When are bumpers needed for a child’s crib, and when are they not?

Bumpers in a crib: advantages

The question of the benefits and harms of “protection” was repeatedly raised by the famous pediatrician Komarovsky. Do you need bumpers in a newborn's crib and what are their advantages?

1. The likelihood of injury to the child while sleeping or playing in the crib is reduced. The baby will not get stuck between the bars of the bed or get hit when turning over.
2. The sides protect the baby from drafts and isolate the air flow from the cold walls and retain warm air inside the crib.
3. Protecting your baby's vision from too bright lighting and excess noise, which allows you to fall asleep and calm down faster.
4. The sides make the crib more comfortable, which will have a positive effect on falling asleep.
5. The drawings on modern borders allow them to be used as a developmental aid. Thanks to them, toys fall out of bed much less often.
6. The sides serve as protection against pets entering the baby's crib.

Arguments against sides

Do you need bumpers for a newborn's crib? The use of the presented products has a number of significant disadvantages.

1. 1. The sides do not allow parents to see what their child is currently doing. And for every mother it is important to see that everything is fine with her child.
2. They accumulate a lot of dust on themselves, and the baby breathes it. In view of the above, cleaning will need to be done on a regular basis.
3. Behind the sides, the baby will not be able to see what is happening outside the bed.
4. A child can still stick an arm or leg into the joints between the sides, which can result in injury.
5. There is a risk of death, because in a dream the child may turn around unsuccessfully, burying himself in the side, and suffocate.

“Against” the sides in the crib

In turn, American scientists have published sad data that the bumpers in a crib can be dangerous and even cause the death of a baby.

1. Textile sides accumulate dust, which can cause allergies in a child.
2. The child's vision is limited, the flow of fresh air is reduced, which can negatively affect the functioning of the baby's brain.
3. A child can unhook some sides on his own and become entangled in them, which poses a threat to life.

Even the famous pediatrician Komarovsky spoke about whether bumpers are needed in a crib?

He does not recommend leaving unnecessary items in the baby’s crib during sleep unless absolutely necessary, which includes, in addition to blankets, pillows, and toys, “protection” on the crib. Their 100% safety has not been proven, especially for children under 1 year of age. But for children from 12 months of age, the risk of using such an item, according to Komarovsky, is significantly reduced.

If you have decided to buy them for a newborn, you need to constantly ensure that they are well fixed. For fixation, Velcro, ties, snaps, buttons, and zippers are used. The latter are considered the safest.

If the sides will be attached with ties, then it is better that their length is designed to be attached to both the rods and the top of the cradle. The parameters of the sides must correspond to the dimensions of the crib.

Bumpers for a crib: pros and cons

How to choose crib bumpers

To choose bumpers that will serve young parents for a long time and will not harm the baby’s health, it is important to pay attention to several points at once:

Fabric cover material for sides

One of the most important criteria here is hypoallergenicity. You should not choose artificial fabrics that can negatively affect the child’s health. It is better to pay attention to cotton fabrics: satin, calico, chintz or flannel. Since the sides have to be washed often, it is better to choose more durable materials that are resistant to mechanical stress.

Side filler

Poor-quality filler can also form clumps very quickly with frequent washing. Also, some materials can cause allergies in the baby. To avoid this, be sure to check what kind of filler is used for the sides.

1. Sintepon is the leader among fillers; it is inexpensive, easy to maintain or care for, and has the ability to dry quickly and recover after washing. Its differences are elasticity, low price and light weight.
2. Foam rubber. Many mothers prefer this material to padding polyester, as it retains its shape better after washing and can be used longer.
3. Natural wool. This material is used very rarely as a filler, but it can be found in some manufacturers. The advantage of wool is that it retains heat well. However, in the hot season, this material can increase the temperature in the crib, which is why the baby can easily overheat. Another serious disadvantage of natural wool is that it very often causes allergies in babies.
4. Holofiber. More expensive in price, as well as more dense and voluminous synthetic material. Its advantages are that it does not absorb foreign odors, does not lump or crumble. Holofiber is considered very wear-resistant.

The thickness of the sides also differs, and the filler and its quantity play a big role in this. For newborns, it is customary to choose flat bumpers to leave more free space; for older children, you can choose lush cushion bumpers to use them even for a chair or armchair.

Height of sides in crib

Another important point when choosing sides is their height. Experts often recommend buying low bumpers for babies under 4 months. Their advantage is that they provide the baby with the necessary visibility, but they provide less protection from drafts. It is recommended to choose higher sides for an older child who is starting to sit down or stand up. They will reliably protect the baby from possible injuries.

Color and designs

For boys, it is customary to choose the color of the sides: blue or light blue, gray, brown, turquoise, and for the design they select textiles with owls, a boat and other marine themes; For girls, they traditionally choose stylish pink shades, lace sets and exclusive sets. By the way, a set of classic or unusual bumpers with owls, stars, floral prints and bed linen in the same style significantly reduces the time and effort spent searching for laconic and original filling for a baby crib. Many experts recommend buying bumpers with illustrations for children. Both bumpers and graphics should be pleasant, not too bright colors. Colored details will be very useful for developing attention in children and will teach them to distinguish between different objects. But it is very important not to buy bumpers that are too bright, because harsh colors can irritate the child.

Removable covers

To extend the life of the sides, you should choose models with removable covers. Not all parents know, but it is not at all necessary to wash the filling for the bumpers every time, because with frequent washing it quickly loses its shape. And removable covers on the bumpers allow you to remove and wash only the fabric. Wash the sides, or rather their removable covers, a couple of times a month, or more often, but not less often, especially during the child’s infancy. It is worth washing the bumpers using powders for babies: without dyes and fragrances, which will avoid additional stress on the baby’s respiratory system and his health. Ironing the edges is another essential element of textile care: hot steam disinfects the fabric and gives it a neat shape.

Attaching the bumpers to the crib becomes another important point for ensuring safety: it is important that the bumpers are firmly attached. There are methods of fastening such as: Velcro, locks, ties, buttons, hooks or buttons.

Dreams are a significant part of a child’s life; they accumulate and “digest” all the emotions received during the day. And the smaller the baby, the more dreams he dreams. Scientists have found that children have dreams from the first days of life. Before we are born and even while in the womb, we are all absorbed in our own experiences and impressions of contact with the outside world. Try to make sure that your baby receives only positive emotions during the day - then his dreams will be light, bright, and rosy.

Good dreams to you and your babies!

Opinions about the advisability of purchasing bumpers among modern parents vary: some are strictly in favor of a textile addition to the crib, others are against it, personifying the purchase as an extra waste of the family budget. Which category do you belong to?

By the way, at the link you will find a checklist: What should you buy for a newborn’s crib?

In what cases is it recommended to use bumpers?

Do you need bumpers for a baby crib? They are not a required accessory. Whether to buy them or not depends on the opinion of the parents. They will be relevant when the baby grows up and begins to stand on his feet, albeit tentatively. This will help avoid injury during falls.

Sometimes they can also be used as a panel for educational toys, which can be placed in special pockets and changed frequently.

In order not to put too much strain on children's vision, it is better to start using them from 3 months. In addition, it is during this period that the child begins to become active. Until what period to use them is a purely individual question and depends on the child.

Do you need bumpers in a crib for a newborn – or can you really do without them?

To understand whether bumpers are needed in a newborn’s crib, let’s consider a common situation. Breasts can spin quite actively in different directions. This becomes a real problem for parents. Especially if you don't practice swaddling at first.

It is extremely undesirable for the baby to hit the wooden lattice of the crib. At the same time, it is worth remembering that even calm children can hit themselves, let alone restless ones! The bumpers in the crib for newborns are real protection against impacts. And the child will not be able to stick his head between the bars. This happens sometimes. In addition, with bumpers in the crib, the child sleeps more comfortably and warmly.

In general, when preparing a cradle for a baby, it is advisable to take into account all the details. Yes, any bumpers for a crib are not a long-lasting thing. By the age of one and a half years they will no longer be relevant. However, they are very important in the first year of life. Therefore, answering the question of whether bumpers are needed in a crib for a newborn, the answer will be unequivocal - YES, they are needed.

Let us now consider what the modern market offers today. In addition to the words, watch the video

Proper care of edges

Like any children's textiles, the “protection” for the crib needs to be washed often so that dust does not collect on it. It is recommended to do this at least once every 7 days. To prevent the quality of textiles from deteriorating, you need to take the right approach to caring for them.

• Be sure to process before use. This will remove any possible bacteria on them. It is very important for a newborn to avoid contact with them. During the first wash, the powder may not be used. As an option to replace the first wash, go over the material with a hot iron or steam cleaner.
• Do I need to wash the crib bumpers and how to do it correctly? To ensure that the sides retain their shape and color, do not wash them at temperatures above +60°C. It is advisable to use a delicate wash. If there is high-quality foam inside, then even twisting will not change the quality of the material.
• Do not use laundry detergent for adult laundry, only for children's laundry.
• The material from which the sides are made usually dries quickly. But for good drying it is better to use an open balcony or fresh air.
• Do not bend the sides during the drying process. Before hanging them on the crib, iron them well.

How to wash a baby bumper?

All types of crib bumpers require maintenance. Washing is the only possible way. They must be washed together with bed linen. The washing mode must be selected based on the type of filler. To care for products with foam filling, you must select a delicate machine wash cycle. For sides with synthetic padding, it is recommended to choose hand washing. It is better to dry it in air; you also need to remember that you should use either baby soap or powder for washing.

Crib bumpers need to be washed on time

We hope that in this article we have considered all the points that worry parents when buying soft protection for a crib. Do not forget that correctly selected bumpers are the key to the comfort and safety of your child.

Until what age do you need bumpers in a crib?

Parents decide for themselves how long the bumpers will be in use. In any case, their use will be advisable in the first six months of the child.

The first month after the baby is born, the sides can only be hung on three sides. The child is not yet turning over and therefore it is more convenient for parents - they see the baby and are able to control whether everything is fine with him and how he is feeling. The option with three side walls will be good for those mothers who believe that bumpers isolate the baby from the outside world.

In the future, someone refuses protection at 8-10 months, when the baby is already free to sit and stand on his feet. Some people use the bumpers for a longer time, up to 2 years, in terms of their convenience.

Of course, here you need to focus on the child’s temperament, how he grows, how he develops, and whether the protective sides cause him any inconvenience.

Do you need bumpers in a crib for a newborn: the opinion of pediatricians and the experience of parents

Thinking about the comfort and safety of their future baby, many mothers and fathers, even before his birth, decide on the issue of purchasing protective bumpers for the crib. During the nine-month wait, future parents find out why bumpers are needed in the crib and analyze all the pros and cons. Therefore, special attention is paid to articles and forums where professional pediatric doctors express their opinions. Before purchasing, it is always interesting to read reviews from those who have already used protection for their children’s cribs.

No bumpers needed for cribs

The fact remains that crib bumpers do kill babies. According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, between 1985 and 2012, 48 infants died from suffocation due to bumper bars. Another 146 received various types of damage after becoming entangled in the parts of the sides.

In 2012, Consumer Reposts, a non-profit consumer rights organization, published a list of dangerous baby products, including sleep positioners, crib covers, pillows and blankets, and, of course, bumpers.

The number of infant deaths due to bumper bars is increasing every year, said Dr. Bradley Tuch, professor emeritus of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who led the study on deaths and injuries in cribs with bumpers. "They [the bumpers] are dangerous, just don't use them," he told NPR.

He is echoed by former director of the Infant Suffocation Prevention Project, NJ Shears: “All of these deaths are preventable. If there are no 'bumpers' in the crib, the baby will not be harmed."

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regularly publishes guidelines on safe infant sleep, in which it calls bumpers a dangerous invention and recommends that parents avoid purchasing a set of soft “bumpers” for a crib. “There is no evidence that bumpers provide effective protection or help prevent crib injuries. However, the risk of suffocation and entanglement for a child in this design is very high,” the AAP guidelines state.

However, the organization is unable to achieve a direct ban on the sale of bumpers, since such decisions are not within the competence of the academy - all its statements are advisory in nature.

However, under the pressure of eerie information about the connection between infant deaths and bumpers, many manufacturers began to offer customers so-called breathable options (according to experts, this is all bullshit, and breathable “bumpers” are also dangerous), as well as thinner products. However, in practice it turned out that thinness does not help solve the problem - at least three babies died as a result of suffocation by thin “bumpers”.

Why then are bumpers still not banned everywhere? This is obviously a philosophical question from the series “why is vodka sold in stores, because it kills people?” In 2013, British woman Lisa Gee tried to get the sale of bumpers banned after her nine-month-old son Preston died of suffocation in his crib. However, her efforts did not produce any significant results - in the UK there are no official recommendations regarding the use of bumpers.

In the United States, however, the situation has moved forward - in 2011, Chicago became the first city to completely ban the sale of crib bumpers. In 2013, Maryland introduced restrictions on the sale of bumpers, restricting stores to selling only thin, breathable fabric “bumpers” or vertical “rolls” that are individually installed on crib rails.

In Russia, they practically don’t talk about the danger of all this beauty with frills. Moreover, pediatricians even recommend buying bumpers and canopies for cribs to “protect the baby from drafts,” for example. Guarding common sense, however, is pediatrician Evgeniy Komarovsky, who advises removing all unnecessary items from the crib.

Up to a year, the child should sleep in the most spartan environment: his crib should only have a good mattress (it is best to put a sheet on it with an elastic band). That's all. No pillows, diapers, blankets, toys or bumpers. The baby should be placed on his back in the crib. After a year, if the child is absolutely healthy and developing well, you can offer to put a pillow and a favorite toy in the crib.