Are Gummi Rail Protectors Safe for Babies?
One question most parents are concerned with is if a gummi rail protector is safe for their baby. First of all let me turn the question around and ask if chewing an unprotected crib rail is safe for babies? Bearing in mind the energy the little ones put into their chewing, chances are that they ingest quite an amount of paint particles and even little wood pieces with it. Something that surely is not healthy for your son or daughter.
If your question is now, what is better, a crib rail protection made from fabric and attached to the crib or a gummi rail protector that gets glued to the crib, things are getting a bit more complicated. Lets look first at the fabric protection. Plus points are that you can remove it easily in order to wash it, what also means you need a second one to swap it with. Depending how it is attached to the crib it might be very safe (velcro strips) or less, dangling strings that attract babies to pull them. If you are after something that matches nicely your nursery design and protects your baby from completely chewing up its crib, such a fabric or textile crib guard might be a good solution.
When is comes to gummi rail protectors, parents are always afraid that they might be toxic. I personally find this a bit of a urban legend. Do you ask yourself also if the rubber the teat or nipple of its bottle is made from might be toxic? So, why would a manufacturer of gummi crib rail protection use something less safe. But, if in doubt, always check on the package itself before buying! As for the rest, I find these kind of teething help and rail protection are far more hygienic, as you can easily wipe them down several times a day, if you wish so. They are also less intrusive visually and match well with any other design.