Crib Bumpers: Why Are People Buying Them?

Despite their safety risk, many parents believe that bumpers beautify the crib and enhance sleep.

Although crib bumpers carry a risk for infant suffocation without offering any health benefits, they are still available for purchase in all states except New York, Maryland, and Ohio. To assess knowledge and beliefs among the U.S. public about crib bumpers, questions were added to a Harris Poll conducted in January 2020. Surveys were completed by 2038 adults (176 were parents of a child aged <2 years). Results included the following:

Seventy percent of all respondents (and 66% of the parent subgroup) agreed (somewhat or strongly) that bumpers “make the crib safe for babies.” Yet despite this response, approximately 50% of all respondents (and 65% of parents) agreed that bumpers “can cause babies to suffocate.”
Less than half agreed that crib…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Crib Bumpers: Why Are People Buying Them?

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Reviewing Author