Video monitor or breathable bumpers?

Okay - SIDS paranoia here...that being said, my one LO "travels" her crib all night and day and seems to prefer not sleeping perfectly in the middle on her back, rather her side or usually tummy. But sometimes limbs will hang out, she wakes up, freaks out, and wakes up the other LO. What would you do? Buy breathable bumpers or invest in a video monitor? The issue is if I go in to check on her during a nap because I think she might be crying due to being caught in the crib, many times she may not be caught but she wants me to get her. If she sees me all is lost, usually if I wait a few mins (yes, we are nap training), she is asleep, but...not if her leg is hanging. She loves to sleep touching a side or end of the crib. What would you choose to do?

 

I think I'd go with video monitor. I've been told that bumpers just add another hazard to the crib.

 

Hi Betsy,

I'd go with the breathable bumpers. We have some, and they are full of holes like mesh, (do nothing at all for bumping but help prevent arm/leg caught in crib) and keep our guys from getting their arms and legs caught. I don't really think they are 'bumpers' in the traditional sense at all. I honestly don't know how they could be a danger, at least the ones we have. there isn't enough solid cloth that can be bunched up or pushed against to impede breathing. I think this is the one we have: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2529738

The reason I suggest this, is it helps for nighttime too. I have a wonderful video and sound monitor my husband got for me.... but the problem is practical- unless you are carrying the monitor around with you looking at it you don't know if there is a problem. I ended up using it to gaze at them when I'm in the other room, and tried using the sound to hear them. I think a sound monitor with breathable bumpers are a better (and less expensive) investment.

 

Video monitor. I don't have one myself but I think you would get a lot more use out of it. Even at my kids age, I've considered getting one for their playroom so I can see what they are doing in there while I'm cooking dinner or whatever. So, long term investment, I would definitely say the monitor is the way to go.

 

bumper is my vote. what's the monitor gonna do? if they get stuck your still gonna have to go in there right? with the breathable bumper problem solved.

 

I vote for bumpers. A monitor will not prevent any limbs getting stuck in the crib. I have the breathable bumpers and they are so nice. It velcros onto its self and it is super tight. not much cushion, but no limbs sticking out.

BTW, he SIDS risk is much lower once they start rolling around.

GL,
Jenn

 

I vote bumpers. Realize that you probably won't need them after they are a year, but it will solve your sleep issues. Also, if they become attached to paci's, they won't fall out of the crib. I wish I would have gotten breathable bumpers just to keep the paci in!

 

I vote for those mesh breathable bumpers too. We got 'em after DD stuck her arm through the slats up to the shoulder and she was none too pleased about her predicament, lol. She likes to helicopter around the crib. So far, so good. Like PPs have mentioned, there's no padding, but it does keep crib contents like baby bits & binks "contained."

 

I would vote for breathable bumpers too. My DD was another one who liked to travel around her crib while sleeping and the bumpers were a huge help to keep limbs from getting stuck. We also had a video monitor that was a shower gift and I would say if someone is willing to get you that as a gift, then it's worth having. Other then that, I'd do the bumpers.

 

FWIW, we rarely use the video function on our video monitor.

 

I would go with bumpers, but honestly I use regular bumpers so I'd have to vote neither for myself!

 

Video monitor, hands down!

We have two- one for ODD and one for the twins. ODD is still monitored at night. The master bedroom is on the first floor and the other bedrooms are on the second. It is so useful to see if she *really* needs us or if it looks like she will settle herself.

We have the Summer Infant one with the handheld video monitor.

 

I say the bumpers. I'm don't think a monitor would help prevent SIDS. I have regular bumpers and like them. I've never used the breathable ones.

 

I would say the bumpers. I have a video monitor that is going to be sold in my garage sale. I never used it!

 

We just got a video monitor at 20 months (really a cheap surveillance camera) and I'm loving it. It's not fancy, but we can see who is up in the middle of the night, first thing in the morning or at naptime. How we react depends on who it is and how quick we can/can't get in there. It also let us know that DS1 is not really trying to climb out like we assumed he was (he climbs everything else in the house). I really wish I'd had this from the beginning - maybe not enough to have paid for a baby video monitor, but certainly for $40 it's been wonderful. It's so cute to see them in there now playing with their toys, tossing them out an telling them bye bye, trying to wake each other up.

I didn't have the breathable bumpers, but have heard nothing but good things about them too.

 

Video Monitor, you will take the bumper off but still can use video monitor at 1 yo.

 

i have the breathable bumpers.. DD got stuck in the crib slats many time because she moves around a ton in her sleep. I put the bumpers up and the first couple days i went in to check.. now i just let them CIO and i don't go in and check on them.. i don't see the danger in them they are completely mesh.. DD alot times ends up with her face against them and i am not worried because there are wholes through out the entire thing...

 

We've had the breathable bumpers from the beginning and they are great. My one girls from very early on moved around in the crip. (we've had them in their cribs since day 1) So if I'd have to choose between the two I'd say go with them.

Although I did cave in and bought a video monitor last night and I love it! Now that they are a little older and I know the sounds they make it's great to look at the screen to see what they are doing instead of having to get up and check. Plus mine are both thumb suckers now so we don't have to go and put the paci back in.

But even if I knew how much I love the monitor I still would have gotten the bumpers over the it.

FYI - the monitor i got last night i got at BRU. It's the summer day/night handheld. BRU has a 20% off coupon plus you can use the 15% off one item on top of that. so i got the camera for around $123 when it's regularly $179.

 

I got a breathable bumper for DD's crib. She was always getting legs or arms stuck and it would wake her up screaming. I love it. DS never seemed to have a problem with this. I would have loved the video monitor for CIO and even now but it's just too much. I'd say for this situation I'd go with the breathable bumper.

 

I love my video monitor! I got a $99 one from Walmart. I can check on my daughter without waking her up and if she wakes up in the middle of the night I can see what's going on and decide on whether or not I really need to go in.

Can you buy a cheap monitor and buy the $25 crib bumpers from Toys R Us like mentioned above? So you can get both.

 

Ok - THANK YOU :wavey: for all of your responses. I did get the breathable bumpers, which have been fabulous for escaping appendages and paci escapes. But guess what, I am going to break down and get a handheld video monitor too! That little precious peanut wants to get as close against the end and corners of the crib that she keeps wiggling her hand and shoulder down between crib and mattress and getting stuck essentially. GRRR...to preserve my nap sleep training I need to see her without her seeing me. The mattress fits the crib very well - I don't know how she is doing this. Anyway, going to stack the BRU 15% off 1 item and 20% off video monitor to get a sweet deal of $123 for a $180 monitor. I am sure I will watch the monitor too much but hopefully I will get used to it. Thanks all!