Last updated: October 2026. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for personalised advice from your doctor, health visitor, or paediatrician. See our Editorial Policy.
Quick answer: Padded crib bumpers are banned in the U.S. under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which took effect on November 12, 2022, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) keeps issuing warnings about banned bumpers still sold online. The latest, dated October 1, 2026, covers Mbabyjon crib bumpers, whose seller has not responded to CPSC’s request for a recall. If you have a padded bumper, stop using it and throw it away. A safe crib is a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else in it.
What CPSC said on October 1, 2026
CPSC warned parents to stop using Mbabyjon crib bumpers immediately because they can obstruct an infant’s breathing, posing a risk of serious injury or death from suffocation. The warning says CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, Mbabyjon of Newark, Delaware, which has been unresponsive to CPSC’s request to recall the bumpers or offer a remedy. The bumpers were sold on Mbabyjon.myshopify.com for between $15 and $28. They are pink with black and white stars on one side and white with pink stars on the other, with pink ribbons and no markings or labels. CPSC says the firm may have sold them in other colours and patterns too. No incidents or injuries were reported.
CPSC’s advice is to dispose of them, and not to sell or give them away.
This isn’t a one-off
Warnings like this have been a regular feature of 2026. Two others we checked on CPSC’s site:
- Muduo crib bumper sets (February 12, 2026): padded bumpers included in bedding sets sold on DHGate.com for about $45 to $55 (CPSC warning). The sets came in various piece counts, colours and styles, so a “nursery bedding set” can contain a banned bumper.
- BDTROL crib bumpers (May 14, 2026): about 200 units sold on Amazon.com from March through April 2026 for about $34 (CPSC warning).
The pattern: banned products reach buyers through third-party sellers on marketplaces and small online shops, often as part of a cute matching set.
What’s actually banned
The Safe Sleep for Babies Act bans the sale, manufacture for sale, distribution and import of crib bumpers and inclined sleepers for infants. CPSC’s 2023 rules implementing it (CPSC release) define a crib bumper as any material intended to cover the sides of a crib to prevent impacts or to block access to openings in the sides. That includes padded crib bumpers, vinyl bumper guards and vertical crib slat covers. A non-padded mesh crib liner is not included in the definition. The rules implement a statute that took effect on November 12, 2022.
Being legal to sell is not the same as being recommended for your baby’s crib. CPSC’s guidance is to use a fitted sheet only and never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers or other items to an infant’s sleeping environment. If you are considering a mesh liner, ask your paediatrician first.
What to do if you have a bumper
- Stop using it today and remove it from the crib.
- Dispose of it. CPSC says not to sell or give it away.
- Check bedding sets. If a set you bought included a padded bumper piece, remove that piece.
- Check the seller. Warnings often involve marketplace or small-shop sellers who have not responded to CPSC.
- Report problems with a product to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.
What to use instead
CPSC’s safe-sleep reminders are simple: the best place for an infant to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard, with a fitted sheet only, and always on their back. Babies who fall asleep in an inclined or upright position should be moved to a firm, flat surface.
If you are worried about your baby’s arms or legs getting between the slats, ask your paediatrician what they recommend. For a full checklist, see our guide to the CDC’s safe-sleep report and 8 checks and our recall roundup for loungers and nursing pillows.
When shopping for sleep gear: buy a crib mattress and fitted sheet made for your crib size, buy from the brand’s own store or a major retailer where possible, and check CPSC’s recall list before you buy. A search of CPSC recalls takes about a minute.
The bottom line
A padded bumper looks cosy, but it is banned because it can obstruct a baby’s breathing. If you own one, remove it. A bare crib is the safe crib. Check bedding sets for hidden bumper pieces, and verify products at CPSC.gov before buying.
Sources
- CPSC Warns Consumers to Stop Using Mbabyjon Crib Bumpers Immediately (CPSC, Oct. 1, 2026)
- CPSC Warns Consumers to Stop Using BDTROL Crib Bumpers Immediately (CPSC, May 14, 2026)
- CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Muduo Crib Bumper Sets (CPSC, Feb. 12, 2026)
- CPSC Approves Rules Implementing Bans on Inclined Sleepers for Infants and Crib Bumpers (CPSC, Aug. 7, 2023)
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