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Officials Warn Of Crib Bumper Dangers

By Holly Wagner, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For years, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has told parents of newborns what not to put in cribs. Now some safety advocates want the CPSC to tell parents to add something to that list.

Some safety experts believe crib bumpers can cause a baby to suffocate. A crib bumper is the fabric panel or cushion placed around the inside of the crib to help keep babies from getting their arms and legs caught between the bars, and it's used for decoration.

An article out in USA Today features a mother who lost her 7-week-old baby. The baby suffocated and was found wedged between a crib bumper and a mattress.

A study done by a Washington University professor says 27 babies have died because of crib bumpers. Now several child safety organizations want the CPSC to take action. But others disagree. A study from the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association found no evidence that bumpers are unsafe.

A researcher from the CPSC says so far they haven't found a link between deaths and bumpers, but they're doing more research.

For now, the CPSC is saying bare is best. Its advice to parents is to not use bumpers, pillows or blankets in cribs. They say if parents do buy bumpers, they should be "properly and tightly affixed to the crib."

The CPSC says in addition to doing more research, it is also getting an independent analysis on the information on crib bumpers to help decide what if anything should be done.

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