Crib Bumpers

What are crib bumpers?

Crib bumpers are material pads that are positioned around the bottom perimeter of the crib, tied at the corners to keep them secure.

The purpose of crib bumpers used to be to prevent baby's head from getting caught between the slats of the crib. But since the slats are now being made farther apart from one another with newer cribs, this is no longer a problem.

Nowadays, crib bumpers are used primary to create a softer cushioning around the sides of the crib. This prevents baby from hitting their head or limbs against the hard wood of the crib, which can result in bumps and bruises.

What types of crib bumpers are available?

Crib bumpers, also known as crib pads or crib liners, come in a variety of solid colours or patterns to match crib bedding, and usually rise less than a foot from the bed level. Some are reversible, so you can change up the look of the crib.

They are sold individually, in sets with short and long pieces with ties for the corner slats as well as with full bedding sets. While they are usually made of cotton though you can also get mesh material.

What to consider before buying a crib bumper?

Keep in mind that Health Canada warns against the use of crib bumpers, or anything in the crib beyond a tightly fitted sheet, when it comes to babies and sleeping. If you choose to use a crib bumper, ensure that it is tightly fit against the slats of the crib and securely tied such that it won't come loose and baby can't wrap the ties around their head, or suffocate beneath the bumper.

As noted, some of the latest crib bumpers are made of breathable mesh versus thicker cotton material, which some parents might find reassuring. If you're worried about the risks of using a crib bumper but want to prevent your baby's limbs from getting stuck between the slats, consider attaching the crib bumper outside versus inside the crib.

Note that you can also use crib bumpers purely for decorative purposes when baby isn't sleeping in the crib. If you have an older child who still sleeps in a crib and tends to move around a lot, especially with longer and larger limbs, a crib bumper can come in handy until it's time to transition them to a "big kid" bed.