You've probably seen a Bumbo out of the corner of your eye and wondered if it was a toilet seat or a baby chair. Am I right? You might not have even known what the seat was called, even though it looks familiar. The Bumbo is a brightly colored, lightweight, floor seat made of low-density foam for babies. With the Bumbo, babies have added support to be placed in a sitting position. Since you can let your baby sit in it, it potentially gives parents some hands-free time. For this reason and its low cost, it is a frequent star on baby registries.
The Bumbo Multi Seat is the latest version that can convert from a floor seat to a booster:
Converts Into Booster Seat and High Chair - Aqua
What Age Can Babies Use A Bumbo?
While Bumbos are popular, they have experienced their fair share of controversy. Unfortunately, parents have used the Bumbo seat before it has been developmentally appropriate or used it incorrectly. According to Bumbo, the seat is designed to be used by babies who can support their own heads.
According to Baby Center, “Your baby will probably be able to lift her head when she's about a month old, and hold it up when placed in a sitting position at around 4 months. Her neck muscles and head control should be strong and steady by 6 months.”
Those are probably average time lines. With enough tummy time practice, I've seen babies with great head control around 3 months. This is quite an obvious milestone and hard to miss. In general, the recommended age for the bumbo seat will probably be around 4 months. However, many parents put their babies in the Bumbo seat before they are ready. It is tempting to have your arms free and your baby in one spot, but if your baby’s head is hanging to one side, your baby is not ready.
Furthermore, some doctors believe you should wait until your child is sitting before you place your child in the Bumbo. According to Dr. Renée Felver-Christensen, “When you're trying to get a kid to stand before they're ready or sit in an upright position before they're ready… it can actually do a disservice to your child because your muscles and joints aren't ready to have that type of control.”
So when to start using the bumbo seat? When. your baby has strong neck muscles and can handle a seated position.
Age Limit for Bumbo Seat
However, the Bumbo seat should not be used once a baby can sit up on their own or exceed the maximum weight limit of 22 pounds (10 kg), whichever comes first. It is important to follow the manufacturer's guidelines and instructions for safe use of the Bumbo seat to avoid any potential injuries or accidents
To Bumbo or Not to Bumbo…
Source: Pixabay
While parents often feel the Bumbo helps their child reach the sitting developmental milestone, some doctors disagree. A clinical coordinator of physical therapy told the Chicago Tribune, “the position [of the Bumbo floor seat] actually teaches babies incorrect postural alignment, with a rounded back and the head leaning forward.”
Additionally, Bumbo has been plagued by safety recalls over the years due to infant falls and injuries. Even though the Bumbo comes with a safety label telling parents never to place the Bumbo on an elevated surface, it is still done often. And, babies have fallen and been seriously injured as a result. As of 2018, Bumbo has added a three-point safety harness to help keep babies in the seat without falls. However, this does not prevent falls from elevated surfaces.
Are Bumbo Seats Safe
Babies need to be constantly supervised, especially they haven't learned how to control his or her limbs yet. This is why Bumbo seats – or any baby seats for that matter – should never be placed on an elevated surface. Even with the safety harness, falls can still occur if the Bumbo chair is used incorrectly. For this reason, parents should use caution when using a Bumbo and make sure to place it on a flat surface at all times.
Bumbo Seat Recall
In 2007, the Bumbo seat was recalled in the United States and Canada due to reports of infants falling out of the seat and suffering skull fractures and other serious injuries. The recall required the company to provide a repair kit that included a safety strap to help prevent falls.
In 2012, the Bumbo seat was again recalled in the United States due to additional reports of infants falling out of the seat and suffering injuries. This recall required the company to provide a new warning label on the seat and include a free safety belt with the product.
Check your Bumbo model to ensure that it has these safety feature as older versions may not be equipped with it.
It is important to always follow the safety guidelines and instructions provided by the manufacturer, as well as any recall notices, to ensure the safety of your child.
Here’s How to Use The Bumbo Safely
Many parents still feel comfortable using a Bumbo even after hearing negative thoughts. This is because these parents are choosing to use the Bumbo safely. Follow these tips to make sure your baby is safe in the Bumbo while your arms get a much-needed break:
- Wait until your baby has strong head and neck control
- Do not ever leave your baby unattended in the seat
- Do not ever place the floor seat anywhere but the floor (no elevated surfaces!)
- Clean the seat regularly
- Use the three-point harness each time
Finally, the Bumbo is not designed to be a babysitter. If you use the Bumbo sparingly along with continuing to practice tummy time, you should not have to worry about the seat causing problems. If you're in a rush to get your baby to sit, just put your baby on the floor! You don't need a baby seat to help them work on sitting.
