skip to navigation
Pampers® Village a place to grow
  • Home
  • Pregnant
  • New Baby
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • Pre-school

Safety

Expert Q&A:
Should I remove the bumpers from my 5-month-old's crib?

2   people commented
on this article
 
5
 
2
Linda Jonides
Answered by Linda Jonides R.N., C.P.N.P.
Meet our authors
"I have worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner (P.N.P.) for over 30 years," says Linda Jonides. "I continue to thoroughly enjoy forming new relationships with parents and newborns and working with them through infancy, childhood, and adolescence."

Linda Jonides is a pediatric nurse practitioner in a private pediatric practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her Diploma in Nursing and Certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a past recipient of the Michigan PNP of the Year Award. She has a B.S. in Nursing from Eastern Michigan University. She has published articles and lectured on childhood obesity, infant colic, role of the P.N.P., growth and development issues, and infectious diseases. She was an author of "Clinical Insights Column," published biannually in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care for nine years. Jonides is past president of NAPNAP. Currently, she is a steering group work member of NAPNAP's HEAT (healthy eating and activity together) project. One outcome of this group's work is the clinical practice guideline, "Identifying and Preventing Overweight in Childhood," that was published as a supplement to the March/April '06 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.

Ms. Jonides has been married to John, a university professor, since 1971.
Read bio Hide bio Hide

Question


I have a concern / question about bumper pads. My 5-month-old son woke up crying because he had pushed his head underneath the bumper pads. I immediately took them off because of my concern for his safety. The pads do not tie at the bottom, only the top. Please assure me I did the right thing. Now I'm concerned about him bumping his head.

Answer


I think you did the right thing, as long as the crib slats are securely fastened and are spaced no more than 2 3/8 inches apart so his head can't get caught between them. Not everyone uses bumper pads, and I would agree that he's safer without them if he pushes his way underneath them. If he really hurts himself bumping against the slats, he'll most likely not do it frequently. Check on him often until you're convinced he's not really hurting himself.
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
2
Member comments
Yes remove
Yes, I have also heard that using crib bumpers posing a suffocation risk if the child gets too close..

You might also like

Gently clean even the most delicate skin.

Find out about: Pampers® Sensitive Wipes
Pampers® Sensitive Wipes