Safety of Crib Bumper Pads
The safety of bumper pads, which line the inside lower portion of crib, has been widely debated. While the American Academy of Pediatrics is against the use of bumper pads, many parents feel they are necessary to protect their children from bumping up against the sides of their cribs as well as getting their arms and legs caught between the rails.
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Safety Issues
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Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National SIDS Alliance have spoken out against the use of crib bumper pads. Potential safety risks associated with crib bumper use include suffocation, strangulation and entrapment. In addition, many older babies use bumper pads as a step up while trying to climb out of their cribs, which can lead to serious falls or entrapment between the outside of the pad and the bars of the crib.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
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The National SIDS Alliance states that the use of traditional padded crib bumpers can increase an infant's risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. Bumper pads decrease the airflow coming in and out of the crib, which can lead to the rebreathing of air, which is believed to be a causative factor in SIDS.
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Studies
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A Washington University study by B. T. Thach, G. W. Rutherford and K. Harris, published in the "Journal of Pediatrics" in 2007, concluded that crib bumpers prevent only minor injuries while having the potential to cause death. The study also found that all retail bumpers have some hazardous properties.
Researchers looked at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission databases involving injuries and deaths related to crib bumper pads from 1985 to 2005. During that time, 27 deaths were attributed directly to bumper pads due to either suffocation or strangulation. In addition, 25 nonfatal injuries were reported. The study also examined 22 different retail bumpers and found all to have hazardous features.
Benefits Versus Risks
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While many parents insist that crib bumpers keep their children safe from hurting themselves while within their cribs, there is no scientific evidence to prove that traditional padded bumpers are anything more than decorative when used with newborns and infants.
Current crib safety recommendations allow for no soft or loose bedding items to be in the crib with an infant. For older children who may benefit from protection against bumping up against crib rails, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that bumper pads be thin, firm and secured tightly to the crib rails. It is also recommended that rail ties be trimmed once the pad is attached to reduce the risk of strangulation.
Alternative
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For those parents who feel they need to use a bumper, a breathable crib bumper is considered a safer alternative to traditional padded bumpers. Breathable bumpers are made from mesh, therefore increasing airflow into and out of the crib while decreasing the chance of suffocation. These mesh bumpers stay taut against the sides of the crib, keeping children's arms and legs safely inside. These bumpers are also less likely to be used as a way to climb out of the crib, because they slide down when stepped on by a small child.
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References
- Photo Credit babies crib image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
