The bumper around my sons crib isn't very tight. It falls down alot and he is getting to where he tries to pull himself up with it!! I am so afraid that he is going to get an arm stuck (he hasn't figured out he can stick his arm through yet...thank God) or something. Is there something I can do to reenforce that the bumper stays in place?!?!
THE bumper is comeing out!! Thank you guys so much for the replies and support!! I love this website!!
Bumper pads are great for small newborns and young babies, but once they become active they need to be taken out. Infact, if you ever read the "instructions" that come when you buy a bumper it says once the child starts using it to get up and move that it's time to take it out.
My suggestion....He doesn't need it anymore. Take it out.
Dear J.,
When you speak of "bumper around your son's crib" I assume you mean the cloth bumper pads commonly used around the inside of the crib.
As a child care professional for many years I have had many hours of safety training in the field of Early Childhood Care. In correlation with the "Back to Sleep" (SIDS) campaign American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that nothing be placed in a crib w/a baby with the exception of a thin blanket (like a receiving blanket). I no longer use bumper pads but in the past I have used bumper pads, then removed them right about 6-8 months when the children start becoming more mobile. As explained to us in training there have been strangulation and suffocation cases where children have died as a result of bumper pads being loose or worn when children have gotten their heads stuck under them or injured from stepping on the pads to climb over the railing and fall to the floor.
To ensure his safety my suggestion would be that you remove the bumper pads.
Hope you find this helpful. For other safety questions you may wish to consult your pediatrition or the American Academy of Pediatrics website.
For the Love of Children,
D.
A little about me:
Mother of 2 ages 16 and 19, Early Childhood Professional, specializing in Infant/Toddler care and education for 21 years. Awesome, supportive husband, married 20 years.
In Day Cares they will not allow bumpers so I believe there must be a risk there. I love the way they look but if you at all think he could get tangled up and even sufficate take it away. G. W
I know bumpers are not recomended, but when I decided to remove my daughter's all she did was bump her head on the crib and start screaming bloody murder. So we immediately put it back in. Her bumper was one that was REALLY FIRM, it didn't make a move. I suggest finding a firmer bumper.
B. H
I am backing up Renee C's advice (below reply). Crib bumpers aren't recommended any longer so you shouldn't even have to mess with 'em.
I never used bumpers with either of my children, and only twice has my son got a limb stuck in between the crib bars. It's no big deal really, just maneuver his fat little thigh back through, and all is well.
But if you insist on using bumpers, there are always mesh bumpers. I saw some good one at www.onestepahead.com.
I had recently read an article by a doctor that said to not use bumper pads. They are more dangerous than they help. He stated the chances of them breaking their arm or getting it stuck are more more slimmer than them getting their head stuck in them and strangling.
Hope this helps.
W.
I also took mine out of my first son's bed and never used one with the others. I went in there twice when he had his face against it. VERY scary. Yes, my kids all got limbs stuck in between the bars, but they were never injured, and even if they were, I'd rather have a hurt leg than worse . . .
Experts are now recommending that when your baby gets old enough to move around, you should remove the bumper in his crib. It can, as you said, give them something to pull up on....but more importantly, the baby can get tangled in the bumper and suffocate. I just read an article about that at babycenter.com yesterday. You might want to check it out.
Take the bumper out.
I just read an article in the Feb issue of Parenting Magazine about crib bumpers. It seems the Consumer Product Safety Commission is suggesting that you take bumpers out of cribs due to reports of infants being trapped and suffocated. If you choose to use a bumper they suggest you use a mesh bumper or cut the ties short after you ties them so there is not excess string.
My advice would be to take the bumper out. When they get loose like that I think they become an even more potential hazzard for trapping a child. They are very nice, but not worth the risk.
I'm saying this b/c I just made the decision to not put one in my new baby's crib. My son had one and I remember several times I would check on him and he'd have his face pressed against it. I worried about it enough that I should have removed it. But...lately so many things have come out about the dangers so I've decided to take all the warnings as a sign and just not do it.
I hope all works out for you.
Try using velcro, (use the small circle velcro)you'll have to tack it to the bumper with needle and thread. It should stick pretty good to the wood, that should hold it in place, until he starts tring to climb out.
