To bump or not to bump? That is the question

By bump in this post, I am referring to bumpers in cribs (not the baby bump, or for the perverted readers out there, bump n' grind).  If you've had a child in the last several years, you may have been warned against bumpers--maybe by a doctor, or a friend, or by a stranger, due to their risk associated with SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).  Just about everyone who has a child has an opinion on the bumper matter.  I told you that some topics on this blog might be controversial.  There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer, it might not be so black and white, and that intrigues me.  I hope I'll get some interesting feedback from some of you.

Some child safety organizations believe bumpers pose a risk of suffocation and strangulation.  There is a lot of information out there, and you can do your own research, but I will share some of the info I did find.  The American SIDS Institute recommends against placing anything in the crib, including bumpers (also blankets and toys, among any other objects), to reduce the risk of SIDS, as does First Candle.  Dr. Sears, who has been featured on OPRAH (so he must be the real deal, right?) suggests that parents make sure crib bumpers fit snugly around the entire perimeter of the crib and are secured by at least six ties or snaps. To prevent your baby from chewing on the ties and becoming entangled in them, trim off excess length. Remove bumpers and toys from the crib as soon as the child begins to pull himself or herself up on the crib rails, because they can be used as steps for climbing over the rail.  Of course, some feel that without bumpers there is a risk of babies hitting parts of their bodies on the slats, or getting arms/legs stuck in the slats. 


Many of the baby bedding options include bumpers, but that doesn't mean you should feel compelled to use them just because they look nice.  There are other options--you can use bumpers as decor when the baby isn't in the crib and remove it when the baby goes to sleep (that sounds exhausting, honestly, I hope you have a nanny to help with this task), you can use breathable mesh bumpers or you can use no bumpers at all.  Or, you can do what many generations before us did, and use the bumpers. 

Only you know what is best for your child.  No matter what decision you make, you don't need to justify or defend your position to anyone.  The best decisions are the educated ones, so do your research, find the right resources to answer your questions and try to get some sleep (and help your baby sleep safely and soundly too).