When can I remove the bumpers from my boys' cribs? I am afriad they will bump their head in the night or get their little hands or feet caught. Yet, I am soooo looking forward to it since it is such hassle everytime I change their sheets and bedding - times 2! Thoughts?
Thanks so much for the advice and the reassurance! I took the bumpers off that same day and they have been just fine. And yes, the boys WERE using the bumpers to stand on and trying to get out, so if anything, they were saved by a much bigger owie then the bumpers could have prevented. Thanks again Mamas!
My pediatrician told me to take them off right when I told her I had them. She said with the way my son moves, he would have gotten his head under the bumper and suffocated. I would take them off right away. Less worry of SIDS that way.
D. P.
Take them off. They will be fine. They aren't going to be doing any gymnastics in their cribs, so don't worry about the head bumbing. And some of the best pictures of my daughter were taken when she would be sprawled out in her crib with one leg sticking out. They figure it out on their own. I left my girls bumpers on, until they needed the extra room for their bodies, because they are so stinking cute on their crib but I know what you mean about being a pain in the neck to change the sheets. Take care
p.s. This is advice is because your boys are over a year. I agree with all the other ladies that you should not have a bumper for the first 6 months. After 6 months the chance of SIDS is reduced over half because they can roll themselves out of danger and lift their head if they can't breath. My girls were in my room in a co-sleeper for the first 7 months, so their cribs were sitting their with the beautiful bedding all set in place.
Hi L.,
I never used them. I was always afraid my kids would get tangeled in the bumper. My son got his leg stuck once, but he was fine...just a little freaked out. My daughter rolls all over the place when she sleeps and has never gotten stuck. She even sleeps with her little legs hanging out of the crib sometimes and she is still ok.
Wow L. twins you must be busy. I have a 4.5 and 2 year old and I did not use a bumper for either of them. When I first got all of the bedding for the nursery with my first I did buy bumpers. I had just moved to Canada at the time and here they have a home health care nurse come over the within 24 hours of sending you home from the hospital. She saw my bumper and freaked out, I guess there have been studies that bumpers can restrict the air flow in the crib and or the baby can squirm up to the bumper and nuzzle there head so close it can restrict air flow. They were trying to link it to the occurrence of sids in little babies.
Thus she had instructed me to get rid of it or if I just wanted it for looks to pull it down between the mattress and crib. I did pull it down and that made it crazy hard to change sheets and it was only for the look. Thus I did not even use one of the second child. The nurse had supplied lots of articles to support her claim to not use the bumpers and as a first time mom I was not going to take the risk for the looks. Both of my kids did ended up hitting there heads a little on the sides and sometimes a foot was poking out but they NEVER got hurt. You had stated that your boys are 13 months so I would say to take them out also because they might use the bumper to stand up on the side and end up getting out. Neither of mine ever climbed out of the cribs but my girlfriends little guy was crazy active and was climbing out of his crib by 14 months! Obviously I would not say that you need to worry about the air flow issue but if it is a pain for you to change sheets I would say 13 months times 2 changing sheets had been lots. Probably just a person preference now, when ever you have had enough.
Good luck
Forget about the bumper pad. Aside from looking nice, it really serves no purpose. Cribs today are built for safety, with narrow slats and fitted mattresses. The AAP advises that a baby can be trapped or suffocated by a fluffy bumper pad. Additionally, it’s important that bumper pads not be used when your baby is able to stand because he may use it as a step to get out of the crib.
I feel your pain! I just took my 3 months old out of his crib because I had such a struggle with changing sheets. I've heard that you really don't even need them.
Bumpers actually increase the risk of SIDS, so you should take them off right away. As long as the slat sizes are up to date little baby body parts won't get stuck!
Hello!
I have never used the bumpers with our now 3 yr old and am not now with the newborn either and it has never been an issue.
In another post some weeks ago a mom was looking for help because her kid would get a leg stuck once in a while, but if that is the problem, a crib tent should help with that.
All the best,
D.
I think it is personal preference. I never used them. Once in awhile My daughter had will stick her hand or foot out of the bars, but she has never hurt herself.
M.
Maybe think about when they start standing in the crib, it is only another way to step on them and either loose their balance or get higher over the railing.
