Removing crib bumpers may not seem like a way to protect your baby, but evidence suggests they do more harm than good. Crib bumper pads were originally intended to keep little bodies from slipping through spaces between slats wide enough to admit a baby's torso but trap his head. This is no longer an issue, thanks to the 1973 U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission guidelines. Because of a 2007 "Journal of Pediatrics" study linking infant deaths and injuries to baby crib bumpers, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you don't use them at all.
Step 1
Locate all of the ties that attach the baby crib bumper to the upright slats in the side of the crib. They are usually in pairs, one at the top of the bumper pad and one at the bottom, spaced out along the length of each side.
Step 2
Untie or cut away all of the ties. Make sure you remove all scraps from the crib if you cut the ties, because they are a choking hazard.
Step 3
Lift the bumper pads out of the crib. Make sure the mattress fits against the crib tightly so that your baby cannot roll face down between the mattress and the crib. Discard or donate the bumper pads, or find another use for the fabric.
Tips and Warnings
- If you keep the crib bumpers, attach them to the outside of the slats or weave them in and out to keep your baby's limbs from getting stuck in the slats while lessening the danger of suffocation.
- Never leave crib bumpers in place once a baby can stand up in the crib, because toddlers use the extra height to climb out.
References
- "Journal of Pediatrics"; Deaths and Injuries Attributed to Infant Crib Bumper Pads"; B.T. Thach, et al; Sept. 15, 2007
- Consumer Reports: New Study Confirms Dangers of Bumper Pads to Babies
- Consumer Product Safety Commission: CPSC Sets Crib Safety Standards
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Crib Bumpers in the Night: A Hazard to Infants
