For new moms and dads, there's a lot of excitement that goes into getting the nursery all set up and ready to go for your infant. Crib bumpers may seem like the perfect finishing touch, but beware. The popular crib accessory poses a suffocation risk for babies.
“They can suffocate by pushing their face up against the bumper or getting their face trapped underneath the bumper,” warned Elaine Schulte, M.D., a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s.
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Recent research shows an increased reporting of suffocations due to crib bumpers and other objects in cribs. Researchers determined that infant deaths would have been prevented if a crib bumper had not been in the crib. They also found that there is no benefit to using a bumper.
Parents often believe bumpers are needed to keep their baby safe and comfortable in a crib but Dr. Schulte said bumpers are not necessary and that infants are safest in a bare crib; no stuffed animals, blankets, pillows – or bumpers.
In addition to suffocation hazards, once a baby learns to stand they can use the bumper as a stepping stool to climb out of the crib, which can lead to serious head injuries.
“The bottom line is that crib bumpers are not safe to use in cribs,” said Schulte. “Babies don’t need crib bumpers. They don’t need anything in their cribs.”
Cleveland Clinic says you can follow these simple rules for keeping your baby safe while sleeping; it’s easy as A, B, C:
A – Alone: The safest place for your baby to sleep is in the room where you sleep, but not in your bed. Babies sleep safest in a crib. Never nap on a couch or chair while holding your baby.
B – Back: Lay your baby down on his or her back. Lying on the back helps your baby to easily draw in air by keeping the mouth and nose free of obstructions. This position also helps your baby to easily swallow anything that is spit up or coughed up during sleep.
C – Crib: Always put your baby down to sleep on a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib, bassinet or play yard that has no blankets, bumpers or stuffed animals. Instead of using a blanket to keep your baby warm, dress her in an age- and size- appropriate or sleep sack-type pajamas.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has an entire page on it's website dedicated to crib safety. It includes a section on recalls, so you can check to see if the crib you have is on the list. You can find it here.
