bedding set to match the decor of the room. That being said I just purchased a bumper last week!? Is there any proven evidence our literature out there that suggests that we do not use the crib bumpers???

 

[tadamom]

I have used crib bumpers w/both of my kids. My DD is still in her crib (she's 19 months) and I have never had an episode with either of them getting limbs stuck in the rails and they were both all over the bed as well. If he is 2 months old, I would try the wedge that Glendalynn suggested. I used one of those (and the bumpers) when my kids were that small. You can buy some that are adjustable fit and make it bigger as he gets bigger. They work great (in my opinion)!

Check this out: http://www.toysrus.com/search/index...gkw=sleep positioners&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2255957 My personal experience is with the Air Flow Sleep Positioner.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

You're not supposed to use the bumpers once the child can stand up in the crib. They might stand and get a limb or head stuck between the bumper and crib rail (suffocation danger), or step on the bumper and actually go over the rail (risking head injury.)

 

[Grendalynn]

You're not supposed to use the bumpers once the child can stand up in the crib. They might stand and get a limb or head stuck between the bumper and crib rail (suffocation danger), or step on the bumper and actually go over the rail (risking head injury.)

Right! That was my understanding as well... Once they were old enough to pull themselves up on the railing is when the bumbpers should be removed. Both of my boys wree monkeys and would use the bumper almost like a step. We also lowered the crib mattress to help with that, but thats another thread all together ...

But I would say YES to a bumper so early! Just my two cents .....

 

[PiperPizzaz]

I would NEVER use standard bumpers so OP isn't crazy.
(My neice died of SIDS so I am overly cautous and not to offend anyone who does use them.)

I had mesh bumpers for my Ds, just remember to take them out as soon as they start pulling up on stuff. Here is a link to the one I got from Target it was great, they come in other colors too.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...433041-9251019?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B0007VZVAQ

 

[Addicted2TheMouse]

Is there any proven evidence our literature out there that suggests that we do not use the crib bumpers???

Here's some info.
http://babyproducts.about.com/od/recallsandsafety/a/bumpersafety.htm

I would have tried the mesh ones but couldn't get them here when DS was an infant. I have seen them recently though. We ended up using no bumpers. He did get stuck in the raills a handful of times.

 

[casper_jj11]

There is a link between crib bumpers and SIDS. I never used them with DS3 and I don't use them now with DD6mo. We use a sleep sack. DS loved his and used different sizes til he was 1.5 yrs old. DD loves hers and actually won't sleep in her crib without it now. You can buy them from different manufacturers. Halo makes them. Ours are from Kiddopotamus. They are wide on the bottom so the babies don't feel confined but keeps the legs from going between the crib slats. They also keep the baby warm enough so they don't need a blanket in teh bed (also a potential SIDS risk). We have a/c in the house so there isnt a concern of overheating. It might be a problem if the house is hot. A friend of mine was worried about her ds being too hot so purchased the mesh bumpers instead. They work well to keep the little legs in but don't pose a SIDS risk.

Joanne

 

[taximomfor4]

When I was pg with my youngest, I was part of a due-in-July club. In June, one of the March mommies posted a public service announcement on all of the pg boards...a fellow March mommy's baby had died. At 2 months 3 weeks old, the baby smothered against the crib bumper pad. Trust me, we ALL took the crib bumpers off of our cribs that we had all so carefully corrdinated and set up for our babies-to-be. Please, learn from the mommy who so generously shared her story, to prevent that tragedy from happening to any of our babies.

I know, chances are slim. I also know that if anyone hears the warning yet doesn't heed it, and the worst happens to their baby because of it, the guilt would be overwhelming.

The phase where the little legs get stuck is not a long phase. Anyway, a bruised leg is not nearly as severe as a suffocated baby. My oldest dd, when she was a baby, drove me nuts...she always wedged her ELBOW between the slats.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I have always used bumpers with all three of my kids. That said they had wonderful head control from the very beginning so I wasn't too worried. I also decided not to use them for my last child, and after one time of him screaming from getting his leg stuck through the bars and me crying because I really almost could not get it back through, the bumper went on that night!!

SIDS happened before bumpers were invented, and it would still happen (sadly I might add) even if they were no longer made. That's like the argument of one kid who got cut in half in an accident because of wearing a seatbelt! You can bet my kids are still wearing them. Not to say what anyone thinks is right or wrong, we are all free to parent how we think it best. JMO, I would and do still use them until they can stand on them. Hope you find something that works for you.


Andrea

 

[Lisa_Belle]

I have a friend who works with National SAFE Kids who advised me to take the bumper pad off my crib. Kids have been known to get too close to them and suffocate.

A lot of posters have used the "well I did it with my kids and everything was OK".

What we have to remember was there was a time when seatbelts weren't even installed in cars much less used, kids were taken out of carseats when they were toddlers, kids used walkers, kids were put to sleep on their stomachs, kids got their heads stuck between slats of a crib, kids slept in the back of station wagons ...

Almost all kids survive these scenarios, but sometimes they didn't. I would rather slightly inconvenience my child than bury my child.

 

[minkydog]

I have a friend who works with National SAFE Kids who advised me to take the bumper pad off my crib. Kids have been known to get too close to them and suffocate.

A lot of posters have used the "well I did it with my kids and everything was OK".

What we have to remember was there was a time when seatbelts weren't even installed in cars much less used, kids were taken out of carseats when they were toddlers, kids used walkers, kids were put to sleep on their stomachs, kids got their heads stuck between slats of a crib, kids slept in the back of station wagons ...

Almost all kids survive these scenarios, but sometimes they didn't. I would rather slightly inconvenience my child than bury my child.

You are absolutely right! My kids slept on their stomachs, used walkers, ate baby food at 2 months, and nursed while daddy drove. While I did it with my kids, I know better now. Everything did turn out okay for me--but after i worked in a peds ICU i changed a lot of things. You would be horrified at the things that happen to kids in that instant when a parent is not looking.

OP, the answer to the crib bumper question is that most crib bumpers are made of soft material which babies can snuggle into. If their nose is buried in the fabric and they can't get oxygen, their carbon dioxide builds up and the stop breathing. The chances that this would actually happen to your baby--who knows If it happens, it's 100% and if it doesn't it's 0%. I don't like to gamble.

 

[juligrl]

I have a sleep positioner for my 4 month old daughter. It works great! She stays in one spot all night. I also have a crib bumper, but she never goes near it because of the sleep positioner. I'm not sure that the bumper would work to keep her legs out of the slats though since she'd probably kick her feet up over it anyhow.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

If you look in the walmart site, they have a mesh covering for the crib sides, so a baby can´t stick her arms or legs out, so I think this would be the best option for you.

Julie

 

[zookeeper]

I always used the wedge for my little ones and it worked fine. My babies always liked to feel swaddled so I found that being in between the wedges helped them sleep better. My DSIL used the sleep bags and swore by them. I used bumper pads for my first 4 kids without any incidents, but when baby #5 came along and the reports came out warning about using bumper pads I opted not to use them. Most of my friends still use them though.

 

[jennilouwho]

Thanks everyone! I think I'll try the mesh bumpers and then if that doesn't work, maybe I will try a wedge. I really appreciate the input!

 

[luvmyboys]

I used a crib bumper until 2 months ago, when DS learned how to untie the knots!

He does get his legs (on purpose) between the slats now, but he can get himself out too, though he does revel in yelling "Guck! Guck" (toddler translation= "Stuck! Stuck!") until I come running in. Now I am on to him, and just don't come running in right away. Sneaky little booger!

 

[laughinplace199]

When my DD was just under 3 months old, she actually got herself out of the middle of the sleep positioner. When I went to check on her she was sleeping next to the positioner with her face right up against the side of it. We didn't use it after that. We did have bumper pads at that time. When we went for her 3 month check-up, I told the ped how she had gotten out of the positioner and he said there should be nothing in the crib, no positioner, no bumper pads, etc.

This was 7 yrs ago, so maybe the positioners are better now, but you might want to ask your ped what he/she thinks.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

One STep Ahead has a crib SHield. It is a bumper set that is made of mesh. I bought it but had to return it because it didn;t fit on my sleigh crib. You may want to try it.