Safe Sleep Guide
Crib Bumpers Are Banned.
Here's What to Use Instead.
Padded crib bumpers became illegal to sell in the United States in 2022. If you're looking for crib bumpers, crib bumper pads, or a safe alternative to them, this page explains what changed, what's still safe to put in and around a crib, and how to dress a nursery beautifully without them. A safer crib and a beautiful nursery are not opposites — you don't have to choose.
Safe Sleep, Simplified
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the safest sleep environment for a baby follows what's known as the ABCs of Safe Sleep.
A
Alone
Babies should sleep alone in their crib — without soft bedding inside the sleep space during sleep. Decorative crib pillows, quilts, and blankets should be removed before naps and bedtime.
B
on their Back
Always place babies on their back to sleep, for every nap and every night, until they're old enough to roll independently.
C
in a Crib
A firm, flat crib mattress with a fitted crib sheet — and nothing else inside the crib during sleep — is the gold standard for safe sleep.
These guidelines were updated to reflect what pediatric researchers now know: the items that once made a nursery look "complete" — like padded crib bumpers — were creating real risk inside the sleep space.
The Safe Sleep Act & the End of the Crib Bumper
In 2022, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act was signed into federal law, and shortly after, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the sale of traditional padded crib bumpers. The reason was simple: padded bumpers — once a nursery staple — were linked to a risk of suffocation, entrapment, and strangulation.
The ban covers padded crib bumpers of every kind, whatever they're called on the packaging: crib bumper pads, baby crib bumpers, bumper sets sold with a crib bedding set. Colour makes no difference either — a white crib bumper is banned on the same terms as any other.
It was a major shift for the entire baby industry. And honestly? It was a major shift for us, too.
A note from our founder
For years, traditional crib bumpers were one of our most-loved products. When the new safety standards were announced, we had a choice — fight it, or grow with it. We chose to grow.
Today, every product we make is designed to support the new safe sleep guidelines while still giving families the heirloom-quality, beautifully styled nursery they dreamed of.
— Lauren, Founder of High Cotton Textile
What to Use Instead of Crib Bumpers
If you came here looking for crib bumpers, this is the section that matters. There are three safe alternatives to a padded bumper, and between them they cover almost every reason people wanted bumpers in the first place — protecting the crib rails, softening the look of the crib, and finishing the nursery.
We've spent years reimagining how a crib can be safe and heirloom-beautiful. Here's how each option works, and who it suits.
Most Popular
Our signature crib bedding sets pair a beautifully ruffled crib skirt (which sits on the outside of the crib, never inside the sleep space) with our handmade crib rail covers, which protect the wood from teething and bring softness back to the nursery aesthetic.
Why it works: Nothing inside the sleep space. Everything outside the crib is styled, soft, and heirloom-quality.
Best for: parents who want the classic, finished nursery look with full safe sleep compliance.
For families who still want something inside the crib — a soft, decorative barrier where bumpers used to sit — our breathable mesh crib liners are the answer. These breathable mesh liners are approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as a safe alternative to traditional bumpers (we have written approval from the CPSC on file).
They feature our signature cotton ruffle (or our tailored cording trim for a more classic boy look) and your choice of:
-
Classic ties — wider, longer ties that finish in soft bows
-
Tiny ties — shorter, more discreet functional ties
Why it works: Provides the visual softness and crib-edge barrier that bumpers used to — but with breathable mesh that meets safe sleep standards.
Best for: parents who love the look of a fully finished crib interior, with the same aesthetic as our crib skirts and bows.
The simplest setup of all: a fitted crib sheet, a beautiful crib skirt on the outside of the crib, and nothing else inside. Pair with our handmade crib bows tied to the rails (outside the sleep space) for a soft, romantic touch, or a crib canopy overhead.
Why it works: Maximum safe sleep adherence, minimal visual noise, maximum heirloom charm where it counts.
Best for: parents who prefer a pared-back, light, airy nursery aesthetic.
What Belongs in a Safe Crib
A quick reference for what to keep — and what to remove — inside the sleep space when baby is sleeping.
Safe Inside the Crib During Sleep
Should Be Removed Before Sleep
- Traditional padded crib bumpers (now banned)
- Decorative pillows, quilts, & blankets (beautiful for nursery styling and photos — but always removed before naps and bedtime)
- Stuffed animals
- Sleep positioners or wedges
Good to know: Crib skirts,
crib rail covers, and tied
crib bows all sit on the
outside of the crib — they're styling pieces, not sleep-space items, and they're fully compatible with safe sleep guidelines. Decorative
crib pillows, quilts, and blankets are perfect for finishing the look of a beautifully styled nursery and capturing those sweet baby photos — just be sure to remove them when baby is sleeping.
Beautiful and Safe Aren't Opposites
Every piece we make today is designed to honor both: the modern safety guidelines that protect your baby, and the soft, heirloom-quality aesthetic that makes a nursery feel like home.
We sew every piece by hand in our Alabama studio, using 100% washed cotton (or breathable mesh, in the case of our liners) — so you never have to choose between a nursery that's safe and a nursery that's stunning.
Made to order in 3–10 business days, with free shipping. Not sure about a color? Order fabric swatches and see our shades in your own nursery light first.
Common Questions About Safe Sleep
Everything new parents want to know about safe sleep and crib bedding.
Are crib bumpers really illegal now?
Yes. As of 2022, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act made the sale of traditional padded crib bumpers illegal in the United States. The CPSC enforces this rule under federal safety standards.
What can I use instead of crib bumpers?
There are three safe alternatives.
Crib rail covers sit over the top rail and protect the wood from teething.
Breathable mesh crib liners go inside the crib where bumpers used to sit and are CPSC-approved. Or go minimal: a fitted sheet inside, a
crib skirt outside, and nothing else. All three give you the finished look without the risk.
Are crib rail covers safe?
Yes —
crib rail covers sit on top of the crib's wooden rails,
outside the sleep space. They're designed to protect the rail from teething damage and to add a soft, finished look to the nursery, without ever entering the area where your baby sleeps.
What about mesh crib liners — are they really safe?
Yes. Our
mesh crib liners are made from breathable mesh and have written approval from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as a safe alternative to traditional padded bumpers. Air flows freely through the mesh, eliminating the suffocation risk associated with padded bumpers.
Is a crib skirt safe to use?
Yes — a
crib skirt sits
outside the crib, draping over the frame down toward the floor. It never touches the sleep space, so it's fully compatible with safe sleep guidelines.
When can my baby sleep with a blanket or pillow?
The AAP recommends keeping all soft bedding (blankets, pillows, stuffed animals) out of the sleep space during sleep until at least 12 months of age. Decorative crib pillows, quilts, and blankets are wonderful for styling a finished nursery and capturing those sweet baby photos — just be sure to remove them before naps and bedtime. Always check with your pediatrician for personalized guidance.
Can I still use bows or other decorative pieces on the crib?
Yes — our handmade
crib bows are designed to tie to the
outside of the crib rails, never inside the sleep space. They're a beautiful, safe way to add an heirloom finishing touch.
My nursery already has bumpers — what should I do?
We'd recommend removing them from the crib and exploring a safer alternative. Our
crib rail covers and
mesh crib liners are both designed to give you the styled, finished nursery look you originally wanted — safely.
Will these fit my crib?
Our pieces are cut for a standard 28" × 52" crib mattress, and everything is made to order so we can cut to your numbers if your crib is a different size. Our
Crib Fit Guide walks through measuring, drop lengths, mini cribs, and the one crib style that changes what you should order.
Keep Reading
Three more things worth knowing before you order.
Crib Fit Guide
Sizing for skirts, rail covers, and sheets. How to measure your drop, what to do about mini cribs, and the crib style that needs tie-on separates instead.
Read the Fit Guide →
Fabric & Materials
Why we pre-wash every yard before we cut it, what that does to the feel and the fit, and how to care for cotton that's meant to last.
Read About Our Fabric →
Customizations
Swap a ruffle color, match a paint chip, add a monogram, change a drop length. Nearly any detail can change, and most color changes are free.
See What We Can Change →
Heirloom Style. Safe Sleep Approved.
Every piece we make is handmade in Alabama, designed with both your baby's safety and your nursery's beauty in mind. Made to order in 3–10 business days, with free shipping.
