Just a few query's...Sorry bit long

[Princess_Puddles]

Hey Ladies,

Just a query really:
My Midwife came round the other day and I decided to show her my room in hope that she would get us moved out quicker (Single room & having to sleep on mattresses) but she didn’t seem the least bit interested and was more worried about having a nose at all my bubby stuff & telling me how to make up the crib etc...
Whilst she was doing all this she mentioned not to use a crib bumper? Wasn’t in the best of moods with her after she said my room was fine and didn’t ask her why not…should I use one or not? Only I didn’t think they could harm a newborn especially when they can’t roll for a few months

Also she said something about for the first month to not use powdered milk (I’m not planning on breastfeeding as I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it) and to use ready made cartoned milk due to infection or something…for those of you who bottle feed did you do this? My Mum said she never done it with me and to just use the powder as the cartons are expensive but I don’t want to cause him to get ill or anything


Thanks in advance and I apologise its so long

Mica
xXx

 

[Jo]

I used podwer from day 1 with both mine hun, so i dunno what she is on about

Personally i don't use bumper sets, but thats just me, i can't see the harm at newborn because you are right and they basically don't move but as they start moving they can get tangled in them i suppose

 

[Xena]

well the reasons for not using cot bumpers are:

-if the baby's head gets up against it s/he could suffocate.
about newborns not being able to roll....well true most can't....but I have heard in rare circumstances of babies rolling very young, and if s/he is kicking about it's not impossible that his/her face could get pushed up against a bumper.

-Also there is a possiblilty of a baby's head getting trapped inbetween the bumper and the bars (I know somebody online who had that happen to their baby and was nearly strangled).

-Also they prevent air from flowing freely around the cot which can lead to a baby overheating (this was the reason given to me when I went to pre-natal meetings during my pregnancy).

-When the child gets older you have to remove them anyway as the baby can use them to climb out of the cot.

The only reason I can think of as to why somebody would want to use a cot bumper, is to stop the baby sticking his/her arms and legs out of the cot, and to prevent them banging themselves on the bars.

Well, as you've pointed out, newborns tend not to roll, so that's not really a huge problem when they are little anyway (and if they DO roll, it's safer for them to not have a bumper there anyway as I mentioned about the suffocation), and as for the sticking arms and legs out...Lydis has done this for months and it doesn't cause any problems. Looks a bit odd, but that's about all! It doesn't hurt her in any way.

Honestly they really aren't necessary anyway. I've never ever used one for Lydia.

On the flip side of it, I suppose they wouldn't sell them if they were very dangerous - they wouldn't be allowed.

Anyway it's your call, it's your little one.

Hope this helped a tad.

ETA: forgot to address the question about powdered milk...well I can't help you out there as I breastfed exclusively for the first 6 weeks.

 

[Amanda]

Xena has basically answered exactly the same as I would have done about the bumbers, so I won't add anything else! Saved me a lot of typing - thanks!

As for the formula, I used powder from day 3. Days 1 and 2 were in hospital and they have ready-made bottles. I think that she is talking about the new government guidelines for making bottles. Basically, it all started as the companies that make the formula announced that they couldn't guarantee that the formula was being packaged in a sterile environment. So for years parents have always made up 24 hours worth of bottles, stored them in the fridge, then warmed them up for feeds - now you are being told this could cause infection as bacteria can breed in the made-up bottles. So, we are now advised to make each bottle up as needed. I thought this would be a nightmare, but I find it really easy actually. I spoke to my hv as I was struggling to get the bottles at the right temperature with making them on demand (Charlie likes room temp milk). She told me that the only risk was with actually adding the formula to the bottles. So she suggested that I washed, sterlised and filled the bottles with sterilised water each morning. But then put the lids on them and leave them until needed. They don't need storing in the fridge as they just contain water. Then, when Charlie needs a feed, I can just add the powder - easy! I have used the cartons for ease when we have been out, but now we have switched him to C & G Comfort formula, I can't find them in the shops! So I have bought a little plastic tub from the baby section of Tesco's. It is split into 3 compartment, so you can measure the correct amount of powder into each one, then when you want to make up a bottle, you can just add one compartment to the water. Blimey I've rambled!! Hope this makes sense!

 

[Cat&Noah]

I think you will find that all recomendations on bumpers are that they are not to be used for babies under 12 months, same as duvets and pillows, are they can cause suffocation and your baby can get tangled up and trapped in them.

 

Powder is fine, she is probably just being over cautious. I think sometimes the ready made ones could be a problem as they could be on shelves for ages breading bacteria if they have so much as the teeniest little hole in them.

 

[Princess_Puddles]

Thankyou very much for your replies. Have to admit I am still not sure on the whole bumper thing, though i have taken what you have all said into consideraton and understand your views but it still does make me wonder As they say now days to lay your babies at the very bottom of their moses basket/crib/cot so therefore i would imagine that they arent really anywhere near the bumper Oh i dunno i suppose it's something i'm going to have to think about a bit more. Thankyou though!!

You all seem certain that its fine to use the powdered milk so i think thats what i'm going to stick with and just use the cartons if i'm out and about and besides call me cheap but for a weeks worth of cartons it would work out quite expensive

Mica
xXx

 

[Urchin]

I know what you mean about conficting cot bumper advice. The main reason I'd never use one is the air circulation in and around the cot. That won't be affected by how much they move, you want all the fresh air in there you can get