Parents: Should Crib Bumpers Be Banned?
Maryland looks set to ban the sale of crib bumpers. Tell us what you think.
Recommendations about baby safety are always changing.
My mother tells plenty of stories about my childhood that make me cringe. For instance, I didn’t sit in a car seat—my parents had a car bed when I was a newborn, and as a toddler, I was in a jump seat over the passenger-side head rest.
My mom said I was a climber, so she would constantly be pulling me down while she was driving. It wasn’t until the mid 1980s that child restraint laws were in place in all 50 states. I guess we should be glad cell phones weren't around back then!
She also told me that my crib—with slats far wider than current regulations—was adorned with rubber bumpers. I would lay up against the bumpers when I slept and constantly suffered horrible heat rash. Lucky for me, I managed to not suffocate myself.
Sometimes, when she recounts these stories, I’m just glad I survived. And I’m happy my kids are growing up in a safer environment.
Although I’m sure there will be things that my kids will wince at when I tell them stories 30-plus years from now. There already are things that have changed in the short five and a half years that I’ve been parenting.
You already know my favorite crib tent was recalled recently. And when my kids were infants, their beautifully decorated drop-side crib was complete with a mobile and designer, soft puffy bumpers—all now thought to be a risk for baby.
Many drop-side cribs have been recalled because of the possibility of entrapment. And searching Baby’s R Us recently, it’s hard to find a mobile, because some argue they pose a threat to the baby if it falls in the crib or is pulled down.
And now crib bumpers are an issue, as well. Parents think they provide a protective barrier so the baby doesn’t bang her head against the hard wood of the crib, when actually they could suffocate or strangle your precious baby.
The threat is small—only a fraction of parents using bumpers have reported incidents—but if you’re one of those parents, the threat is real.
And next year, Maryland could be the first state to implement a ban on crib bumpers all together. If implemented, retailers will have nine months to comply with the ban, and would be required to redesign packages to remove the dangerous bumpers from their product offerings.
Experts stand behind the ABCs of sleep for babies. They should be ALONE, on their BACKs, and in a CRIB.
What do you think? Has the recent media about crib bumper safety changed how you would decorate your own newborn baby’s crib? Are you presently using a crib bumper? Tell us in the comments.
Tim
12:22 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Here's the thing.
Babies are always going to accidentally die. It's sad, but it's reality.
We never used crib bumpers though. No particular reason.
Had a brutal time getting ours to sleep on his back as an infant. If I am recalling correctly...most of the time we'd LET him fall asleep on his stomach if he kept fighting it, and then we'd turn him on his side once sound asleep.
Obviously, we are monitoring him remotely at all times, and checking on him (while not on his side or back) every few minutes.
Renee
1:02 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
You know, many people, everywhere, have used bumpers. Many without incidence. You just have to keep them properly secured. If your child is extremely active in the crib, use your own judgement. No one is forcing them to buy bumpers. I find the comforters pause more of a risk. That is why I chose not to use one, but I did not ask them to stop allowing them to be sold. There are so many things that can go wrong with babies. The sleeping position changes every so many years where they revisit old recommended positions quite often. I personally prefer the side sleeping with them swaddled in a secure "holder" that has a large pillow in back connected to (under the baby) a small pillow in the front.
Paul Amirault
1:20 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
This would be one of the very few government regulations that save business and consumers money by reducing the cost of cribs by eliminating bumpers.
Now I probably would bet that the makers of cribs will find a way to make the spindles of a soft material that will act as a bumper and increase the cost of the crib! The material would have to be fireproof and non-chewable as well. There may be a business here in the making.
Stephanie Pullara Vancura
2:22 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
All 3 of my children used crib bumpers(one is currently using them now). As a reponsible parent, I feel I can make the decision to use them or not and when to stop using them if they pose a danger to my child.
Bridget
8:58 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
What's next after bumpers, Onesies?
Stacey Schantz
9:08 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Great comments everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. While yes, I feel that Maryland is being a bit crazy to all out ban bumpers. It does lead to an awareness issue. Yes, I used bumpers in the crib. But only until the baby was able to roll over. Then I felt it was more of an issue with suffocation. You see in the picture above - that's my son in a crib, with a mobile and the bumpers... We did use a sleep positioner (which was also recalled eventually). I think so many baby products are recalled because parents use them improperly. Like a Bumbo seat. Such a great seat. Had to be recalled in 2007, because parents placed it on counter tops and kids fell to the floor. REALLY? So much of parenting involves common sense, something that seems to be lacking from some people. so perhaps that's why Maryland sees fit to ban bumpers. Perhaps money/resources would be better spent on parental education of safe baby practices.
Tim
10:34 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
1000% agree -
"I think so many baby products are recalled because parents use them improperly."
also:
"Perhaps money/resources would be better spent on parental education of safe baby practices"
Neil B
11:00 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
I still think if you take responsibility away from people they become less responsible in general. People are forgetting how to think for themselves.
kimberlee miller
7:32 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
I feel that this ban is only to protect out children. If one baby dies isn't that one too many? I know as a parent that I would go above and beyond to keep my child safe. There are safer options on the market that will add protection from your child bumping their heads on the crib bars. I use and would highly recommend Wonder bumpers. These type of bumpers are excluded from the recent bans and are safe. These bans are not to limit what we can buy they are to keep our kids safe.
Susie V
7:53 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
My children are now 31 and 26, all these new rules about babies sleep positions, the cribs they sleep in etc... etc... How ridiculous!! I am #6 of 7 children and all of us slept in a dresser drawer, my jealous brother closed the draw all the time with me in it and I am still here 50+ years later!! I KNOW those things they've banned and are going to ban are not hazardous to our babies, it is the parents responsibilty to make sure their children are safe at all times!! Too many parents today use a pacifier, TV young sblings as babysitters while they are on busy on their cell phone, or smoking cigarettes in the next room, hell I've even seen them smoking in their car with the baby in the car seat and the windows closed!!! They are to busy getting drunk with thwir friends!! Or they are busy playing WII while their babies are screaming because the acid in the poop they've been sitting in for hours eats through their flesh. My kids slept on their stomachs, slept in the cribs that have been banned, they had bumpers in their cribs!!! So you see researchers don't find the answers because they are busy barking up the wrong tree they should be banning the negligent parents out there who children don't fit into their lifestyle!!! Take the blinders off people or babies will continue to die at the hands of their parents, NOT THESE ITEMS!!!
Tim
2:51 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
+1
Susie V
7:57 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Oops these subjects make me so mad I misspell words!!!
Stacey Schantz
10:39 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Clearly conscientious parents don't need additional education and guidance. But anything that can be done to minimize injury to innocent children should be looked at carefully. Unfortnately, not all parents are good parents. And certainly I'm far from a perfect parent. I do my best, but I've made my share of mistakes, and will continue to do so as my kids grow up. However, I make an effort to try to make sure my kids are in the best possible environment. I would never willingly expose them to something harmful. But not all parents do the research or watch the news. So perhaps the government intervention might save one baby. In my mind, maybe that's enough. The thought of losing a child to me would be devastating. I cannot imagine it, especially if it were something that could have been prevented.
Bill Howard
11:06 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Its hard to say if bumpers are bad or if it is hype. I worry more about all the people who leave kids in their cars in the heat. More kids die from that than bumpers. What can be done?
nancy sumpter
2:14 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Research has been done extensively on soft crib bedding, bumper pads and toys in the crib...all have been linked to SIDS. I am a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at St. Joseph Medical Center and we are teaching parents to put nothing loose in the crib and to put them "Back to Sleep" wrapped in a halo swaddle blanket only.
Susie V
11:16 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
I beg to differ!!! It is pure parental negligence!!!
heidi sparks
3:10 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I think so. Parents don't keep stuffed animals or pillows in cribs due to risk, so why place a giant pillow around your crib? I think due to the volume of deaths, no state should allow them to be sold in stores.
There are other options out there for parents where they don't have to put their kids life at risk, they make those ugly mesh ones and another company has vertical bumpers called "Wonder Bumpers" (which we have for our daughter) Putting her safety first was my first priority as a mom and so we researched and I think that is very important when purchasing items for your baby. Some moms spend $300 on a carseat because its known to be safe, why not do it for your childs sleep?