Bumbo Seat! Are They Safe & When Can You Start Using Them?

Bumbo Baby Seats. Are They Safe, And At What Age  Should You Use One?

 

 

When I was pregnant with my daughter, these contraptions had first came out, and looked interesting. Well, she never really took to the bumbo seat, and we tossed it aside.  Actually one time around 5 months, the darned thing tipped over, thank goodness I was right there to catch it, but I was cautious against these seats when that happened, as it was on a rug and not a soft bed or something, at the time. Thankfully I was a hand length away.  A lot of moms are tempted to put these on a bed or something that seems nice and safe, but the bumbo, along with your child’s movements, CAN tip it over, and cause a big problem, so if you use one, be safe and follow the flat surface rule. I figured carpet was safe enough, but it still tipped (I don’t know if that was a reason, as it was a short haired rug).

 

 

Anyhow,  when I got pregnant this time, someone gave me a bumbo, and I had one from my last child, so two babies…..2 bumbos.   Last time, there was some confusion as to when the baby should start sitting in their bumbos seats.  Some girls on a message board I was frequenting, were saying as early as 4-6 weeks, which I found simply crazy. They have very little head control by then. Now you read 3 months by the manufacturer, however many people seem to go earlier then the recommended 3 months, and go more like 2 or just over.

 

 

My girls were 2 months and 1.5 weeks old (10+ weeks), when I tested out the bumbo in this experiment. Both of them now have amazing head control, but aside from head control, there is the issue of a babies size. if you have a 3 month old preemie, who may still be on the skinny side, take caution. They have to be ‘thick’  enough to fill in the seat nicely, and not slump or slide.

 

 

Who passed my bumbo test (more so, anyway, not completely)?  My heavier twin of course. She has a pound over her sister, and that makes a huge difference in the bumbo seat. Her chubby legs and thighs, plus her belly, help her sit more securely, BUT at this age, the head and neck get tired easily, so after only a minute or two in the bumbo, a 2 month old, may slump and become quite uncomfortable, despite his/her size, so for this reason, even a chunky monkey like my Allie, is too young for the bumbo seat, and should wait at least the full 3 months, where I will update then.

 

 

My little Annie bug, is just too tiny. At under 10 pounds, likely under 9, but it’s been a few weeks since she has been weighed, it just isn’t safe for her to be in this chair. She doesn’t have the padding needed on her bones, to lock her in properly, and again the head and neck get tired, just like I stated on the previous twin at 2 months, and so it should NOT be used, at this tender age.

 

 

That is my experiment, and my thoughts on the bumbo now. If you have to rig a towel or something else to get your child to sit up properly, and ‘fit’ better, she just is not ready for a bumbo seat. Wait and try again at 3 months, then at that point, use your best judgement.

 

 

So are they safe?  Still a great amount of debate on this. Certainly not with you outside of arm’s reach. No bumbo baby sitter allowed, as some call it. BIG FAT NO NO. That is how accidents happen. A swing is FAR safer, in my honest opinion.

 

 

Post your comments and thoughts here.  They did look cute in it, but a couple quick pics and out they went!