10 Best Crib Bumpers & Liners Reviewed in 2024
Plenty of things go bump in the night, but your baby shouldn’t be one of them. Crib liners are a safe, easy way to ensure that your child not only sleeps soundly but safely through the night. Made from various kinds of padding, these fabric liners fasten to standard baby cribs and protect little ones from rolling over and knocking their noggin in the middle of the night, as well as fingers and toes from getting caught between the bars.
When shopping for a crib bumper, often the most appealing factor is the aesthetic design. Crib liners come in lots of colors and with various prints. If you’re handy, you might even find patterns to sew your own! But if you prefer to buy from the best, we’ve got the market’s top 10 options right here.
This is the best product on our list that is currently in stock:
Nontoxic
Easy to assemble
Can be purchased in different sizes
Can be used for other purposes
Fun, funky texture and design
10 Best Baby Crib Bumpers & Liners Reviewed
1. BreathableBaby Crib Liner
Mesh material protects without restricting airflow
Contains no harmful chemicals
Easy to install
Available in a variety of colors and patterns
Some reviewers experienced it being too short for their crib
The BreathableBaby Crib liner will provide your baby with a peaceful night’s sleep while keeping them safe.
Read moreComfort
Recommended by doctors, this liner was designed to provide a comfortable and safe sleep for your baby. While this liner comes in a variety of colors and patterns, the cool lavender color will have a relaxing effect on your child. With the mesh being semi see through your child won’t feel as though they are trapped in.
Ease of Use
Installing this liner is a stress-free process as it can easily be adjusted to fit four-sided solid and slatted cribs. Once you have the liner in place, simply use the attached strings to tie it to the crib. Be sure to tie them tightly so the liner will remain in place while being used. When it’s time to clean it, throw it in the washing machine. Hang drying it will increase its lifespan.
Safety
The mesh material will protect your little one’s limbs from falling through the cracks of the crib without restricting the airflow. Composed of 100% polyester, this liner does not contain formaldehyde, harmful chemicals, or flame retardants.
2. LOAOL Knotted Braided Plush
Nontoxic
Easy to assemble
Can be purchased in different sizes
Can be used for other purposes
Fun, funky texture and design
Some users had trouble getting it to stay up and in place; we suggest adding fastening ties if you find it slides
It looks a little funky, but personally, we like that. This knotted braid bumper by LOAOL is filled with non-toxic, extra thin PP cotton filling and perfectly sized to cover all four sides of a standard crib without requiring any ties to fasten it.
Read moreComfort
This bumper certainly is a different style than most of its competitors, but we think it’s kind of refreshing, and we feel certain that baby will love how dynamic it looks, as well as how soft it feels!
Ease of Use
It’s versatile, capable of being used as a back cushion, sleeping pillow, or bedding decor once the baby has outgrown the need for it in their crib. It can be spot cleaned, washed on a low temperature, and dried in the shade. It’s ultra-soft and comes in a true pretty pink color.
Safety
This plush knotted braid bumper is filled with nontoxic, thin cotton to give baby ample padding. It slides through the slates of the crib much like a mesh bumper and is a fun texture baby will love.
3. Habibee Baby crib bumper
Composed of 100% cotton
Easy to install
Machine wash safe
Protects limbs
Color may be different
Available in pink, navy blue, or grey the Habibee Baby crib bumper will each match the decor in your child’s room.
Read moreComfort
Composed of 100% cotton, these liners are soft and will provide a comfortable feel for those who touch it. The breathable cotton material will keep warm air inside, thus providing your child with a cozy place to sleep.
Ease of Use
With two long segments and two short segments, these liners are easy to install. There are enough panels in this set to fit most four-sided standard cribs. To clean each segment, machine wash on a gentle cycle using cold water and tumble dry on low heat.
Safety
The padded liners will prevent your child’s arms and legs from getting stuck in the slates of the crib. The extra padding will reduce the chance of bruising or injury if your child happens to roll over and hit their head against the crib.
4. BreathableBaby Mesh Printed
More breathable than traditional options
Adorable two-by-two animal print
Prevents arms and legs from getting stuck between crib rungs
No chemicals
The liner is pretty transparent so you can see baby from all angles
Machine washable
No padding
Tested for air permeability, this Mesh Liner might be just the answer you’re looking for if the usual padded bumpers feel too claustrophobic for your baby. The product is machine washable and comes printed with a cute little best buddies theme, starring adorable pairs of giraffes, monkeys, zebras, and elephants.
Read moreComfort
Traditional bumpers are meant to help absorb impact as little ones flail and roll about, but they can be so bulky and stuffy that they crowd your child in the crib. Mesh linings are a great alternative if your baby is a little stiller, and likes lighter, airy spaces.
Ease of Use
Simply installed by their hook-and-loop fasteners, these panels slat through the rings of your crib to prevent would-be escape-artist babies from getting themselves stuck.
Safety
Breathable Baby prides itself on a company whose first priority is your child’s access to a safe and comfortable oxygen flow. Not all babies are going to need the same kinds of support and assistance. Some infants might not do well in a crib that feels too padded and constricting when they want to sleep. Uncomfortable babies aren’t afraid to make themselves known, so help your little one (and you) sleep through the night with these sweet, breathable mesh linings.
5. TILLYOU Padded Breathable
Hypoallergenic and BPA-Free cushion and filler
Made of cotton and porous material for coolness and breathability
Weighty thickness for ultra-safety
Ties fully-enclose the space leaving no gaps
Ties may be difficult to attach to thicker crib bars
Can’t be used for specialty cribs or cribs with a changing station
This fits the standard-sized crib. Not recommended for larger or more specialized cribs that come with a changing table. The material it is constructed from is 100% cotton with a porous fill that makes it more breathable than polyester or cotton-poly blends.
Read moreComfort
It’s top-rated when it comes to child safety. In fact, these bumper pads are designed and constructed more like couch cushions to absorb any shocks that your baby can take or make while in their crib. It has the dual function of serving as a guard for baby getting his arm or leg caught between the bars of the crib. It can be an ideal present for a shower and the hypoallergenic covering filling make it doable for just about any baby. If that doesn’t have you convinced, there’s also the 1-year warranty or 30-day money back refund to make the deal even sweeter.
Ease of Use
This is a great preventative for babies that can get caught and tangled in the slats of their crib. Normally, we only over think of them as hitting their heads, but this takes the entanglement issue a step further.
Safety
It’s passed all of the regulations regarding safety standards for injury and suffocation. In addition, it’s hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, easy to care for, and comes with a 1 years warranty and 30-day money back guarantee from the manufacturer.
6. BreathableBaby Safari Fun Too
Machine washable
Pediatrician recommended
Easy installation
Solid coverage, good airflow
Cute Safari print
The product does not work with cribs that have attached changing table
Some little Houdinis have managed to get themselves tangled between the crib and the lining
Lions, and elephants, and zebras: oh my! Does your little one like to monkey around? Then they’ll go bananas for this safari-themed crib liner.
Read moreComfort
The jungle print is cute and understated enough that it will match plenty of room decor. The transparency is nice so that you always have an eye on your little one, and the design is engineered specifically to give baby a happy airflow.
Ease of Use
Made from polyester mesh, the material is breathable and has no nasty filler material to lower the quality of the overall product. With their “no gap wrap,” Breathable Baby offers great coverage combined with maximum airflow in this item. The two panels are machine washable and attach easily via hook and loop fastenings. The company recommends this product for children aged 0-12 months.
Safety
With this largely transparent mesh liner, you can always keep an eye on baby, wherever they might be trying to hide.
7. TILLYOU 100% Silky Soft
100% soft, safe microfiber material
Easy installation
Moneyback guarantee
330 GSM filling for protection
Clean, pretty designs
Thin enough that baby will still feel the impact
Not meant for flat-back cribs (no slates or rungs)
All hands on deck! Are you and baby ready to set sail into a dreamy abyss? This clean, cozy nautical print is a great accent in a more modern room design. Or, choose the same product in white, gray, lime green or lilac.
Read moreComfort
It’s super convenient. The patterns are clean and cute, the fabric is machine washable and doesn’t collect bacteria, and the padding is soft but not so thick as to be bulky.
Ease of Use
The material is 100% antibacterial microfiber polyester, and machine washable, and the 330 GSM filling will protect noggins and extremities from bashing against the hardwood or getting stuck. Installation is easy, and TILLYOU’s bumpers are guaranteed to fit standard sized cribs (the long panel measures fifty-two inches and the short panel measure twenty-seven inches). If you have any issues within the first thirty days of your purchase, contact them for a full refund or replacement.
Safety
TILLYOU’s microfiber is safe but breathable to provide padding and protection from the sharp, firm bits of the crib without making naptime too stuffy.
8. NoJo Traditional
Four-piece set
Easy to wash
Easy to assemble and remove
Pretty pastel designs
Cushy but not too thick
No tie to fasten the middle of the pieces, which causes sagging; may want to sew on additional strips for fastening
Not super-durable; will show wear and tear over time
The Little Love by Nojo is a four-piece set designed to provide padding between your sensitive little one, and the harsh reality of their crib.
Read moreComfort
This bumper is cushy, but the material isn’t so thick as to be overbearing or to block out too much light. Tie these tightly to your crib corners to protect baby’s head, fingers, and toes from hard, solid wood.
Ease of Use
These pieces fasten via ties to the corners of the crib, are lightweight, and feature a bright, pretty design. (There are multiple design options to choose from.) They’re thin, which allows the lulling glow of the nightlight to penetrate, but sturdy enough to give ample cushioning to the baby. Children will love the soft finish and feel right at home among the dreamy pastels.
Safety
It’s super lightweight and airy. The aesthetic and its construction make this piece a breathable, dreamy way for baby to doze off safely.
9. Bacati Elephants Blue/Grey
Ten-piece set
The bumper is plush and soft
Machine washable
Adorable elephant pattern
Soft, sensitive cotton fabric
Bumpers are thin and need further assembly to stay upright
This Bacati Crib Set is the whole she-bang. It includes one fitted crib sheet, a reversible crib guard railing cover, a dust ruffle, a diaper stacker, a musical mobile, valance, and three-piece wall hanging set, all fitted to standard crib dimensions.
Read moreComfort
This set is just too cute, and ultra-plush. The bumpers themselves are light and soft, but even without them, the set is top-notch.
Ease of Use
With a 200 thread count, these soft, 100 percent cotton pieces will have the baby feeling right at home. The comforter and bumper both feature a polyester filling, and the design on all the pieces in the set is a cute little blue and gray elephant pattern. The bumper and matching pieces are all machine washable.
Safety
If you want more than just a bumper, this set provides the basic essentials all in a streamlined, adorable little elephant theme. The fabric is 100 percent cotton, the softest and safest material when it comes to preventing skin irritation in newborns.
10. Levtex Home Baby Willow Crib Bumper
Elegant design
Machine wash safe
Compose of cotton
Prevents limbs from getting stuck in the crib slats.
Expensive
Whether you purchase it in pink or grey the Levtex Baby Willow Crib Bumper will add a touch of elegance to your child’s crib.
Read moreComfort
The cotton material is luxuriously soft and will provide your child with a comfortable place to rest their back when sitting up. The raised patten adds a beautiful touch to the decor of the crib. Yo can even purchase the willow nursery bedding separately to match the bumper.
Ease of Use
With four separate pieces included in this set, you can easily install the liners to protect your child from each side of their crib. This liner can be washed on cold in the washing machine and tumble dried on low. When washing, be sure to wash it on a gentle cycle and separately. Using the ties, you can be sure the liner is attached to the crib tightly.
Safety
The padding in each segment provides a soft impact for your child’s head and body when brushed against it. Furthermore, each segment will prevent your child from getting stuck in between the slats of the crib.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Comfort
In our search, we wanted to take everything into consideration. Not just the main health concerns and fears, but also the comfort levels of both child and parents. There are options for both cotton cushion-style bumpers, as well as the polyester mesh protective coverings.
Ease of Use
Not all bumpers are created equal. Some companies pay special attention to crib dimensions and bumper designs to ensure that it's not a wrestling match each time you want to wash your bumpers and put them back on baby's crib. Ability to withstand washing is also important, as germs and little ones often go hand in hand.
Safety
The jury still seems to be out when it comes to crib bumpers. Many doctors, parents, health gurus, and bloggers have varying opinions. Some think that it’s the worst thing ever that can lead to countless baby deaths. More than can be accounted for since before the advent of penicillin and antibiotics. Then, there are the others who tell us to get a grip–it’s all good. We live in the 21st century and we can trust the products and technology that current manufacturers have to offer.
In essence, the bumper of your choice can come from a variety of different choices. It’s not meant to be just one thing or a one-time shot. The perfect combination will never be achieved, or the right conclusion comes to, without shopping around, extensively researching, and taking a chance on more than a few options.
Crib bumpers can help reduce injury in little ones. Babies often like to stick their fingers where they shouldn't go, and tend not to be too cautious when wriggling around. An extra layer with some gentle padding can keep hangs and noggins safe!
Other Factors to Consider
Style
The market includes a space for all the spatial and aesthetic considerations that many parents still have and refuse to sacrifice for the sake of Mickey Mouse and Goofy. We add that kind of variety and bring it to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Can crib bumpers be a contributing factor in SIDs?
While there is a risk of suffocation with fabric crib bumpers, there is no definitive correlation between the two. The cause of SIDS is varying and multifaceted. It could due to being born prematurely, low birth weight, brain stem abnormalities, sleeping on the stomach instead of the back, improper prenatal care by the mother-–i.e. if she was a smoker or drinker–the list goes on. If the concern of the parent is a deciding factor, we suggest buying a bumper of mesh material as opposed to fabric. It is also recommended that parents set up the infant’s crib in their bedroom for the first 6 months as a preventative measure.
q: Is the mesh material crib bumper safe and non-toxic?
Yes. Most of the mesh bumpers are made from 100 percent polyester. They’ve been tested to be lead-free, latex-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free. Most are made with innovative A.C.T. technology for better airflow to your baby. Fair warning, though, mesh crib bumpers are used more to prevent your child getting entangled in the slats of their crib, as opposed to preventing bumps and bruising. For that, it’s best to purchase a cushioned bumper, which can have drawbacks of its own.
q: Why should I even buy a bumper?
There is no reason that you should. Some parents like to live on the edge with their kids. For those who don’t, all kinds of possibilities and factors come up when it comes to the safety and well-being of their newborns and infants. We all know with kids that stuff happens. If your child gets tangled up in the slats of the crib, then aside from serious injury, that will lead to one cranky baby–which, in turn, leads to one cranky adult. While bumps and bruises are not good for your baby’s body, it also affects their sleep which can lead to more significant health problems.
q: Are there any DIY crib bumpers out there that parents can have a say in designing?
The ones that we currently offer don’t have that option. But, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. With the number of manufacturers making crib bumpers, we’re sure you can find something that will satisfy. Many of the products that we included on our list don’t just stand alone, either. They’re usually part of a larger collection that can compose an entire nursery or playroom. You can be the artist in this creation, so any additional DIY items that could be added might blend in perfectly.
q: Can you give any tips on how to keep the ties on the bumpers secure?
Sure. Many parents have the problem of having the ties be either too long or too short. Never just right. First off, before purchasing, estimate the thickness of slats on your crib. If you’ve purchased a fairly hefty, sturdy, crib you might consider longer ties. With thinner slats, there is an alternative. With thicker slats, simply purchase some extra fabric that you can sew to your ties to extend them. With the thinner slats, be sure to use double knots. In fact, always use doubles knots and tuck underneath any extra material at the end of the knots. It’s not a guarantee, but it will help to give you more peace of mind.
q: Can the fabric on these crib bumpers be switched out?
Not that we’re aware of. On average, crib bumpers don’t act as a sort of pillowcase for a pillow. They tend to be more like couch cushions. The fabric encases the stuffing. So what you see and buy, is what you get. But, all that said, there are a great variety of crib bumper designs that can be mixed and matched. They range from the Goofy–such as from Disney–to the gender-neutral, to the understated chic. A lot of the attendant needs of parents and child can be factored into this. Alternatively, if you want to spruce up one of your already-purchased bumpers, then just go ahead and design another cover that can be placed over it like a pillowcase.
Sources
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Informative Health Article ,
- What Is SIDS?, Informative Article ,
- Infant bed, Wikipedia Page ,
- Mesh, Wikipedia Page ,
- Are crib bumpers safe?, Informative Health Article ,