Mesh Crib Bumpers Bad, But Pack 'N Play OK?

[Anonymous]

We were with family for a few weeks and DC, 11 months, was in a pack 'n play. It was glorious bc she slept well since she could not lose a pacifier like she does easily in the crib. I researched mesh crib bumpers and apparently they are not safe sleep. I don't entirely understand this because nobody calls a pack 'n play a death trap. I see that the ties can be a problem, but they are so short. What am I missing? Is this less of a concern now that we are approaching 1 years old?

[Anonymous]

From Good Houskeeping:

"Even mesh or "breathable" crib bumpers pose a risk of entrapment and strangulation, and older kids can use them to help climb out of a crib, causing a fall."

My kids slept way better in a Pack N Play too, to the point where we ended up just putting the crib away.

[Anonymous]

SIDS by definition only happens to infants, so children under one year old. No concern at your baby’s age, by the time you order and install them the bumpers are safe to use.

[Anonymous]

My 2nd slept in a PnP from months 4-14. My 3rd will do the same. Stay off of the “Safe Sleep” FB groups. They are rabbit holes of anxiety. I even asked my pediatrician after seeing a discussion in a sleep training group and she was quite clear. A PnP is safe for infant sleep. Not everyone can afford a crib or two and not everyone has the space.

[Anonymous]

I think the concern with mesh bumpers is that they can come loose and be a strangulation hazard (versus a suffocation hazard). A pack and play doesn't have loose parts that can become untied, so the risk wouldn't be the same.

[Anonymous]

Kids can climb on them and jump out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the concern with mesh bumpers is that they can come loose and be a strangulation hazard (versus a suffocation hazard). A pack and play doesn't have loose parts that can become untied, so the risk wouldn't be the same.

This. They can become loose. They can create a space between the crib and the bumper. They are not integrated. If the crib had no wood but just a mesh side, it would be fine. Like a pack n play

[Anonymous]

OP here, OK so I was not thinking of using the crib bumper to launch over the side. Dang. DD is still little and in a sleep sack so I see that as pretty low risk -- for now, at least. But the part about it coming off, it seems like there is velcro and a lot of "weaving" to install it, that seems low risk for an older baby. Still torn. Might order it and assess the launching risk.