At what age do you remove the crib bumper from an infants bed?

Question

I have a 6 month old and I haven't removed them yet because I have heard both to wait and to go ahead and remove them. Just wondering what others have done. Thanks!

Answer 1

I never use bumpers they are a SIDS risk.

"Crib bumper pads became popular in older-style cribs where the slats were far enough apart that a baby's head could become trapped between the slats, posing a suffocation risk. Today, all cribs sold in the United States and Canada are required to have slats close enough together that it's nearly impossible for an infant's head to fit through.

So why do we still use the crib bumper pads? For some parents, the reason may be as simple as liking the way the bumper pad looks. The matched crib bedding sets in stores are often cute and the package deal makes for a nice coordinated nursery. Other parents are worried about their child's arms and legs sticking through the crib sides, and some worry that the baby will hit his or her head on the crib sides and cause injury. According to Health Canada, it is nearly impossible for an infant to hit his or her head hard enough on the crib to cause bruising or injury. Health Canada also reports that serious injury is not likely when a child puts his or her arms and legs through the crib slats. The baby will either remove their arm or leg from the slats if possible, or make enough noise to alert a parent for help.

Which Groups Have Recommended Against Bumper Pads?
Some major children's safety organizations have recently suggested that parents and child care providers should remove crib bumper pads from baby cribs. The groups include: American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Canada, National Center for Health and Safety in Child Care, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the First Candle/National SIDS Alliance. Some state and regional Back to Sleep campaigns now recommend removing bumper pads, as well."
Which Groups Have Recommended Against Bumper Pads?
Some major children's safety organizations have recently suggested that parents and child care providers should remove crib bumper pads from baby cribs. The groups include: American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Canada, National Center for Health and Safety in Child Care, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the First Candle/National SIDS Alliance. Some state and regional Back to Sleep campaigns now recommend removing bumper pads, as well.

http://babyproducts.about.com/od/recallsandsafety/a/bumpersafety.htm

Health Canada recommends in their "Crib Safety" fact sheet that bumper pads never be used. This position is supported by the Canadian Paediatric Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. The rationale behind this statement is that bumper pads, and other products such as quilts, duvets, sheepskins, pillows, stuffed toys, and position maintaining devices, affect the flow of fresh oxygen around the infant and can also pose a smothering hazard if the child's face is in close contact with them. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in their position paper, hypothesis that certain infants may have a maldevelopment or delay in maturation in a part of their brainstem involved in ventilatory response, chemosensitivity and blood pressure responses. When these infants become compromised (physiologically) during sleep (perhaps from overheating or lack of oxygen as a result of being in contact with or too close to one of the above listed products, or a combination), they are not able to arouse themselves enough to prevent hypoxia and death. The re-breathing of air may in fact be a contributing factor.

Bumper pads were first introduced many years ago as a method of protecting infants from head entrapment in unsafe cribs where the slats were too far apart. Since 1986, cribs are manufactured with slat widths that are impossible to get an infant's head trapped in. Therefore, the bumper pads are no longer necessary. As well, many years ago when bumper pads were first used, infants were dying as a result of SIDS, but the research as to why this was happening was not as advanced as it is today, and researchers had not yet discovered the link between bumper pads and re-breathing or decreased air flow. Luckily, we have that information today from a vast body of scientific research, and it is very important that we convey this information to parents who question the recommendations.

Parents will also often comment that if they do not use bumper pads, their infant's hands, feet or legs will get stuck in the slats. This in fact can also happen with the use of bumper pads, as baby's can get their feet, legs etc. lodged in between the slats either above or below the level of the bumper pad. Although it is possible for the infant to get their hands, leg, etc. caught in between the slats, this event will not result in any serious injury. In fact, the infant will either dislodge the body part themselves, or will make a noise so that the parents can respond and help to remove the part. On the other hand, the risk with bumper pad use is much more serious and can in fact result in the death of the child.
http://www.multiplebirthsfamilies.com/articles/post_q12.html

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
At what age do you remove the crib bumper from an infants bed?
I have a 6 month old and I haven't removed them yet because I have heard both to wait and to go ahead and remove them. Just wondering what others have done. Thanks!

Answer 3

I bought very expensive bedding, including bumpers for both her cradle and her crib. However, when I had her, I decided not to use them and still haven't after 4 1/2 months. I would just hate for something to happen and know that I caused it by something as silly as a bumper. My pediatrician told us that there was really no reason to have the bumper in the crib. Before they are old enough to move around, you don't have to worry about them bumping their heads on the rails, and after they are old enough to move around, you have to worry about them getting stuck. So, I would say to take the bumper out.

Answer 4

I went to a baby safety seminar about a month ago and its recommended to never have the bumper in there when the baby is sleeping that also includes pillows and crib comforter/blankets, almost 50% of SIDS deaths are actually being linked to suffocation due to these things, even when u look at the package that the bumpers, pillows, comforters come in, it even says these are purely decoration and all are supposed to be removed when the baby is sleeping in there.... I hope that helps some

Answer 5

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I used bumpers for only a short time with my first baby because I would find his face pushed into the fabric in the morning. My second baby is now 9 months old and I haven't used bumpers at all with him. My feeling is, even if you find your baby's faced smashed against the crib rails, it's not like she was being forcefully pushed against it. I don't think babies move fast enough in their sleep to actually hurt themselves on a crib rail. Neither of my kids have ever been hurt that way.

Answer 6

Bed Bumpers For Babies

Answer 7

I removed it as soon as my daughter was sleeping in her crib at night. I would think that it is a risk for suffocation....if they roll over into it. My daughter hasnt started rolling over yet...but she is at the age (4 months) that it could happen any day , so I took it off to be safe.

Answer 8

I didn't use them at all. So I don't see any problem with you removing them now. And not to be an alarmist, but I've actually seen very good reasons for not using them--suffocation and choking hazard as well as harboring germs and not getting cleaned as often as bedding.

Answer 9

Your baby is old enough to remove them. I have even heard not to ever use them. You know you baby better than we do. At 6 months he/she should start to sit up on their own. So you really don't have to shelter you baby as much now.

Answer 10

My rule of thumb was I left them as long as the baby wasn't messing around with them. My son I had to take them out at 4 months, as he kept sticking his head under them and I was petrified he'd suffocate. My daughter had hers in until she was almost 3 years old and I moved her into a bed. My oldest son I took them out around 1 year old when he was using them as a step stool to try to climb out of his bed.

Anyways, bottom line is, you'll know when its time. If your baby isn't messing with them feel free to leave them in.