Bumper Pads And The Dangers Associated With Them.....

Today the city council panel passes A ban on bumper pads in Chicago, IL, as 14 deaths have been reported from bumper pads. When you are preparing for a new baby we look at crib sets. Often parents pick cute themes that are frilly and fluffy for girls and cute and masculine for boys and with every set includes a fitted sheet, a comforter, a bed skirt, and bumper pads. Parents decorate the inside of a crib thinking how cute it is and usually do not realize the dangers that these "must-have" sets can impose much like this ones.

Take a look at these two sets. Both of these have fluffy bumper pads and even the soft and thick blanket, with pillows this is an accidental infant death just waiting to happen! Most parents can look at these pictures and think how cute it is and not even realize the dangers of these seemingly harmless things are but let's take a closer look shall we?

Let's look at the pillow like bumper pads. Parents put these bumper pads in their child's crib to protect them from their head banging on the wooden bars and from getting a limb between one of the rails without even considering how dangerous these bumper pads are. As adults we want comfort. A soft pillow top mattress, soft pillows, and the most softest and warmest blanket we can find. It's almost like heaven to be comfy and cozy when we go to bed right? Now think of a newborn baby sleeping...they sometimes sleep in the most strangest positions and we think "How can they be comfortable?" Babies do not NEED the same comfort that we need as adults. We are talking about babies who are squished inside a mother's uterus {talk about uncomfortable}.

Many parents do not know why bumper pads were invented. Before the 1970's the crib slats in a crib were much further apart, a child could easily get their head caught between the rails. Just look at this picture of cribs over 30 years ago {ones we most likely had when we were babies}



This is an older crib with the slats further apart.

That is why bumper pads were created to prevent a baby from strangulation  if they got their head trapped between the slates. Now crib slats are much closer apart so much even a soda can can't fit through. Since crib slate are closer together bumper pads are no longer needed.
Some statistics about the dangers of bumper pads:

The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) keep records of voluntary cases of deaths and injuries of products reported to them. The study conducted by Bradkey T. Thach, MD, George W. Rutherford, JR, MS, and Kathleen Harris look at reports of injuries and deaths of bumper pads from 1985 to 2005.  They also searched other CPSC database from crib-related injuries that potentially might have been prevented by bumpers. Additionally, they examined 22 retail crib bumpers and described features that could be hazardous.

The results:

Aiden suffocated on the crib bumper pad in his crib. He was six months old. “My beloved grandson was literally the light of my life.”

Please click here to read Aiden's story

Twenty-seven accidental deaths reported by medical examiners or coroners were attributed to bumper pads. The mechanism of death included suffocation and strangulation by bumper ties. Twenty-five nonfatal injuries were identified, and most consisted of minor contusions. All retail bumpers had hazardous properties.

Conclusion:

(J Pediatr 2007;151:271-4)

These findings suggest that crib and bassinet bumpers are dangerous. Their use prevents only minor injuries.

Because bumpers can cause death, we conclude that they should not be used.

To read the full report that includes death scene reconstruction pictures please go to:

http://baby411.typepad.com/babybargains/files/bumper_pads.pdf


These are real stories of  two babies who have died from bumper cribs from KIDS (Kids in Danger) which can be found at:

http://www.kidsindanger.org/family-voices/

Preston died when he rolled out of a sleep positioner and against the bumper in his crib. He was seven weeks old.

Click here to read Preston's story

Brandon Maruyama.6/1/85 - 10/18/85. Brandon's death was ruled SIDS but his face was smushed against the bumpers with his neck hyper-extended.

These are real families who will forever miss their babies because bumper pads took their lives. If you have bumper pads in your baby's crib please remove them immediately!!! Also if you haven't already please sign our petition to remove bumper pads and share with your friends and family. You can scroll up and on the left side of the blog sign the petition or you can go here to sign it.

Our babies cannot speak for themselves it is our job to protect them from hidden dangers like bumper pads! Just remember a baby has never died from putting their arm or leg through a slat in a crib or bumping into the slats, the same cannot be said about bumper pads. They were created to protect babies, but at least 27 babies have died from bumper pads and those are the ones we know about, how many more babies have suffocated from bumper pads?