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No crib bumpers, whatsoever. They can harm your baby. Understand?
That is the latest from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which is having its annual conference this week and coming out with a slew of new recommendations related to preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The recommendation has been a long time coming. In September, Chicago became the first municipality to ban crib bumpers. The last time the AAP came out with a policy statement on SIDS in 2005, it recommended using bumpers that were “thin, firm, well secured, and not 'pillowlike'."
But since then, studies have shown that bumper pads (along with stuffed toys and blankets) are more hazardous than thought as they pose a risk of suffocation and strangulation.
“We concluded that if there’s no reason for them to be in the crib, it’s better to just have them out of there, particularly in light of the deaths that have been reported, that have been associated with the bumper pads,” said Rachel Moon, MD, FAAP, of the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, chairperson of the AAP SIDS task force and lead author of the new guidelines.
Moms, will you be following the AAP's crib bumper recommendations?
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I was very against using bumpers. That was until my son started waking up with his arms and legs hanging out the sides of his crib. I currently use a very thin, breathable bumper. I think that I will continue to use it.
These comments from a lot of mothers here remind me of my wife. Warning -- this comment may appear insensitive.
Foolish to risk even a tiny tiny chance of death... as a trade off for a baby whose arms or legs don't stick out through the slats.
My son did the same thing, and my wife put the bumpers in. After reading this article I would have a huge problem with that next time around.
Ask yourself if its worth avoiding a screaming baby who can't get their leg unstuck... ask yourself if its worth trading that for even a tiny increased possibility of finding your child not breathing in the crib. I'm sure this sounds insensitive but really you have to have the bigger picture. Safety trumps comfort EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
These agencies look at a large amount of data from a large sampling group. Its silly to think "my child will be okay". That is probably what the parents of SIDS victims said as well.
Are they wrong? Maybe. Do you really want to find out the hard way? Or you could take out the bumpers, let your child's limbs get stuck every now and then (seriously consider how insignificant a leg stuck in between slats is, is in the big picture of life and death), and not have to worry.
Not sure how MANY of us survived into adulthood!
I use a breathable bumper as well. I just think they make the babies feel more secure in their crib, keep them from getting their legs and arms caught in the slats and of course helps keep the pacifier from falling on the floor at night.
I'm still planning on using one with my next baby. My daughter never got caught up in her crib slats, she never even came close to the sides of her crib while sleeping. But my son is different. He's always getting his arms and legs caught because his bumper gets pushed down on one side. I hate having him wake up screaming because he's stuck.
Wouldn't something not made of fabric (say, thin slats of woods that are laid horizontally) do the same trick more safely?
Good idea!
Caveat: single, no kids
Question: Why not have solid sides to the crib?
I would like to know the relative safety of a breathable bumper vs. no bumper at all. Is there really a statistically significant increased risk of SIDS for babies who use a breathable bumper over none?
I don't know the data, but I'm going to stick with my breathable bumper for some of the same reasons mentioned already.
What is the “American Academy of Peditrics”?
When reported with no statistics, I have to say "sounds silly to me".
I'm using bumpers. The ties are on the outside of the crib, not the inside. I'm not going to discontinue using bumpers because of this article. Hello? If this is true, how did most people survive in the past with bumpers? Also, sure laying a child on their back before they can roll over is fine. But after they roll over? No, because they can roll over during the night, and end up on their tummies. We lay Odin down on his tummy to sleep and he sleeps more soundly then before.
What? Your logic is that if some or even most babies did survive then its safe?
Here is a fact: Many babies have died from SIDS. Some of those were due to mattress not fitting the crib. Others were due to pillows in the crib. Others were due to the drop-down side. Others due to bumpers.
I don't believe in always taking the advice of agencies like these, without questioning it. This is about life and death though. Why risk it? For comfort? Simply not worth it.
For all your Moms using crib bumpers for the purpose of keeping arms and legs from getting stuck between the slats: get a shelf liner! You can buy them from Walmart or Target, think I paid about $7 a roll. Get the mesh kind, its light, breathable and you can easily weave it in between the slats. Worked like a charm for my son who used to get his chubby legs stuck all of the time. It may not be as pretty look at like a crib bumper, but its SAFER, it works and its inexpensive!
Banning bumpers in relation to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Hmmm...what does SIDS mean? SIDS is the unexpected, sudden death of a child under age 1 in which an autopsy does not show an explainable cause of death. SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion, assigned only once all known and possible causes of death have been ruled out. (including suffucation, choking, and smothering)
A Scottish study showed that 87% of SIDS deaths occured in unsafe sleep environments, only 13% were found in a crib or bassinet. -cjsids.org site
American Academy of Pediatrics once again out to confuse and create anxiety among parents with misleading information. America has a high infant mortality rate even though we are an "advanced" country. "Well it MUST be the bumpers! That's what we'll tell 'em!!"
In most of the world it is the norm to breastfeed and sleep with your baby. Here, many mothers are sticking babies into not only cribs but their own ROOMS at just a few weeks old, sometimes from day one. Sleeping right near their family is a baby's natural protection.