The
The simple answer is no. For healthy, normally developing babies, any 'baby seat' or sitting device like the Bumbo, where the baby is forced to sit into an upright posture with little upper body support should be avoided.
The manufacturer's recommended Bumbo seat age is between three and twelve months. They also suggest you may want to wait until your baby is closer to reaching a sitting position by themselves, at around six to eight months. The Bumbo seat is lightweight, easy to clean, and simple to use.
Wait until your baby has neck strength: Make sure your baby has proper head and neck control before setting them up in their new spot. "It is very important to not use floor seats until your baby can hold their head up on their own,” says Dr. Hunter, which usually happens between three and five months.
Development aside, Bumbo seats have proven to be dangerous. Babies may climb out and fall, tip over, or even tumble from raised surfaces, causing serious injury. Warning labels don't necessarily prevent unsafe use. Physical development aside, the Bumbo seat has been proven to be unsafe.
The First Bumbo Recall
The first Bumbo baby seat recall came in October 2007, when 1 million Bumbo seats were recalled in order to add warnings about using the seats on raised surfaces.
Babies would wiggle out of the seat and some would fall. This showed that there were cases in which the seats weren't safe. The recall of the Bumbo seats was done so that the company could issue warnings about how to use the seats safely.
The Bumbo® floor seat is a popular choice among parents and is appropriate for babies ages 3 to 12 months, or as soon as the baby can hold up their head. It's also important that your baby isn't entirely restricted in their baby chair. The Bumbo® floor seat is designed not to be totally restrictive.
Aim to achieve at least an hour of Tummy Time total per day by 3 months of age. This hour of Tummy Time can be broken up into smaller parts. From newborn age, start with a few minutes at a time and build up to longer sessions.
The Bumbo Baby Seat is uniquely designed as a seat that allows babies to independently in an upright sitting position. Suitable from as young as 4 months up to an age of approximately 14 months depending on the individual development of the child.
A bumbo can keep a baby upright, taking pressure off the skull, which may help babies with flat head syndrome. Disadvantages of using a bumbo seat: . A bumbo seat limits babies them from actively using their muscles and sensory system they need for pelvic control, by locking in the pelvis.
When will my baby be able to sit up by herself? Your baby will gradually learn to sit independently between about three months and nine months old . The muscles she needs to use develop gradually from birth, and she finally becomes strong enough to sit on her own when she's about six months to seven months.
Sitting your baby up in a Bumbo, bouncer, or another sort of baby chair is not a replacement for tummy time. Your baby needs to master the neck muscles before they sit up in a chair like this.
Before learning to sit up without help, a baby will reach the following milestones: 2 months: A baby can hold their head up for short periods and look around. 4 months: They can hold their head steady without support. 6 months: They can sit up with some assistance.
At 3-4 months, babies often express new emotions, communicate in new ways, and move their hands, bodies and heads more. Simple activities like talking, singing and reading are good for baby learning and development.
Upsides and Oopsies with the Upseat
The seat props baby's hips up slightly, allowing their pelvis, spine, and head to stack up in neutral alignment. The idea behind this position is to optimize baby's posture, better allow them to use their core muscles, and reduce slumping or excessive pressure on the joints.
This cleverly designed and patented chair seats babies who can't yet sit up on their own in an upright sitting position. The Bumbo Trade mark was derived from this first Bumbo product the “Baby Sitter” as an acronym of the words “bum” and “bottom”.
However, in contrast to the Bumbo Floor Seat, Bumbo Multi Seat is for older babies. Choose the Multi Seat if your baby can already sit up on their own. Therefore, this seat is perfect for babies between 6 months and around 3 years old. Plus, this seat comes with an easy to use, removable tray included too.
At 4 months, a baby typically can hold his/her head steady without support, and at 6 months, he/she begins to sit with a little help. At 9 months he/she sits well without support, and gets in and out of a sitting position but may require help. At 12 months, he/she gets into the sitting position without help.
ALL Bumbo Baby Seats are being recalled. Here's how to identify if your baby seat is of the Bumbo brand: The bottom of the Bumbo seat is round and flat with a diameter of about 15 inches. It is constructed of a single piece of molded foam and comes in various colors.
With the restraint belt can I put my baby in the Bumbo Floor Seat on a raised surface, in a bathtub or in a car? No. It is important to follow all of the instructions and have a clear understanding of the product warnings provided with the Repair Kit. The Bumbo Floor Seat is designed to be used only on the floor.
“The Bumbo seat helps a child learn how to sit.”
Learning to sit independently is a dynamic process that includes learning to control the head, trunk and pelvic position, how to move in and out of sitting, how to rotate and weight shift, and how to use anticipatory and protective balance reactions to stay upright.