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Yep, no bumpers and no blankets is what we plan to do when we have a baby. Side note: Did you see the comment after the article? I've never heard of that before!
Great info, thanks! This is why I have no desire to register for a $200 bedding set. What would I use out of it besides the sheet???
@Jenn23: No, I hadn't read that comment, but I have heard that it's a good idea to change the way your infant's head faces when you lay them down. Mix it up a bit, and if you see that they favor one side, you should try to favor the other side.
@heathaah : Exactly! I've been hearing this advice for months now, but I'm amazed at how many baby stores and blogs still display cribs with all that junk in them. You'd think if someone were in a position to really spread the word, it'd be them!
AAP also recommends against co-sleeping and circumcision, but I don't see those stopping any time soon. The original AAP article said that their decision was based on a study that there were 25-ish possibly crib bumper related deaths between 1985 and 2005.
I dunno. I say do what you want. I think we are overly paranoid sometimes. You want to use bumpers and blankets? Do it. You don't want to? Totally okay too.
@zippylef: I'm kinda leaning the same way. I understand being cautious, but I don't see how having a stuffed animal at the foot of the bed while my baby is sleeping on the other is going to be a risk. Loose blankets and whatnot are a different story. Same with the sleep positioners. If I have a sleep positioner that will keep the baby from rolling around and isn't near her head so she can suffocate why is that a bad thing?
But being safe is alway the best bet so I'm sure we'll follow these guidelines. We have the bumper in our daughter's crib now, but when she's born and using it I will probably take it down.
I plan to use a mesh crib-bumper when I have kids. I'll be using the crib I had as a baby (my dad is a carpenter, he made it), I'm not sure now far apart the bars are, but I imagine they are probably farther apart then the current recommendations.
Per the comment on $200 baby setting sets: I agree! No way am I spending more on my hopefully-future baby's bedding than I do my own!
The AAP advises against co-sleeping because so many people in America co-sleep in unsafe conditions. Many countries that practice traditional co-sleeping actually have lower rates of SIDS than America.
Everyone has to make their own decisions on acceptable risks, but I think it's always better to make educated decisions on the issues at hand. If parents don't have the time/energy to devote to research, I think it's best to follow the guidelines given out AAP, as they usually recommend the most "fool-proof" way to be safe.
@Jenn23: @eurekaanchovies: Your pediatrician should check for head symmetry at every well baby check-up, and will make recommendations on how to correct it, if it becomes a problem. Rarely do kids need corrective helmets because it's usually caught way before it gets that bad. Our doctor recommend we switch which side we lay DD down on for every sleeping session to prevent plagiocephaly.
In Milwaukee (I am in Wisconsin) many infant deaths result from women sleeping with their children (I have seen education tools on public television). Often it is something that a woman's mother did with her and so they sleep with their children. I just wanted to throw that in here.
Personally, I don't see why you would risk putting a stuffed animal (even that) in the crib if there is a chance, but it takes all kinds I guess...
Anyway, thanks for the article, and that comment at the end is interesting.
@cbee: I agree. I don't see why people would take a chance with stuffed animals, sheets, etc. This is your baby we are talking about! Maybe I'm just hot because I'm trying so hard to have a baby right now, but I can't believe people wouldn't do everything they can to protect their babies!!
I plan to go the mesh bumper route as well. I fear having their limbs get stuck in between rails. I also don't plan to put anything in the crib.
I actually know someone who's child has been in a corrective helmet for a long time. I know it's been a real stressful process for them. I've always grown up with babies and we always switch sides so that their heads are not "flat". So that's something to me that was a given.
I'm still on the fence about co-sleeping. I'm Chinese and come from a culture that co-sleeping has been done for thousands of years. Given I'm not sure what the statistics of babies dying from SIDs. It does scare me that my blanket will suffocate the baby. So I think I lean towards no co-sleeping. But I'm still not 100% either way yet.
And yeah....I'm getting sheets and that's it!!!
Side bar: For those in colder climates, what do you put your baby in to keep them warm without a blanket? I know they sell those "pocket" sleepers. Also I know in my family we always wrap one of those really thin blankets around the baby's stomach as well.
Health Canada has been saying this for years. I only know of a small handful of people that actually used the bumper pads, most had the mesh bumper or nothing. I co-slept, so I had a truly empty crib! lol
I suggest anyone intersted in co-sleeping do their research. There are definite rules you need to follow. Here is a quick view: http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/scientific-benefits-co-sleeping
I never thought I would be a co-sleeper!
@regberadaisy: the couple that I nanny for uses the thick zip-up pajamas (remember those footie pjs from when you were little?) and keeps the heat a little warmer. seems to do the trick!
on the bumper, I think there are things that go either way, similar to what zippylef said.
the couple that I nanny for had a bumper in the crib for both girls, and then when they were older (old enough to move themselves if they so felt like it, with intent) they were allowed a toy or two. they both did just fine.
only trouble they happened to get into with it was to reach through and untie it, just to keep themselves busy 
Something that I don't think is talked about enough is when would be appropriate to use a crib bumper. The idea is that it keeps your baby's limbs from getting stuck in the bars. DD didn't need one until she was 8 months old because by then she was able to roll from front to back, back to front, and was flailing around while she slept.
I think it's unnecessary to have a bumper in the crib until your baby actually needs it. When you wake up because they are crying and stuck, then put one in.
Co-sleeping: If you are considering it, read a book by Dr. McKenna called Sleeping with Your Baby. It outlines the research regarding that choice and guidelines for safely doing it.
@MightySapphire: Thank you for addressing when is appropriate to put in a bumper. I put a bumper in my daughter's crib at 5 months because she was slamming her head into the bars and constantly getting stuck. She rolls both ways in her sleep and has the ability to wake herself up or move away from something if it bothers her. I often feel like I get a lot of guilt from other people about that decision but I feel like my daughter has a higher chance of hurting herself without the bumpers than with them at this point.
Well the recommendation is based on ~25 babies under six months old who died with a crib bumper. They chose to ignore data from babies who are old enough or strong enough to push themselves away from the bumper. When I looked at the data, I decided that we would wait until at least six months to put it in, and make the decision then. You always take some risks with any choice you make. The safest choice would be to put them on the floor of a round room with no electrical sockets, but I doubt people will start building houses with "crib rooms." We make the best choices we can, and hope that the risks we take pass the baby by.
@MightySapphire: I really lol'd at this:
The safest choice would be to put them on the floor of a round room with no electrical sockets, but I doubt people will start building houses with "crib rooms."
I also appreciate the reference to Dr. McKenna. Not that I'm a parent yet but he's really a great researcher on co-sleeping.
@beekiss: 
He's a pimp. Love his research!
@LpCutiPie: My DD was getting her arms and legs caught nightly. We finally put the bumper in when she woke up SCREAMING because she had hurt herself getting her arm caught. I hate that crib bumpers are only like 8" tall! She needed one that reached all the way to the top of the crib. I almost made one out of mesh, but we moved her to a toddler bed and she does much better without bars.
THis is why, rather then register for an expensive bedding set in which I can only use the sheets and the crib skirt, I'm making the crib set. I purchased a queen sized bedding set that I liked and will make the fitted sheet, crib skirt, window treatments and a wall decorative quilt from it. And, best part, it was only $60, as compared to a $150+ crib bedding set. Also, in place of the bumpers I am making something similar to "Wonder Bumpers." I personally do not like the look of the mesh bumpers so I will be making these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEwTiiiosLY
*And sidenote, my good friend's daughter ended up with a corrective helment because of flattening of the back of the skull from back sleeping. Doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen.
@Jenn23: An easy way to prevent flattening of the head is to alternate which end of the crib their head is at when you put them down. Babies tend to look towards the door of the room so that's why they sleep on the same side of their head. That simple trick forces them to sleep on alternate sides of the head.
The cranial remolding helmets are not a horrible thing. My husband used to be in the industry and the kids do actually really well with them, so I don't know how it's stressful for the parents.
I thought this was common knowledge...I didn't realize it was a "new" thing from the AAP. I never put any toys or pillows in the crib because I was worried IF he did move that he would block his airways - plus it's not like he cares if there's a pillow or a toy in there.
We did put a recieving blanket over his lower half and tucked it around him but he was also in a swaddle so he couldn't move much. Now that he's older we just put him in a fleece sleep sack and no blanket. Until he's actually able to use a blanket (by choice - intentionally grabbing it/holding it) he doesn't really need one.
Because the mother I knew blamed herself for the fact that her son needed to be in one. So that's why it was stressful for her. I'm not saying they don't work. But I would think as a mother anytime you need to put your child through anything out of the ordinary you blame yourself.
And from what I heard from her there are actually support groups out there so yeah I'm guessing it's actually stressful for a lot of parents.
@regberadaisy: hm, maybe having been on the side that saw how well the kids turned out and delt with it I see it not as a horrible/stressful/blame yourself sort of thing. I mean, crap happens and cranial remolding is something fixable.
When my 13yo waas born we put a bumper in the bassinet with him...gasp! We also had him sleep on his side since that was what was recommended at the time. Personally I think common sense should be used. NO ONE knows what causes SIDS. And SIDS and suffocating are two separate issues. Talk to anyone who has had children within the past 10 years and they will tell you all the different things that we were not supposed to do at that time. It changes every few years when a new study is done. When I was a baby parents were told to sleep the baby on their tummy. Wanna bet that will come back into play again?
@Storm0075: Since leading research suggests that SIDS results from a depression of the nervous system, I'm betting tummy sleeping will never again be recommended. Sleeping on the tummy requires the baby to turn it's head, putting pressure on the spinal cord. It also puts pressure on the lungs since the muscles that open your ribs are on your front, not your back. Since they have introduced the Back to Sleep campaign there has been a 50% reduction in SIDS cases. That is huge! Although only one part of the puzzle, the findings are significant enough that they will probably continue to recommend against tummy sleeping.
From a nature perspective it makes total sense. Women used to co-bed with their babies who would always sleep on their back because they would fall back to sleep after BFing.
But I do agree that a lot of the recommendations out there are made with no scientific backing and will continue to flip flop until they can pinpoint a scientific recommendation. (Which will probably still be ignored by people anyway...) Potty training recommendations are a great example.
@MightySapphire: I don't disagree that having the SIDS rate go down is a good thing. In my mind when it was explained to me all those years ago it reminded me of sleep apnea. A baby would stop breathing in it's sleep with no known cause as to why. I did not look into the research before posting, but I did read the article and I do have an older child. I think at times there is so much information out there than it can be terrifying to be a new parent. If you don't follow the "rules" then your child can suffer, that is what I meant by common sense. There are some things that make sense and others that do not. I think that having children is hard enough without worrying every second whether or not you could be causing permanent damage to your child.
I always give a "baby sleeping bag" as a gift. They keep babies warm, keep their feet limbs from getting stuck in the bars, and ensure they don't smother themselves.
i just dont understand how an infant could suffocate on a bumper. i understand a pillow, blanket, or stuffed animal, but i don't get the bumper thing.
@Storm0075: i remember with two of my younger siblings that it was "safest" at the time to make sure your infant slept on his or her tummy. recommendations sure do change quickly.
@Jenn23: i think that happened to my girlfriend's baby. she is now ten months and the back of her head is SOO FLAT!!!!
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Just an FYI... This is from Consumer Reports.
http://news.consumerreports.org/baby/2011/10/sid-guidelines-hold-do-not-post.html