Bumpity, Bump, Bumper
Fri, Sep 25, 2009
All Posts, Everyday Life, Home Life, Misc., Nursery, Pregnancy Life, Pregnant
Over the past few weeks I have given a lot of thought to the nursery that we are in process of putting together. Â I have no idea why it has been so difficult, but for some reason I have really been struggling with getting this room started. Â Maybe it ’s because it all seems to center around choosing the bedding, which typically includes the skirt, blanket, sheet, and the bumper. Â The problem is, all of these things are expensive, especially the bumper. Â
Which is what I want to ask you, my fellow, faithful Internet friends: is a bumper necessary? Â I love the look of the “complete” crib, but do you really need to have all of these things? Â I haven’t done any research so I don’t know if a bumper is mainly for decoration or if it serves a purpose such as keeping little hands and feet from getting caught.
That said, I have found a few baby bed sets that I like and they do come with the bumper included. Â The problem is, we’re on a budget so as much as I would like to go all out, I’m going to have to limit my bedding purchasing. Â I would love to do something like this:
(both from Javis Davis). Â It would be great to be able to design custom-made bedding like this so that we could create the perfect look. Â (If you have a minute, I suggest checking out their site just because it’s fun trying to mix and match the various fabrics.) Â But for $400.00, it’s not going to happen any time soon.
So instead, I’ve found a couple of affordable options that could possibly work:
At $149.00, the price of this blue and beige argyle print set is definitely appealing. Â
This other blue and brown set is another alternative and is reasonably priced at $144.00:
Not the same as custom bedding, but they are definitely options that will allow me to be stylish and still frugal. Â But then I go back to my original question: is it necessary? Â Do I need to buy a whole set or do we really just need a couple of bed sheets and a blanket. Â As cute as the bumper is, do I really need it?Â
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September 25th, 2009 at 5:46 am
I can’t help with the baby questions but I love following along so much! Hopefully soon in the future I can relate.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:46 am
And all of that decor is gorgeous!!
September 25th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Actually, there’s a lot of controversy over bumpers causing suffocation, for younger babies. Honestly, I don’t really think it’s that much of an issue, but you might, and some people certainly do. So it’s something to think about.
That being said, I didn’t get one. It wasn’t in our budget to get the one that matched the crib skirt. Besides, we didn’t put Jane in her crib until she was nearly 9 months old, and by then, I wasn’t worried about her getting stuck. Even though she has gotten her legs stuck out the side a time or two.
THAT being said, I LOVELOVELOVE the argyle set. I don’t think it would be as adorable without the bumper. :S
September 25th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Oh gracious that argyle set is precious. Although I’m also keen on stripes.
We used our bumpers. They had animals printed on them that both my kids spent a lot of time talking to while hanging out in their cribs.
But necessary? No. In fact, as mentioned by emilyG, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the pillowy-type ones similar to those included in most bedding sets (including the ones you’ve listed here).
And Julia managed to get her arms stuck twice even with the bumpers in there.
In short, totally cute, but completely optional
September 25th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Who says you have to spend a fortune? The argyle set is ADORABLE. I really like the blue and brown
September 25th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Yes, there is controversy regarding bumpers but I still got one with my first son. Since we didn’t have a lot of money, I ended up getting a bumper on ebay. We plan to use it with this baby once I figure out where it is. I’m kind of a mix and match type of person. I got the bedskirt for the crib on sale and it matches fine with the bumper. I do love all those coordinated sets and I’m sure anything you pick will be perfect for your son!
Have fun shopping!
September 25th, 2009 at 6:44 am
I don’t think it’s really necessary to get the bumpers; it’s probably more of a decorative feature. My sister didn’t think she could handle going without the bumpers, so my mom made the bumpers and quilt. Super cute. Love the design choices you’re looking at, too.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:58 am
I have no clue, but I love them all!!!
September 25th, 2009 at 7:03 am
We don’t have any matching sets. I do have a bumper. People get in quite a tizzy over them. Some people worry that babies will suffocate with them. Other people find that their little ones get arms and legs caught in the slats and swear by them. We had the latter problem, so we use a bumper, regardless you’ll have to take it out when the baby pulling up and can use the bumper to climb out. There are now mesh options in bumpers, not the pretty colors, but they keep kids from getting caught, though they do not keep them from bumping their heads against the rails. If you have a drop side crib the bumper can impede the movement of the side.
You aren’t supposed to use the pretty quilts that come with the bedding sets either, since babies aren’t supposed to sleep with blankets, especially those really soft ones. If you choose a pattern that you think is good for a toddler you can use it in the toddler bed though. All the joys (and worries) of parenthood! So for us, we got a plain-jane bumper and white crib sheets. You can find lots of cute patterned sheets if you want though. I just like being able to bleach them.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:24 am
I don’t have an opinion other than ARGYLE!!
September 25th, 2009 at 7:49 am
THe stripes and argyle? ADORABLE!!! They’re my two favorites, by far! They’s so classic and boyish, but when you take photos against them, you won’t be distracted by lots of various things. Plus, the color palate is simple, so your family and friends can easily match things to them. But, the stripes and argyle pattern are busy enough that if (when) baby has accidents/spit ups, you won’t be able to see it AS much if it doesn’t clean up perfectly 100%.
Plus, with a simple color palate like that, you should be able to find a simple bumper, one that you can eventually remove without feeling like a major component of your baby’s color scheme is gone. If you’re like me, if you don’t get a bumper, you’ll have nightmares about your baby getting stuck, even if everyone + their brother tells you not to worry about it. But then again, I’m a tad neurotic abotu worrying sometimes….
September 25th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Along with the suffocation issue, you have to take the bumpers out when they can stand up because they climb them to get out of the crib!!
So no, as cute as they are, they are not necessary and in fact should probably be avoided.
And Tabitha? Remember that this stuff is going to get covered in bodily fluids and worse. There will be days where you change that bottom sheet several times. I bought all the cute stuff with my first, but by the third what I truly valued was some well-fitting flannel sheets and easily washable blankets. Definitely not as cute, but much more practical.
But I vote for the argyle too!
September 25th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I HEAR that they are not that hard to make. Never tried myself. Personally, I like the less expensive ones and the previous comment about them being covered in spew is correct. One wash and they will not look the same. Don’t spend a ton of money. They will need to be washed, a lot.
My kids grew up sleeping in pack n plays all over the house. Oh, the joy of small homes.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:37 am
We had bumpers for both of our kids. In spite of the controversies, I couldn’t stand the thought of them bumping their little heads on the rails. I never had any problems with them trying to stand on them to climb out but every baby is different so you never what little personality you’ll get!
My mom and I also made a smaller set for the cradle that my grandfather had made for me. It was surprisingly easy to do.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:44 am
I have no idea, but I think those are so cute.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:46 am
We used bumpers and actually still do, I removed them once and the boys hit there heads and one got his foot stuck between the bars, that was enough for me to put them back on, also I like them because they like to sleep in the corners, and it almost acts like a blanket blocking any cold air. I was never worried about suffocation because when they were super little (4 months and under) they were swaddled. After that they are old enough to move or roll.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Your pictures ARE really cute! I don’t use a bumper. I seem to follow AAP recommendations on just about everything; what can I say, I’m a rule follower… But it is up to you. They are not necessary. And if you do use one, it is supposed to come out just as soon as your baby can pull himself up. Ruby has gotten her feet stuck through the rails, but it doesn’t hurt her, it’s just frustrating for her.
This was a big issue with my MIL because she bought me a crib set. We didn’t know the gender of our baby before she was born, so it was kinda gender neutral (but a little boyish). So I didn’t use it. And now I’m selling it at a consignment sale because I won’t ever use it. I choose to err on the side of caution even if it means my MIL thinks I’m a loony.
All we have are two white crib sheets and a (waterproof) mattress pad underneath. No frills. That’s my style.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
check out the flea markets and the yard sales….babies grow so fast and you rarely use the things you get. Save your money for the important things like college
September 25th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I don’t have kids of my own or bumpers for such a crib. But we do use very thick bumpers as seizure pads for babies in the hospital. And I can tell you they drive me CRAZY, because I can’t just stand from the doorway and look at the baby and see if his eyes are closed or watch his breathing pattern, etc. I have to tip toe right up to the crib to be able to see the baby, and by that time, the sound of my steps sometimes wakes them up! When I am concerned about needing a sort of bumper or pad for a baby that likes to sleep in the corner of the crib, I just roll up a blanket, as it is much shorter(so I can see over it) and yet it still does the job just fine.
When it comes to putting the little babies in a crib, we always prop the head of the bed up about 15 degrees (so they are less likely to throw up after eating) and make a makeshift nest for them by rolling up an adult-sized blanket and putting it into a U-shape, then putting down a blanket over that. Some babies like to prop their feet up on the bottom of the U, and other babies curl up inside it. You can buy and make similar products, there is an example here: http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/snakes.html
Whatever you do decide to do, find a way to make it waterproof and bleach-able. Just wait for the day your baby decides to “paint the walls with chocolate” after his nap.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I don’t have children, nor do I plan to, but I know that when my sister and I were babies(‘86 and ‘82 respectively) we had bumpers when we were tee-niny, but once we became minimally mobile, rolling and such, our mom took them off the crib. I don’t think they’re totally necessary from a functional standpoint, but they are certainly cute. My opinion(albeit a non-parent’s one)don’t buy the bumper and just get the sheet/blanket set and drape the blanket over the side of the crib when baby CPA is sleeping. Or, instead of doing a crib from the start, you could use a basinett which is basically a padded basket. All of my facebook friends who’ve had babies this year (a TON!) have used basinetts in the beginning since the babies are still so tiny. Sorry if this was too much information! Bottom line, do what you’re most comfortable with.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
1. Would you like custom bedding? I’d love to sew some for you, as a baby gift. There are lots of cute patterns at the fabric store. I did all of Hannah’s bedding for relatively inexpensive as it was just cottons (washable).
2. We are currently revisiting the bumper issue. We do not have them, because the AAP does not recommend them, and I always thought they kind of looked a bit odd. But now Hannah is wiggling around a lot and I AM concerned that she will get her foot caught between the crib slats. (I have found her with her foot hanging out between them once or twice already.) But then there is the suffocation thing, when she gets old enough to sit up/crawl, which will only be in a couple months. So… I don’t know.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Oh! Also, I meant to add – there is a breatheable bumper, it kind of looks like that mesh stuff that nice patio furniture is made from. It is thin and it weaves in and out of the slats, so kiddos can’t get caught between the bumper and the crib. It’s called BreathableBaby Breathable Safer Bumper and it comes in a couple different colors. So that could be an option if you decide you want them but still want to be safe, and imho it looks nice.
We are thinking about getting one, but I haven’t decided if we’ll spend the money or if I’ll make them or we’ll just forget bumpers altogether.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
PS-The comment about not using the quilt that comes with the set is also true. We hung ours up on the wall as “art” until the kids got old enough to sleep with covers.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
yes, and by “friends can match stuff to them” I shoudl have just said “Erin can sew you a baby room.” Because she is wonderwoman and can do that sort of stuff AND raise the beautiful Hannah at the same time. Supergirl.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I got some very simple bumper pads from babies r’ us with my last baby. They were a solid navy blue and cost about $10.00!!!! I dressed them up with cute sheets and a cute blanket. Worth looking into if you’re trying to save!
-Karli
September 25th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
My infants slept in a pack n play/bassinet until they were moved to their own rooms. We used our bumpers. My kids would smash their little heads into the crib and I wanted something soft against their heads. One piece of advice, while they were little, invest in large crib pads so you are not changing sheets so often. They are waterproof and really protect the sheets from that surprise diaper blow out and spit up spells. I also had smaller ones for my swing, carseat, bouncy,etc. They really protected my stuff and I was able to use it with my next child. -kriss
September 25th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
We, er, um, we don’t have a crib. My father made a cradle for me when I was a baby and we use that during Charlotte’s day naps. No bumper – she’s still too little to roll around and bump her head on the sides, and by the time she’s big enough, the cradle will be too small for her. And at night, we co-sleep. Donald and my dad are building a bed together with a crib that attaches and detaches, but we won’t have a bumper on that either. Instead, he’s designing the crib so that there aren’t slats on the lowest part, there’s a couple inches of solid wood that slope into slats. We circumvent the suffocation controversy that way, but we will still have to worry about her bumping body parts around on the wood.
The way I figure it is this: damned if you do and damned if you don’t. It isn’t necessary, but some people prefer them. It isn’t recommended, but thousands of parents use them without incident. So just go with what your gut tells you – if you’re going to be worried the whole time, don’t do it.
As for a bedding set, well, we’re boring. We ordered some sheets, a crib comforter, and about ten billion blankets, and we figure that’s about all we need. I’d love to say that we just have a simple style, but really, I’m boring. And a bit lazy – I didn’t want to drive myself batty because the sheets that matched were dirty and I’d not done the laundry, you know?
September 25th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
We had bumper pads for the first two boys – only until they started moving. When I went to give the pads away – they looked like new since the boys never touched them or got anything on them (the worst mess in the cribs were wet spots!) With the third boy we didn’t even get any. He was our biggest and most adventurous baby! He had a phase where he would stick a leg out of his crib but bumper pads wouldn’t have prevented this. Whatever you do is fine! Besides the cutest thing about his nursery will be him….who cares what he’s surrounded by!
September 26th, 2009 at 7:24 am
I’m not a mom yet so I don’t have any advice as far as the bumper goes. But I just wanted to say that I love the argyle set! It’s cute AND handsome, just like your little man will be
September 26th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Hi there –
I’m new to your blog and I LOVE your layout. I’m a mother of two and my youngest will be 3 in a matter of days. NOOOOOOOOO. Alright, I’m back. I would go sans bumper. Quite honestly, all mine ever did was give me a gi-normous headache and all it ever provided my son was another surface to have explosive poop on. P.S. Go with argyle…
Mindy
http://www.thesuburbanlife.com
September 27th, 2009 at 11:06 am
I never got a bumper b/c I was worried about possible suffocation. I actually never put anything in the crib (stuffed animals, blankets, etc.) I eventually bought a breathable mesh bumper and it’s been great. You can look it up and see what you think. Since my boys use pacifiers, it helped to keep the pacifiers in the crib, while still avoiding the risk of suffocation.
September 28th, 2009 at 6:57 am
Looking forward to hearing what you decide as I’m wondering the same thing right now. I went ahead and registered for a bumper but not quilt. Do you have any stores to recommend in DC? I’m in Baltimore and my sister is in Arlington so I was thinking of coming down for a day and doing some baby shopping with her. Have you purchased a crib and other furniture as well? We’re just getting started on all of that!
September 29th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Oh, you probably don’t need a bumper. We didn’t even put either boy in the crib until 6 months or longer – they fit in a little basinette that sat beside the bed, or in the middle of the bed at first, for easy feeding access. I HATE to get out of bed in the middle of the night! haha.
Actually, with Boo, we almost didn’t even use the crib at all – only for a few months between basinette and bed with rail.
Hope you’re feeling well!
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:37 am
SO SWEET. I know nothing of to bumper or not to bumper, but I love the blue/brown color scheme you’ve got going on! Tres chic. And classy. What a lucky little guy.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 am
I LOVE the colors you have chosen! Bumpers: I will tell you that in nursing school and in all the early childhood classes that I have taken, they encourage parents to NOT use bumpers during the first few months. The risk of SIDS is increased with poor air circulation in the room (use a fan), extra blankets and bumpers in the crib (prevents air circulation). If you think about it, babies can’t roll or sit up to get air…and bumpers block the air flow. Once they get a little older and start moving all over the crib, I think they are a good idea from protecting them from the bars…but initially, I would not use them. Also, using pacifiers prevents SIDS because it keeps the baby’s airway open. Fyi…
Just my two cents.
October 4th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Hello,
I just discovered your site….and I really enjoyed what I’ve read so far. We chose not to do a bumper even though I really wanted to do the whole matching ensemble thing. We decided even if the risk was low using a bumper (the same risks noted in other comments), why take any risk if we can avoid it. It reminds me of your discussion about insurance…..imagine what the worst case scenario is and plan for it. However..that being said, we also did worry about feet/legs getting caught in the crib bars, so what we found was something that is a mesh net that attaches inside the crib. It ties onto the sides….so no feet can fit through, but it has holes, so it does not significantly interfere with air flow. I found it online…maybe look up “mesh bumpers” perhaps. In the end, having a pretty crib just didn’t make sense to us. The baby can’t appreciate it and usually friends didn’t spend a lot of time in our daughter’s room, so no one really saw it. And I told myself that although the mesh bumper was not pretty, it was a happy addition to the crib b/c it kept our daughter safe. Just a thought. My best to you!