Is it safe to use a cot bumper in my baby's cot?

Cot bumpers are usually bought by parents as part of coordinated bedding set.  The look lovely in the cot, cushion baby against bumps and keep out draughts.  In the UK there is a lot of confusion over whether they are safe or not and for what age group they are suitable for.

Why are cot bumpers considered unsafe?

Many health authorities, including the NHS and the Royal College of General Practitioners , recommend that cot bumpers should not be used.  This is due to the following reasons:

• by restricting the flow of fresh air in and out of the cot, they may contribute to overheating and re-breathing of exhaled air.
• Just like a pillow or thick blanket, cot bumpers can restrict a baby's breathing if they come into contact with their nose and mouth.
• The ties used to attach bumpers to the cot can cause accidents if they are pulled loose.
• Older babies may use bumpers as an aid to climb out of the cot.

Overheating, re-breathing of exhaled air and lack of oxygen are all risk factors which have been associated with SIDS (cot death).

What evidence is there that cot bumpers are dangerous?

A 2007 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that 27 infant deaths were directly attributable to cot bumpers in the US over a 20 year period. Of the 27 deaths, 11 infants suffocated when their face was found in close contact with the padding, 13 died after being wedged between the bumper and another object and three were strangled by a bumper tie.

What is worrying about the study is that the data used consists of deaths reported to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission voluntarily. Therefore the actual number of deaths attributable to cot bumpers is likely to be significantly higher.

In addition, Health Canada report that 23 incidents involving bumpers were reported to them over a 15 year period. In France a cot bumper was recalled in 2006 after a 9 month old baby died due to strangulation by one of the cords.

Solutions

The safest option is to have a bare cot.  However, many parents find that their babies get their arms and legs stuck between the cot bars and lose dummies through the gaps.  Breathable bumpers, made from padded mesh, are an ideal compromise.