My 11-week-old son sleeps on a sleep positioner in his crib. He wouldn't sleep in the crib until I put the positioner in there and now he's a GREAT sleeper. In the last week thoguh I've found him with his head off the positioner, presumably because he kicked himself up toward the head of the crib. And now last night I found him flipped over on his tummy lying perpendicular at the head of the crib.
He's got great strength so I'm not too worried about him moving around when he sleeps. I'm just wondering if I should take the sleep positioner out of the crib and if I should add bumpers. He's bumped his head on the side of the crib a few times.
I took everything out of the crib and he still sleeps fine. He woke up one extra time last night but I think that's feeding-related, not crib comfort. Still considering bumpers to protect his head but not buying anything yet.
I used bumers with all my kids! Nothing ever happened...if he is already able to move himself around he will be fine...bumpers are great for keeping pacifiers in the bed too!
According to everything that I've read about helping to prevent SIDS and what was explained to us in the "Great Expectations" parenting class offered through NWM, there should be nothing in the crib other than your baby.
if you are seeing alot of movement with him, definately take the sleep positioner out and add bumpers, you don't want his head to get caught in between the crib slots and you definately don't want him to bump his head. you dont know how many times a night he may do it, thats not a good thing.
Hi T.,
Congrats on your brand new little baba!
I am not really sure about the sleep positioner decision, but my understanding re the bumpers is that it's preferable not to use them as they can be a SIDS risk. Our baby is due in July so I've been doing research wrt nursery furniture and bedding. Apparently most babies don't have enough strength to hit their heads hard enough on the crib that they will hurt themselves, but the risk of suffocation or lack of adequate fresh air flow is greater with a bumper. Perhaps you could get some more information from the official SIDS website on this matter. I THINK that in Canada they've even banned bumpers or at least strongly discourage them, according to a couple of things I've read. (Although I don't think the nursery bedding manufacturers have caught onto this, it's near impossible to buy a bedding set without a crib bumper, so most people probably think it's best for baby. More likely just drives profit margins up!)
All the best with your decision!
N.
For sure, once they're able to flip over, they do not need a positioner. It's more of an inhibitor at that point.
I use Breathable Bumpers for DS. They're mesh bumpers that allow them to breathe, and add some padding for them without the normal bumper pads. They're about $20 at Babies R Us.
DS sleeps with his face mashed against the crip, so they have been a life saver for us!
Regarding the bumpers, my pediatrician always told me absolutely not to use them, at any age in the crib. It sounds like your little guy is strong and able to really move himself around. The danger is him becoming trapped under the bumper, his head slipping under there and getting caught. Or worse, his head becoming trapped under there in such a way that he can't breathe. Obviously that's worse case scenario, and lots of people do use the bumpers without any problems. But my pediatrician isn't overly conservative, more practical in most cases than anything, so I took their advice on this one and never used bumpers with my son.
Also, as someone posted below, he's not going to hit his head hard enough on the crib rails to hurt himself - certainly not enough to be worth the risk of bumpers. His crib should only contain a snug-fitting crib sheet that is the correct size for your crib mattress, and the swaddled (or not swaddled) baby. That's it! :)
Get him out of the positioner before he hangs himself. Bumper guards will be safer. He'll learn quickly that he'll have more freedom to squirm and wriggle (good exercise)and not hurt his delicate little head. Happy Mothers Day
Hi T.,
I am glad to see you removed the positioner. I used one with both of my babies, then later found out they are more of a hazard than a precaution. With our 3rd baby due in August, we will not have anything in the crib other than the baby. We didn't use bumpers with our son and never had a problem.
Yes take the positioner out - it's not safe if your child is on his stomach. I would not put bumpers in personally. They recommend NOTHING else in the crib except for the baby and a light blanket. If he's rolling over then he will figure out how not to get himself stuck at the edge, too. If you're worried about his arms/legs sticking through the slats, get some of those "breathable" bumpers - they're like a mesh to keep feet and hands from poking through.
