Many parents begin to prepare for the birth of the long-awaited child a few months before the appointed date of birth. They begin to acquire a variety of things and toys for the baby. But one of the main purchases is the baby crib and a variety of additions.
And among these can be attributed to the sides, or, as they say, bumpers. Their cost can not be called low, but because many parents are wondering: are bumpers needed in the crib? And so we decided to deal with this in the material below.
Why do we need sides in the crib for newborns
What are the crib sides for? On the one hand, these products are a very convenient thing, and perform a number of useful functions, which include the following.
- Protection of the baby from injuries resulting from hitting hard bars of a berth.
- Heat preservation and reliable draft protection.
- The child will not stick his hands into the space between the rods, and, accordingly, the likelihood of getting a dislocation will decrease.
- Bright patterns are applied on the sides, and the baby is happy to examine them, learning the world around him.
- They prevent small objects from falling out of the crib. For example, a rattle or a nipple.
The arguments are very convincing, and force young parents to purchase bumpers on the bed in order to ensure the maximum level of safety for their own child.
Why do we need bumpers in the crib for babies? Recently, more and more negative comments have begun to appear, indicating that this accessory is dangerous to the baby's health. And it’s not even a possible allergy that a baby can have on manufacturing material or dust accumulated on it. Many scientists believe that the side can lead to the death of the baby.
This opinion was expressed by representatives from the United States, who closely studied the problem of child mortality. Along with the foregoing, professional doctors also express concern. Indeed, as you know, statistics are stubborn, and according to its data, mortality with the use of protective sides over the past 7 years has increased several times.
Arguments against the sides
Do I need bumpers in the crib for a newborn? The use of the presented products has a number of significant drawbacks.
- 1. Sideboards do not allow parents to see what their child is currently doing. And for each mom, it is important to see that everything is in order with her child.
- They accumulate a lot of dust on themselves, and the baby breathes her. In view of the foregoing, regular cleaning will be required.
- Over the sides, the baby will not be able to see what is happening outside the bed.
- In the joints between the sides, the child can still stick his arm or leg, which may cause injury.
- There is a risk of death, because in a dream the baby can unsuccessfully turn around, burying itself in the side, and suffocate.
What to look for when choosing
There are several general recommendations that should be considered in the selection process. And first of all, you need to understand that the filler should be a material that will be easily erased and not stray into lumps. These include:
- Foam rubber;
- Synthetic winterizer;
- Natural wool;
- Holofiber.
Important! Regardless of the filler you choose, purchase bumpers with removable covers or sew them yourself after purchase!
In addition to the filler, you will need to pay attention to the thickness of the model, along with the appearance. These products can take the form of a corner, the letter P, and also cover the entire crib.
Thickness also varies over a wide range. There are excessively thin models, but there are also products whose thickness can be compared with a pillow. And experts recommend giving preference to thin models for cribs of newborn children. But the thick models are designed for older children.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the material from which the top is made. It must be durable and harmless to the health of the crumbs. An ideal option would be a flannel or chintz, as well as other natural fabrics.
The determining factor is the height of the sides. For newborns, low options are suitable, and high ones are recommended to be purchased for already grown children who have become active and seek to know the world around them.
And the last thing you should pay attention to is the method of fastening the sides. They can be fastened with Velcro, locks, buttons, buttons or ties.
Doctors Recommendations
Doctors do not recommend installing bumpers in the crib for newborns, because they consider them products unsafe for the baby’s health. Doctors also advise putting babies on a hard mattress and removing all soft objects from the crib.
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