Shall we define Crib Padding, to start with? Crib padding is what you have when a bolt of fabric is joined to the interior of the crib, to prevent your baby’s fragile head from the tough surfaces of the crib. Crib padding comes in cotton pads that lie in proximity to the edge of the crib.
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It was fundamentally designed to prevent the heads of little ones from getting trapped between crib slats, which of course were farther apart than they currently are.
Bumpers/padding was also originally made to create a surrounding soft cushion for the baby, such that they are safeguarded from bumping against the tough wooden portions of a crib.
How to Stop Head Banging
What is head banging? Parasomnia (a sleep disorder) is one of the conventional terms often associated with headbanging. It is sometimes also categorized as a rhythmic movement disorder, a neurological disorder that has to do with the repetitive and involuntary movement of large muscle groups, prior to and in the middle of sleep.
Babies who have this condition have a propensity to bang their heads into pillows, mattresses, the sides of a crib, or even the floor, while they fall asleep or wake up at midnight. Some other schools of thought believe headbanging, like thumb sucking or hair pulling, is a self-soothing habit.
Either way, headbanging is not something you want your baby used to, because what if she bangs her head on the tough surfaces of the crib? That’s a harmful thing, and you do not want it.
Furthermore, there are too many records of casualties associated with crib bumpers and head-banging babies. If a headbanger finds herself in a bumper crib, her head naturally meets the hard slats of these cribs and receives acute injuries that may render eventuate in a fatality.
This said, the fact still remains that a number of parents just cannot get over the idea of outfitting their baby’s cribs with bumpers. If you are one of these parents, then there is no cause for alarm, as this article was written for you.
Below are 5 things you could employ to mitigate headbanging in your baby
1. Use Breathable Mesh Bumper Pads
If you are one of those parents who have issues parting with crib bumpers, the mesh is a beautiful alternative for you.
BreathableBaby Breathable Mesh Crib Liner
This subtle light gray liner helps you keep things really simple. Your expectations on this breathable mesh are incomplete if helping you to rest easy when the lights go out is not included. And do not worry; you have the air channel technology to thank for this.
The sweetest of dreams are what your baby gets with this amazing mesh crib liner. Speak of an ideal alternative for the nursery with an interesting safari animal theme.
Breathable Baby Classic Breathable Mesh Crib Liner is another cute breathable mesh liner, featuring a colorful whale pattern with a navy blue trim. This crib bumper alternative will be a magical addition to your nursery.
Your worries about your baby getting trapped in her crib end with this fun printed protective mesh crib liner. Do you happen to have a woodlands nursery theme? This owl liner will be a great fit for it.
If you desire a more neutral design for your little one, this starry mesh liner is the best crib bumper alternative. It comes with sleek designs that add to the color of your baby’s nursery.
Mesh crib liners are of different types, and products. But all in all, they are classic alternatives to crib bumpers anytime any day.
2. Get the Child to the Cot at the First Sign of Tiredness
Getting your baby to the cot immediately you notice a sign of tiredness helps preempt the chances of headbanging inside a crib bumper.
3. Use Padded Slats
Padded slats are excellent alternatives to crib bumpers. They are specifically designed to prevent babies from headbanging and the possible injuries that accompany it. One other feature that distinguishes padded slats is the fact that they are zip closed, and not necessarily tied, which cancels another one of the safety concerns.
Additionally, they come with breathable spaces in between the slats.
4. Try Rail Covers
Rail covers are very much different from crib bumpers in that they sit on the rail’s top, which translates into all kinds of breathing space for your baby down the mattress.
Rail cover comes with the purpose of preventing your baby from banging her head on the top railing and providing washable cover for babies who enjoy gnawing on the railing like tiny beautiful beavers.
These covers are to be tied in place, so you want to ensure that the knots are precisely tight. If yours is a climbing toddler, rail covers can serve a counter purpose of helping them escape, which is why you should consider pairing them with a great crib tent.
5. Use a Kids Rocking Chair to Give the Baby the Sensation they are Seeking
Top Features:
- Linzy Brand
- Plush Material
- No Assembly Required
Know what the Linzy Plush Fancy Unicon is built for? The comfort of your baby! Made with a luxuriously soft fabric, the rocker unicorn comes with wooden handlebars for your child to grip while riding. It also comes with a soft seat and is definitely not without a seat belt.
Bottom Line
If head banging is not a big deal elsewhere, it is definitely not in a crib bumper, where the hard surfaces cannot wait to do a bad job of hurting your baby’s tender head. On a normal basis, crib bumpers are to be done away with, because of the pronounced tendencies of casualties that accompany it.
But, if you do not want to abandon your crib bumper, you do not have to. There are alternatives, which is why you want to read this article.
