Bumper pads vs. MMR’s
Tuesday, 20 November 2007 by Joscelynn TomawJacob and I attended our last parenting class at Prentice Women’s Hospital last night. Having signed up for the full five course package, this one, Pediatric Care, was more of a general question and answer session with a Pediatrician. Most of the questions asked were pretty predictable and covered information that we felt we already gleaned from our previous classes. We found the questioning surrounding two topics particularly interesting: 1. SIDS and crib safety 2. Autism and immunizations.
Regarding the first, the pediatrician explained that the crib should contain a mattress and a fitted sheet. End of story. She said there is no practical use for bumper pads. Children do not injure themselves on the bars of a crib and even if they did, broken arm vs. death by suffocation should be an obvious choice.
Jacob and I thought this was pretty common wisdom, but the crowd seemed taken aback at the finality of her word. The questions following all sought out loopholes.
Question: “When does it become safe to use the bumper pads?”
Answer: “Never. SIDS is a concern until 18 months.”
Question: “What if we use a sleep positioner so the baby can’t move?”
Answer: “Sleep positioners can suffocate babies, too. Don’t use those either.”
Question: “We chose our bedding set because we liked the bumper pads. Why do they still design bedding sets with cute bumper pads if we can’t use them?”
Answer: “I don’t know. Don’t use them. Hang them on the wall or something, if you really can’t just part with them.”
For the second topic, the questions were very different. Parents were expecting and looking for assurance from this pediatrician that immunizations will cause their child to be autistic.
Question: “Do immunizations cause autism?”
Answer: “I talk to parents every day about autism. We try to practice what we call ‘evidence based medicine’ and so far there has been no conclusive research to show a link between immunizations and autism. We don’t know what causes autism, but my expectation is that it will come down to genetic and not environmental factors.”
Question: “Then why has there been an increase in autism? Isn’t autism caused by mercury and Thimerosal?”
Answer: “There has been an increase in the diagnosis of autism. We do not yet know what causes autism, but mercury and Thimerosal have been out of vaccines for five years and there has still been an increase in the diagnosis of autism. At least part of this increase can be attributed to over-diagnosis and the fact that 20 years ago autism wasn’t a term that we used. A child which we would now consider to be autistic would have been considered mentally retarded, and we don’t make that diagnosis anymore. Also keep in mind that autism is a spectral disorder and doesn’t mean one thing.”
Question: “But doesn’t it make a difference whether vaccines are given all at once or individually?”
Answer: “No, there is no proven link between autism and vaccines in either case. There is an increased risk of fever when vaccines are given all at once.”
So here’s what struck me: Why were the parents so attached to their bumper pads yet so ready to lay blame on vaccines?
Is it because bumper pads are cute and cuddly and vaccines involve needles and chemicals? Does it have to do with the “organic” mentality that presumes “Western” medicine the root of all ills? Or is it just a matter of heightened publicity surrounding autism? It seems to me that just not using bumper pads is a pretty easy and small sacrifice to make in the name of child safety. Why fight tooth and nail for that one?
November 20th, 2007 at 10:20
Tyler Cowen would tell you that it is an issue of control. Bumper pads give parents the feeling that they can protect their baby against wood-related injuries; SIDS, on the other hand, is mysterious and random. They would rather have the feeling that they can control one injury and ignore the other.
As for vaccines, same thing. Withholding vaccination gives them, they think, some degree of control over whether their baby is diagnosed with autism. The alternative, that it is largely genetic, suggests a lack of control.
It sounds like the doctor did a valiant job of trying to address the data, but I think the real issue is that parents need to be made to feel as if they are in control of their babies’ health.
November 20th, 2007 at 10:38
That makes a lot of sense, Zach, but I’m not sure I’m convinced with the bumper pads. I’m sure the bumper pad’s original purpose was to prevent injury, but all of the buzz in the crowd was about aesthetics and buyer’s remorse, so I’m not sure safety was the goal.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:06
Why can’t they just accept what the doctor says about the bumper pads. THat’s what would have annoyed me the most. The docter says don’t use them, so don’t use them. End of story.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:14
Jos - you hit the nail on the head when you said: Does it have to do with the “organic” mentality that presumes “Western” medicine the root of all ills?
YES!!! Today’s society is concerned with blame and victimization. Nothing can “just happen”. If a bridge falls down with cars on it, it’s the state government’s fault. If my child develops autism, it has to be someone’s fault (in this case, the vaccinator). If my baby dies of SIDS, it is because/or because I didn’t let the child fall asleep on its stomach or back which the doctor told me to do.
Bad things happen…people just need to realize that fact. Bad luck should not equate to an increase in government welfare allocation or a vast change in laws.
OK…I’m now off of my soapbox!
November 21st, 2007 at 14:51
Ohhh, I just can’t resist this one. Sorry. I am not sure what ‘organic mentality’ is, “Western’ medicine I know. By OM do you mean some people’s leaning toward holistic medicine, natural childbirth, not reaching for a pill for every ill? Or are you talking about people trying to eliminate as much artificial chemicals from their lives, ie. eating more organic food.
I think it is a little matter of control. Parents want to feel they have some say on how to raise their children. (If you think it begins and ends with medicine wait to you hit education.) If you like the bumper pads tie them up high at the top of the railing, or take them off once the baby starts to move around in their bed. I would love to know the stats on how many babies were suffocated by bumpers.
“Over the years, researchers have investigated and ruled out a number of possible causes of sudden infant death syndrome, including suffocation, vomiting or choking, birth defects, metabolic abnormalities, and infection.” Mayo Clinic.com
To Kristoffer, Things do not “just happen” there is always a reason and something to blame. Bridges collapse because of stress, metal fatigue, poor design or maintenance. It never falls on a whim. There maybe no ONE to blame, you are right, but there is a reason. The same with vaccines some people do have reactions that are not pleasant just as some people have reactions when they eat certain foods, or are around cats, smoke, etc. It is human nature to wonder why and question when something bad happens that can’t be changed, only tempered by common sense.
Whew, when Evil Sadie takes over there is no controlling her, but gentile Auntie is back in control wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Keep us posted. ;~)
November 21st, 2007 at 15:21
1. I should clarify that I have no problem with, and I think it largely makes sense to reduce processed foods and chemicals in one’s diet. At the very least it doesn’t hurt, but I think the obsession with this idea sometimes causes people to jump to the conclusion that Western medicine and science has nothing beneficial to offer and in fact always causes more harm than good, which I just don’t buy. I thought this might explain the parents’ reaction to vaccines, but in hindsight, I find Zach’s explanation more convincing on this one.
2. I am certain that the incidence of suffocation by bumper pad is very low and unlikely to be the real cause of SIDS. However, as you said, it is a matter of control and the size of the precaution taken. With SIDS, creating a safe crib is the only thing I can do; it costs me little time and money and has no offsetting ill effects on the baby. Even given the small chance that bumper pads do cause SIDS, removing the bumper pads is worthwhile. On the other hand, the vaccines given to babies are to protect my child from the very real possibility that he may contract a serious illness, so if I were to choose not to vaccinate it would have to be because the likelihood and impact of autism is far greater than the likelihood and impact of, say measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, etc. In this line of thinking, I found it odd that parents unwilling to make the small sacrifice to prevent SIDS would be so eager to make the larger sacrifice to prevent autism.
November 21st, 2007 at 15:28
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Aunt Gail!
November 21st, 2007 at 23:06
this is the craziest story! i myself have never thought about all this stuff yet as i am not a mother, but i have to go with my buddies nina and lynnard on this one. seems to me like people are more concerned with aesthetics and spending $ on things that people just assume are safe, like bumper pads. however, i’m with nina, if the doctor says no bumper pads=increase in chance of SIDS, then NO bumper pads.
as far as the vaccine stuff goes, i am pretty convinced that vaccines are a good idea, and autism is being diagnosed nowadays because, like lynnard said, it wasn’t known about and diagnosed years ago, so vaccinate your kid please !!
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:47
Ooops I meant gentle. Dang these fat fingers of mine.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:13
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