Dangers of Bumper Pads

The fear of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is omnipresent in American culture, motivating parents to do everything possible to protect their children from crib death. Since the Back to Sleep campaign was introduced in 1994, the rate of crib deaths has fallen by 50 percent. This is an amazing achievement, one that ensures that American children are safer than ever before; however, a research study linking bumper use to crib death shows that parents can do even more. Before you purchase the coordinating crib bedding set, take a look at what research reports reveal about the dangers of crib bumpers.

Significance

Soft, decorative crib bumpers are sold in most baby stores, many in matching nursery sets with bedding and sheets. Parents purchase them thinking they will help their babies, but according to a 2007 research study by Washington University's pediatrics department, they are more likely to harm your baby.

Function

Crib bumpers are soft, flexible pads that attach via short strings or Velcro to the crib rails in order to help protect the infant's head from hitting the bars of the crib, and to keep their arms and legs from getting caught between the slats. Some parents like the look of bumpers since they appear to make the bare crib more comfortable for their baby.

History

Before current safety regulations regarding the width of crib slats, it was common for babies' heads to become trapped between the crib bars. Parents began to use crib bumpers to avoid this problem, and even though there have been guidelines dictating the width between slats since 1986, bumpers continue to be a popular nursery purchase.

Considerations

The Washington University study published in the September 2007 Journal of Pediatrics gathered research by examining infant crib deaths from 1985 to 2005 in the Consumer Product Safety Commission's database. It found 27 cases implicating bumpers or padded bassinets as the causes of death. Some infants were found with their heads pressed against the bumpers, others had their heads lodged between the bumper and another object, and a few died of strangulation when the ties ended up around their necks. While these statistics are miniscule compared with the number of babies who do fine in a crib with bumpers, officials do think these deaths likely are under-reported.

Prevention/Solution

Many infant safety organizations, such as Health Canada, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Consumer Products Safety Commission recommend not using bumpers and removing them from all infant's cribs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends caution in their use and advises making sure they are "thin, firm, well-secured and not pillowlike."

Expert Insight

Since there are no benefits to bumpers and a great deal of potential harm, it makes sense to skip this nursery purchase. A lead researcher on the study and pediatric SIDS specialist Dr. Bradley Thach sums it up this way in a 2007 ScienceDaily report: "I don't think bumper pads are doing any good. Although the deaths and injuries may be rare events, they are preventable by eliminating the use of bumper pads."