Why Crib Bumpers Are Never Safe
Experts warn against using crib bumpers due to their potential harm to infants. This concern prompted Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois to advocate for their prohibition by enacting the Safe Cribs Act.
Safe Cribs Act Story
When she was about 16 weeks pregnant, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth started planning for her firstborn with joy. After struggling for years with infertility and failed In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), she felt anxious but ready to get the baby’s nursery ready. With that came tons of time researching safe sleep for infants.
Through her research, pre-birthing classes, and conversations with her OB-GYN, the Illinois senator already learned of the dangers of crib bumpers or padding added to the inside edges of a crib. With the belief that it prevents babies from head injuries or getting stuck between the slats. Senator Duckworth saw “tested for safety” on the packaging but realized that it likely was referring to choking hazards and that the materials used were fire retardant. “It’s confusing to a parent or parent-to-be, or someone who’s trying to give a gift to a parent,” says Senator Duckworth. “This is a real safety hazard.”
“Then I have a baby shower,” she recalls. “I get these beautiful bedding sets as part of my baby shower, and inside the bedding sets are crib bumpers. And I remember thinking, ‘Wait, I thought I’m not supposed to have these?'”
Since then, she has worked hard to get crib bumpers banned on a national level. Chicago became the first city to ban crib bumpers in 2011. Maryland, New York, and Ohio later banned them on a state level. In 2021, Senator Duckworth introduced the Safe Cribs Act, along with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, to get the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission to enforce a country-wide ban on the manufacturing, importation, and sale of crib bumpers.
Dangers of Crib Bumpers
SIDS
In the first few months of life, babies do not have the motor skills to turn their neck in another direction or move away from a confined space. “As a result, if they are accidentally put on their side and roll onto a bumper, they could potentially suffocate,” says Matthew Harris, M.D., a New York-based pediatric emergency medicine physician and medical director of the Northwell Health vaccine program.
Strangulation
Babies can become entangled in the crib bumper or its ties or can get between the bumper and the crib. Crib bumpers have been recalled because the stitching or trim comes loose and causes injury.
Falls
If the crib bumpers do not get removed by the time the child stands up, they can be used as leverage to stand on, causing the child to fall out of the crib.
Alternatives
While there are breathable mesh alternatives to padded crib bumpers, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other experts do not recommend them. “As a parent of three children and a pediatrician, we did not utilize these with our children,” says Dr. Harris. And Dr. Jain adds, “No bumper pads are necessary in a baby’s crib regardless of material, thickness, firmness, or breathability.”
Safe Sleep
Parents should place babies on their backs on a firm flat surface for the safest sleep, in their own space in a crib or bassinet, without loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, or any other soft items, according to the AAP. The AAP has stated that “However, newer crib standards requiring crib slat spacing to be less than 2 3/8 inches have obviated the need for crib bumpers”
Some parents are concerned their baby might get hurt or stuck between the crib’s slats. There are simple ways to avoid that. A swaddle, wearable blanket, or sleep sack is an excellent preventative solution. And make sure cribs have slats no more than 2 3/8 inches (6 cm) apart so a baby’s head can’t get trapped in between. (All cribs manufactured after June 2011 are expected to meet this requirement.)
Senator Duckworth emphasizes that parents should immediately stop using crib bumpers. “It’s not worth the aesthetic beauty of having a crib bumper and it really doesn’t do anything to protect your child,” she says. “Get rid of it or use it for something else, but don’t put it on the crib.”