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Health Canada Warning Regarding Use of Crib Bumper Pads and Baby Quilts
Reader's Questions and Answers: |
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NOTE: Answers provided are of a general nature only and in no way reflect a medical opinion or diagnosis. If you are in doubt about any aspect of your pregnancy, please consult your physician immediately.
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Feedback:
June, 2007
My baby died because of his bumper set on june 12 07.
From Lynda:
I am so sorry to hear this news. I hope you have helpful support and love surrounding you. I am so sorry he could not stay with you longer.
Hugs,
Lynda
Feedback:
June, 2007
My son gets his legs stuck in the slats of his crib all the time. The other night he got it stuck so bad he woke up screaming, and took a long time to calm down. He couldn't walk on his ankle(he twisted it to get it out), and he still has red marks on the front and back of his ankle. He also gets excited in the crib sometimes and runs into the end of the crib and bangs his head. I'm sure if he did this repeatedly it could cause damage. So even if you think things are safe for various reasons that's not always the case.
From Lynda:
You didn't leave a direct contact address so I am responding here. When we see our child very upset and with marks from such trauma, it is indeed upsetting. You don't say how old your son is so I am assuming he is at least 1 year, by the amount of activity you are describing. He also sounds like a heavy sleeper. You are almost near the end of of when SIDS could be a possible issue (about 18 months old). And toddlers do learn to "stay" within their crib and getting their leg/arm stuck becomes less of an issue as they grow. The discussion I attended at the Health Unit, the Speaker assured the audience that a baby does not cause "serious damage" by repeatedly banging his head. What he is responding to is more likely, it hurts! Skulls are a long tougher than one would think and a child can't crack or break it in his sleep on his crib, to the best of my knowledge and feedback I've received. A fall from the crib itself, is a different story because the force is different. I think so often is harder to view our upset child. The bottom line is to be sure he is as safe as possible wherever possible.
Feedback:
June, 2007
The crib I have is not that old...what can I do regarding the gap....b/w with mattress and the crib frame....they don't make mattresses to fit snugly anymore. Could you use a bumper pad and shove it down flush with the mattress to close the gap??
From Lynda:
Please consider a new crib. Why take any risks with your baby's life when you are aware of possible ramifications? You can't go back once it's done and the cost of a new crib, isn't that worth making sure your baby is as safe as possible?
Feedback:
June, 2007
so 23 reports. 2 deaths. 3 "near suffocations." In 14 years. out of how many babies? Hundreds of thousands of babies--probably thousands of which used bumper pads. Reactionary?? Yes.
From Lynda:
Hi, you didn't leave an e-mail address for a reply so I am replying here. Perhaps, reactionary, but are you willing to "play" with the life/health of your own baby especially when cribs are safer now than in the 1960s and before, and bumper pads no longer have no real value? Further, preterm, low birth weight and vulnerable babies are now being saved in greater numbers thanks to improved medicine. There is a chance these babies could be at further risk when using bumper pads/quilts. As parents we can decide and "moi," well I would never knowingly compromise my child's health or safety under any circumstances.
Feedback:
January, 2007
Why is it then if this is an unsafe product then why is it still on the market? I have never used bumper pads as is unsafe (mother of 2 boys and one on the way). But when you try to buy bedding for the crib... you have to buy a wasteful product. Please respond. I would like to see this off the market and might lower the price.
From Lynda:
I don't get it myself. If one is going to ban something, surely then one would request its withdrawal from the stores? It isn't rocket science and it doesn't make any sense to me. See my responses to others whom have asked the same question.
Feedback:
May, 2006
Thank you for information about crib bumper pads. I was going to make one for our crib but after reading this article I decided it was best not to make one. Thanks! :o)
From Lynda:
No problem. It is up to the adults in a child's life to keep them safe and sounds as if you are right on the ball!
Feedback:
April, 2006
Dear Sir: Just a simple comment: no opinion either way. I believe that you raise several issues that are useful, but mathematically there are several issues that could cause more negative problems than that are being caused by the bumper pads. Using a scientifically and practical design with appropriate fabrics bumper pads should pose no problem. The complexity that you discuss is far more advanced than just simple issues with bumper pads. Proper placement and type of fabric should be detailed before issuing a warning on bumper pads. Several advanced "smart" sensors could settle the issue. Bumper Bars and other possible devices could be equally dangerous under the present hypothesis. I would design a baby crip with smart devices to measure air flow with bumper bars and babies. House air flow may be a more serious issue than your article highlights. Dr. Bob
From Lynda:
Thank you for your note. I appreicate your thoughts and would let you know that development of such a crib with "smart" sensors is beyond my capabilites. I appreciate it might work.
I am including your thoughts in case someone is inclined to do so and also to give balance to the article. I would also make the note that the recommendations come from Health Canada, whom I trust.
I need to ask: what could possibly "...cause more negative problems than are being caused by bumper pads" or "...just simple issues with bumper pads." than losing your baby?
By the way, I am a woman :-)
Feedback:
March, 2006
How long is it recommended not to use bumper pads in the cribs?
From Lynda:
At least until the risk of SIDS has passed, i.e. at about 18 months of age. However, it isn't long from there that a child would be in a regular bed, so they could be a costly investment for a short period of time. For myself, I would choose never to use them.
Feedback:
Are bumper pads (installed properly) okay for normal, healthy babies over 3 months of age??
From Lynda:
SIDS can occur up to 18 months after birth. I don't think it is known exactly why SIDS occurs but a baby can stop (forget??) breathing for some reason. Some babies are more easily identifiable as having a predisposition for SIDS, e.g. a baby with heart or other major organ anomalies, low birth weight, preterm and so on. These babies are usually set with monitors that warn the parents of a change in the baby's breathing pattern.
Take a look on the SIDS Foundation Web Site and check if they have age guidelines. I would suspect that they would. While I cannot give you any recommendation per se, I always feel that I need to err on the side of caution. My choice would be to keep my baby safe, regardless.
I would do all of my research very carefully and inform myself as well as I could (knowledge is power) and then I wouldn't use them, ever. Even a 1% chance or less of losing my baby to SIDS is far too high for me.
All the best.
Feedback:
If this is the case, why have they not been banned?
From Lynda:
I don't know!!! I have asked myself that question many times in light of this warning from Health Canada and the hoopla surrounding it. It amazes me how many shops and stores still sell them as well as second-hand places. It seems to me that all children's shop should carry warnings - or perhaps even a ban - but I haven't seen either in ones I have been in. I'd even like to see warnings on the TV - such as there are for walking on railway tracks. I don't get it either. It seems that after posting the warning and statistics from the SIDS Foundation, everyone went on holiday (?). Perhaps writing to Health Canada and asking for an explanation may bring about some awareness of the huge inconsistency here. As for me, I would err on the side of caution and remove them from my babies' cribs. I just wouldn't want to take the chance.
Feedback:
Why don't the warning also include a warning against letting babies sleep in prams? The pram is much narrower than a bed, and will often be much more upholstered than most paddings I've ever seen...
From Lynda:
Hello, Thank you for your question. I don't agree. Most carriages (prams) have minimum padding that comes with and then parents add blankets and quilts. I think this is where the problem could lie, i.e. too many blankets and quilts (sometimes even pillows). I do agree that it is necessary to be careful about excess blankets, etc. And of course as the SIDS Foundation indicates: "Back to Sleep." While the SIDS Foundation would no doubt be better able to provide an accurate answer, I, myself, don't know how many SIDS babies may have died in their carriages.
Feedback:
How is the lack of airflow caused by bumper pads any different then having a child in a bassinet which has padded sides much the same? We did not use a bassinet since having our newborn in the much larger crib seemed to allow for more airflow.
From Lynda:
Good question! I think the short answer is, no difference. I would guess that most people don't use bassinets but they do use cribs with pads/baby quilts so this is where the focus lies. I think you are right though and I would err on the side of my baby's life and not use a padded bassinet either.
Thanks for bringing that point to my attention.
Feedback:
My only question is: When you have a 3 in 1 car seat, how are you able to keep the back from moving without teathering it to the floor?
From Lynda:
Hello, thank you for your question. I am sorry but I cannot advise you. Each car is different, could be fabric or leather, shape of the seat, car seat individuality. There is such a great room for error in advisement or interpretation of instructions. Please consult with the proper authorities in your area with your car, your seat(s) and your child(ren) in attendance so that the correct answers can be found.
Best wishes.
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