Cute and colourful cot bumpers seem to be harmless additions to the aesthetic of the nursery, they actually pose a very real threat to the safety of your baby.

Studies show that whilst they may soften any bumps - hence the name - your child may incur on the bars of the cot, they also risk suffocation, choking and overheating. 

I won't mention anyone's specific cases of tragedy here, because I haven't permission to use their stories for the benefit of my petition, but a quick google will give you numerous accounts. 

No parent, not even one, should ever know the deep pain and regret of a preventable infant death due to a lack of education. 

To completely ban the sale of these products may be a long way off but we can do something to reduce the amount of parents buying them. 

I, like most new parents, have spent hours googling cute baby products to enhance the beauty of my baby's surroundings. ONLY after searching - with intent to buy due to the attractive imagery - did I stumble upon articles regarding cot bumper dangers. 

In every nursery picture I browsed, there was no warning or disclaimer below the image to inform parents of the dangers. 

The study by Washington University School of Medicine, published in November 2015 in the Journal of Pediatrics found that 48 infant deaths from 1985-2012 were specifically attributed to cot bumpers. An additional 146 infants were involved in cot bumper incidents in which the babies nearly suffocated, choked or were strangled.

This needs to stop. 

Please sign this petition to persuade the Advertising Standards Agency to pull all verbal, written or visual mention of cot bumpers from all related products and content. 

Thank you.