Removing a crib bumper?

Question

My son is 8 1/2 months old and I am still using his crib bumper. I am not sure about whether or not to remove it...he started standing up in his crib and I just caught him tugging on it. I think I should take it out BUT he is a very restless sleeper and I'm worried he'll bang his head on the rails if it is not there. Which is safer...bumper or no bumper? So confused!

Answer 1

Bumpers are very unsafe...they are worse for younger babies than older as they can cause suffocation. Thankfully you didnt have that problem but if you find him standing on it then I would remove it.  

Answer 2

people say you aren't really suppose to have bumpers, that they are a SIDS or suffocation/strangulation risk.

That said, my daughter is 18 months and STILL has the bumpers in her crib.  I have tried to remove them a few times, and she has slept horribly.  She uses the bumpers to cuddle up against.

Answer 3

We have a bumper now. My daughter will be 5 months old next Friday. She isn't rolling around yet. Only did that once a month ago so I am not worried yet. But when she does start rolling around I do plan on taking it out and hope she doesn't get her legs caught in the crib bars.

But have you heard of a breathable crib bumper? They are sold at Babies R Us. I have heard good things about them. I might check in to them.

Answer 4

I have heard bad things about bumpers and that you should  not have them in the crib at all because they can suffocate. Look up bumpers on the internet a lot of people warn to keep them out of the crib.

Answer 5

I removed the bumper in my son's room when he was four months old. He has not bumped his head at all.  At 8 1/2 months he is tough enough that if he did bump his head he would be fine. The bump might jar him awake for a couple of nights but he will get use to it.  I just worry that since he is old enough to move around good that he will get tangled up in the bumper.  I would vote no bumper.  

Answer 6

As soon as they can roll over on their own it should come out because they can become suffocation hazards at that point.  My son hasn't had his at all since he was about 6 months.  What I did was take a throw blanket of his (not one of the big one's, just one of his size that he cuddles with) and I rolled it up like a big tootsie roll. I used fabric hair scrunchies on it to keep it closed in a roll. They keep on their snug and work fine.  He cuddles up with that on the side he rolls towards the most in sleep and it keeps him away from the rails. Most nights when I check on him he's curled up hugging it like a teddy bear with one arm sound asleep with his head tucked up on it.  He's 16 months old now and it works fine. I'd go ahead and get rid of the bumper.

Answer 7

I know, I know, bumpers are bad - horrible - evil things...but I recently went one night without one and it was awful.  My nine month old daughter (who already stands and climbs on it) kept hitting her head and waking up.  So the next day she wasn't well rested and cranky to boot, as was I!  The safest compromise for me was to lower the crib to it's lowest setting, remove any other toys/blankies, and keep the bumper.  Make sure it is a snug fit with no sagging.  I also have the crib in my bedroom  so it's easy to glance and see if she is in an appropriate postition.

As soon as I feel she will be able to have a peaceful night without it, I'll remove it promptly...though I do have to say that if a bumper is the cause of death I believe that to be suffocation, not SIDS.

Your kid is an individual, blanket statements won't help you decide what's right for him.

Answer 8

Bumper Pads increase the risk of SIDS. But as he is almost at the age of not having to worry about that anymore, I would try him out without the pads and see how he does, you can always put it back in. My son personally does better without one. Good luck (:

Answer 9

i have breathable mesh bumpers.....they are not very pretty but they are "sids safe"    they sell them at babies r us....my son is 7 months and was banging his little head off the bars so i bought these...they are very thin but they do the job!!

Answer 10

technically, they say that you should not use those crib bumpers. They are plush so they increase the risk of SIDS. I used one until my kids started messing with it.  I wouldn't worry about his sleeping...he isn't likely to bump his head very hard while he is sleeping.

Answer 11

They (meaning media, doctors, etc.) say that you should not use a bumper at all because of SIDS.  If he is starting to stand, he will start to climb soon.  Take it off just to be on the safe side.  I used my sons bumper as a valance for his window.  It was very cute!!

Answer 12

Most babies start using the bumper as a step out of the crib. If he starts doing that than you should probably remove it. He is at the age where he's strong enough to roll away from the bumper if his face should happen to get to close to the bumper while he's sleeping. His skull is also stronger and harder so him bumping his head might keep him from doing what he shouldn't have been doing in the first place.

Answer 13

I have a breathable mesh bumper, you can get them at Babies R Us.  I use it on my 8 month olds crib because she likes to stick her arms and legs in the slots and get them stuck.  She can stand also, but her bed is at the lowest it can be, and the bumper is not that high.

Answer 14

we took the bumper off as soon as our babies started rolling over....the bumpers are cute, but NOT worth the risk.