Crib Bumper Pads

When you bring your baby home from the hospital, you are overwhelmed with trying to keep her safe and sound, and not allowing any harm to come to her. There are so many things to worry about, from choking to fevers to wondering if she is eating enough. The most terrifying thing that a new parent can face is the condition known as SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. SIDS is classified as a sudden death that occurs because of no other known cause, and is often linked to the baby forgetting to breathe or being unable to breathe.

There are several things that we are told that can reduce the risk of SIDS. The main point being to have your baby sleep on her back, with the idea that the baby will sleep less deeply and be more conscious of breathing. Other suggestions include not putting any loose blankets or stuffed animals in the crib to avoid suffocation. One of the more controversial suggestions is to remove crib bumper pads, because they are thought to possibly reduce the airflow in the crib, there fore leading to more carbon monoxide, as well as posing a suffocation risk.

Crib bumper pads come as part of just about every bedding package, and are very useful for those babies that move around while sleeping. Instead of getting limbs stuck through the crib rails, crib bumper pads are used to prevent this. There have not been any true conclusive studies that prove that air circulation is decreased while using crib bumper pads, but if your child does move quite a bit it causes somewhat of a double edged sword. While they protect your child from getting stuck, they also pose a risk of suffocation by getting too close.

For these situations, the safest solution is to get breathable mesh crib bumper pads. These pads do not necessarily match crib bedding and are not the cutest things out there, but if you are concerned about safety and protecting your child from getting stuck in the crib rails, this is an excellent option. These allow air to flow and circulate, so even if your child’s face ends up pressed against the crib bumper pads, they are still able to breathe. Again, there is no true conclusive evidence that regular crib bumper pads are that much of a danger, but if you are at all concerned breathable pads are a wonderful alternative.