Are you going to use a bumper for the crib?

Question

I keep reading contrasting information about them. I have read that they pose a suffocation risk but also that without them baby can get his/her arm stuck and break their bones or hit their heads and there doesn't seem to be a good answer honestly. This is the crib we bought and the rails seem fairly close together but we haven't set it up yet so I'm not a 100%. 
I found a cute set from Walmart that I love that comes with a bumper, crib sheets, quilt, and crib skirt and think I might buy it and decide later on. 
I just don't know what to do!

Answer

No... I don't think they're necessary and in a few short months they will be tugging at them and pulling them off. Not to mention they aren't the safest option unless breathable but even then can still be tangled up.

Answer

If anyone else reads this and isn't sure which they're planning to do or not do...
I just found a breathable, mesh bumper with padding! It was made by a doctor in order to give the benefits of a bumper without the worries about suffocation, arms getting stuck, or the baby hitting his/her head. It's called the Ubimed Lifenest Breathable Padded Mesh Crib Bumper - and they sell it at babyrus. I haven't gotten it yet and it's a little more expensive (about $50) but I think that's what I'm going to go with :)

Answer

They will only break if a different person tries to move the arm/leg out of the bars, like you or another child. The baby themself cannot break anything on their own. As for the head bumps, the most that would happen is a red line when they're awake. Not even a bruise. As they get fat and chubby their bare legs might get stuck from them purposely sitting up with their legs like that but by that time they should be probably moved to a toddler bed. To help prevent them getting stuck put them to sleep in a light sleeper that covers their limbs, the fabric is slippery compared to skin. My experience is going off of my own son and my 3 nephews. Bumper pads are unnecessary and my son and nephews push their face into bars so for them it would be dangerous and a suffocation hazard. Even the mesh ones child protection has said are dangerous though I can't remember the reason. Don't worry, no bumper pads are perfectly safe for your baby! Bare crib bars are the way to go. :)

Answer

Use a mesh bumper, allows for breathing and doesn't allow little limbs through. IMHO even if you don't go with mesh, I'd rather have a broken limb then a suffocated child no matter how cute the bumper is, it's not worth your precious baby's breath. 💗