The other day, Ohdeedoh reader Pencils asked a good question in the comments section of this post:
When are manufacturers going to stop selling their bedding only in sets that contain bumpers? I have to think that their sales are already affected. I didn't buy a set for my new daughter, when a few years ago I probably would have. All I wanted was a sheet, crib skirt, and possibly curtains.
Well, we don't have an answer to that question, but it got us thinking about taking unused crib bumpers and using them in other ways. So we did some digging and rounded up some ideas that might help you finally rationalize your purchase of that cute crib set you've had your eye on.
The readers at Thrifty Fun asked themselves the same question and came up with several suggestions. Our favorites:
"Recover the foam with other adult prints and take them to nursing homes they make great bedrail guards for those that thrash and bump their legs and arms and helps prevent bedwounds and bruising that can be painful for the elderly."
"Cut them down, fill them with rice and herbs or essential oils, and make some heat packs. Great for helping children off to sleep or keeping little feet warm or, with the right herbs, helping with a chest cold."
"They could be cut into even lengths and the lengths sewn together as a lightweight blanket or portable changing pad."
"Use the bumpers as "trim" on things like laundry baskets, storage bins or diaper pails in the nursery. Since they are part of your set, they will coordinate the entire room for a "designer" look. Don't forget to save some of the bumper for a valance over the window!" (See Evan's nursery tour for an example of a bumper-to-valance conversion.)
"Why not take a solid color fabric that matches the print best and along the pads, running horizontally, sew on little pockets to house small toys, stuffed animals, shoes, pictures, anything that will look cute in the pockets. Hang the whole pad on the wall. Just make your pockets are the same size and spread them out the same distance along the pad."
"How about simple, small stuffed animals? They'd be easy to cut and sew -- think of a cookie cutter teddy fish or gingerbread man, just larger. Stitch seam binding around the edges."
"Line big baskets with them and use the baskets as toy catchers or organizers."
Now that you've read these ideas, have they stoked your inspiration? Can you think of any creative projects to add? And if you try any of these ideas, send us photos!
(Image: Miss Ladybug's Garden bedding set from Baby Gap Home)
cute ideas! my favorite ~ making little stuffed animals or dolls out of the bumper pad!
http://xobeau.blogspot.com/
view xoBeau's profile
We tied ours over and around the top crib railing, which didn't come with a teething-guard. Keeps our 15 month old from chewing on the crib.
view cheekychk's profile
I am thinking of using ours as a valance also, but I have two smaller windows so I would need to do a lot more cutting/sewing.
view AndreaU's profile
I love the blue painted walls. What color is that?
view Jessica777's profile
I took our bumpers ( I had made them myself, don't ask me why) and used them as a rocking chair pad for the back of our old, hard, wooden rocker. No cutting involved-just tied them on!
view lng543's profile
Ok so I am totally out of the loop I guess...but why are bumper pads bad exactly? Because they might suffocate?
view Travsmom's profile
Travsmom- I was just going to write and ask about that too. I was not using mine because of the risk of suffocation that I heard about, but two nights ago my 5 month old squirmed her way crooked and got stuck in the crib with her head against the rail on one side and her feet against the rail on the other side. She was screaming like mad and shaking because the center top of her head was butted up against the wood slats and she couldnt release herself. So last night found me tying those ribbons very tightly around the crib rails wondering why they were such a hazard. seems like having her get jammed in that way, or having her arms or legs pop through the slats is a more immediate risk...
any thoughts?
view teeze's profile
With our first I used the bumper pads, but they were tucked down between the rails and the mattress. I'd say only about an inch and a half was above the mattress.
Then I sold that set when we were expecting our second son and now we just use crib sheets and the nice blanket my aunt makes me when I have a baby.
I hate matchy $hit, so I'd rather not have a set anyway.
view Angus's profile
http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/beds-mattresses/bumper-pads-and-crib-safety-051584
view Aimi's profile
Well mine is still on the bed so my sons legs or arms don't get stuck. He's 14 months now. I can just imagine his leg through a slat and him trying to turn over at the same time, ouch! I was paranoid about suffocation and SIDS and I got a sensor for under the mattress and I slept alot better.
view Travsmom's profile
Thanks Aimi
view teeze's profile
I love the bedding set. Where can I find that? Does anyone know what it is?
view plumgirl's profile
There's some good suggestions there, but the point was that I didn't want to spend the huge amount of money to buy the bumpers in the first place. Or the comforter, either. We don't need the comforter either, we have plenty of blankets to use on the floor or wherever.
And for those of you worrying about your baby getting his or her limbs stuck through the slats, there are other options: http://www.breathablebaby.com/
view Pencils's profile
plumgirl, the bedding in the photo is the Miss Ladybug's Garden set from Baby Gap Home.
And Pencils, I hear you. I prefer a la carte purchasing myself. But your comment seemed like a good jumping-off point for talking about how to use bumpers when you get them as part of a set, say as a gift, and you don't want to pass them along to others (for safety reasons) but don't want to just chuck them. So thanks for making that original comment!
view TammyE's profile
I'll say it again--
Pottery Barn kids sells everything separately, so you don't have to find ways to re-use bumpers
view mschatelaine's profile
But monika, not everyone loves the Pottery Barn stuff. It's great if you do like one of the stores who sell separately, but the bedding I loved most were only sold as sets. (I was the one who made the valance from the bumper because I just loved the sheets too much to pass them over)
view schnappycat's profile
The bumper as valance is GREAT!
When my three week old is actually ready to sleep for an extended period in his purty crib, I'll have another option for the decor.
view hellowest's profile