SIDS

There's much concern over crib bumpers and SIDS so many mommas have heeded their pediatricians' warnings and removed the decorative accents from their lil ones' cribs. Wonder Bumpers are out to change our opinions by turning the offending items on their side.

Unlike traditional bumpers that tie horizontally around a crib, allowing a baby to become squished between the fabric and the mattress, Wonder Bumpers wrap vertically around each crib rail, leaving space between the rails for air to flow into the crib, and significantly reducing the possibility of SIDS-related issues. The new bumpers feature a reversible zipper, making them easy to remove for cleaning purposes, and providing two fabric choices for the decorator in the family. Available in nine designs, the products are sold in packages of 24 or 36 to suit all crib sizes.

Alive and well since 1994, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's (NICHD) "Back to Sleep" campaign has been encouraging parents to put their children to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Additionally, the NICHD and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also advise parents not to share their bed with infants.

While nobody can pinpoint the exact cause of SIDS, Kaiser researchers found:

Infants who slept in rooms ventilated by fans had a 72 percent lower risk of SIDS compared to infants who slept in bedrooms without fans. Using a fan appeared be most effective with infants in high-risk environments, such as those sleeping in overheated rooms or on their stomachs. Researchers hypothesized that fans may improve ventilation and decrease the chance that babies will rebreathe exhaled carbon dioxide (an explanation for SIDS known as the "stale-air hypothesis").

To see what one consultant to the National Institutes on Health has to say about it, read more