Baby bumpers are the soft, colorful padded panels that are placed in the crib to prevent the baby’s legs and arms from getting stuck in the slats of the cot. They are padded to prevent your child from bumping their heads on the sides of the crib.
Some experts believe that they could pose a safety risk to your child. They have been used for years and as the materials evolve so will the baby bumper.
As soon as your child is able to roll over in both directions, baby bumpers will not pose a risk to your baby. It is ultimately your choice to use baby cot bumpers or not. To make your own adorable no-sew crib bumpers follow this easy tutorial.
If you are like me and you find DIY very difficult and can hardly sew on a button, then this tutorial is for you. When you make these cute crib bumpers it will look like you have spent hours making them, but they are actually so simple to make and will make you feel like you are a DIY superstar even if you have no sewing or DIY experience.
What you will need
Crib bumper inserts – you can find them at most baby stores. They come in sets to fit different size cribs.
Fabric – the material of your choice that will match your nursery or something different for a bit of fun. You will need about 1 meter of fabric depending on your crib size.
Bias tape – this is used for binding. It is perfect for finishing raw edges or seams.
Ribbon – 2 spools of the ribbon of your choice to match the fabric that you bought.
A Tape measure – to measure your strips of fabric.
Scissors – to cut the fabric and bias tape.
Heat and bond – this can be found in most craft stores
Iron – to secure the head and bond to the fabric
Glue gun – for securing the ribbons and sealing sides
Directions
1. Cut the material to fit the bumper that you already bought.
2. Cut the ribbon to decorate the front of the crib. Make sure you cut the ribbon so it is long enough to make the size bow that you prefer.
3. Cut your bias tape into 6 ties. These will be used to secure the bumper to the sides of the crib. Cut the bias tape so it is just long enough to be tied into a double knot to secure it.
4. Start with the side bumpers of the crib. Turn 2 pieces of fabric inside out. Using the heat and bond, iron 3 of the sides together. Make sure to leave one of the sides open. This should be a short side.
5. Leave a small opening on each side where each bow and tie needs to go.
6. Turn the fabric right side up and insert your baby bumper.
7. Tuck your fabric in on the remaining side and seal with a hot glue gun.
If you are nervous about correctly spacing the ties to the rails of the crib line up the fabric and mark the spot for the ties.
8. Place your ribbon and bias tape in the openings of the fabric that you left for them and secure them in place with a hot glue gun.
9. Repeat these sets with all of the sides of the crib.
10. Next, simply tie in place. Make sure that the bumpers are secured so that your baby won’t be able to pull them off.
Follow these 10 easy steps to make the cutest crib baby bumpers without sewing. Not only are they a great addition to any nursery they will have a little bit of sentimental value added to them because you made them yourself. Every time you put your baby to bed you can look at the bumpers that you made proudly and prove to yourself that you can do DIY. To make these bumpers even safer for your baby, we suggest using a breathable material such as cotton.
If your crib has two solid sides and two slate sides you will need to adapt the directions slightly. You can also add more ties if you feel more ties would make the bumper more secure.
Baby crib bumpers have and always will have a controversial past and pose some safety risks. It is ultimately your choice if you want to use baby crib bumpers are not. We advise not using bumpers until the child is able to roll over in both directions to lower the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). If the child is not able to roll over easily they could be at risk of suffocation.
Once your child is over the age of 6 months and can move around fairly easily bumpers will pose a lower risk for them.