Why do people refer - Page 3

[KaylaBeanie]

We actually talked about this in Anthropology today! We were comparing and contrasting the parenting techniques of America and a bushman tribe in South Africa. An American baby spends less than 20% of the day in physical contact with it's mother, and this is because of all the nifty travel systems we have. Put baby in the bucket seat while you pee/grab a snack/grab the diaper bag, snap it in the car, arrive at the mall, put bucket into stroller, shop. The only time baby will be picked up is for a diaper change or maybe to be fed. The babies in this tribe are in physical contact with the mom over 70% of the day. Obviously we lead a very different lifestyle than that of a remote tribe, but it would be foolish to say that things like buckets, car seats, swings, etc. are not greatly overused by many, many people.

I remember when my niece was born, brother and SIL were living in cramped quarters with SIL's brother and his wife, and SIL's mom was in town. They didn't have a swing, and their carseat was convertible. With 5 adults in the house, she was held almost around the clock and slung when out in public. She had a traumatic birth and NICU stay, and she was like a different baby when she was being cuddled.

That being said, I'm not against bucket seats in their existence. Undoubtedly, they are used the proper way by many, many people. I won't have one because I'm just going to invest right off the bat in a convertible. I will say, they look SO uncomfortable to carry, and the baby usually gets banged around. Doesn't look pleasant to me, I'm a weakling and not into regularly carrying bulky, heavy things.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo

I think people don't like them partly because they aren't great for the babe (seem to remember being told they inhibit breathing if the kid is in them for too long) but mainly because they mean the baby isn't being carried in arms, just carted about in the plastic seat.

I personally know a few kids whose day went

crib-bouncer (prop fed a bottle in bouncer)-moses basket (for nap)-car bucket-bouncer (prop fed another bottle)-moses basket-swing-bouncer (prop fed)-bath-crib

They were literally NEVER held, carried or cuddled. And for a 2 week old that is really really sad (to me anyway).

That says more about the parents than the contraptions though. Even a sling can be overused when a parent never lets their baby on the floor.

[dachshund mom]

"Bucket" makes it less confusing too. You could say infant seat, but many convertibles are for infants now, so that isn't clear. Infant carrier makes me think of a sling/ergo, and some don't use it out of the car as a carrier. What term would be appropiate? "Car seat with a handle" is too long. Perhaps you see the term bucket more on mdc because a higher percentage of us use convertibles for infants and use slings. Going to start a fight here, bit it IS more AP, isn't it? I personally made the decision to skip the bucket to give DD more in arms time and so she could see more. Bonus that it saved a little money too.

If I'd had a winter baby, in a cold climate, I no doubt would have used a bucket. I also had DH around to do the shopping for 2-3 months. And DDs my first.

[zinemama]

Because some folks get a nice, warm, self-righteous glow from using "bucket" negatively. It's a way of separating themselves (sling-wearing, natural good parents) from those folks they spot at the mall not-wearing their babies. You can tell so much about whether a parent is good or bad or attached to their child simply by the accoutrements used for carrying! And it only takes a minute. Doncha know.

[Sharlla]

Originally Posted by CamoShades

Wait, so some people are honestly self-conscious or ashamed to be seen carrying an infant car seat? Wow.

My DD was a horrible napper, so if she fell asleep in the infant seat (nobody in my part of the country calls them "buckets"), you can bet I was keeping her in it for our trek into the store. If I had taken her out to wear her, she would have been awake instantly. And you know, sometimes it's just nice being able to enjoy dinner out with your husband while the baby sleeps next to you on an upside down high chair in a car seat. I did enough one-handed eating at home. It never crossed my mind to be embarrassed about being seen carrying it. That's just ridiculous, IMO.

Yep, its sad. but I can't help how I feel.

[claddaghmom]

Bucket as a word...never thought it was a negative.

But I do think the bucket culture is dangerous.

There are thousands of injuries every year from improperly putting buckets into a grocery cart and leaving the bucket on a high surface such as a table or counter top.

And although I know some good research can net safe options, I know buckets have been heavily criticised for their tendency to unlatch and become airborne in car accidents. In the same category, bucket seats come w/ the added effort of ensuring the seat is properly latched into the base, the handle is up or down according to the manual, etc. How many parents really do this? I'm not feeling positive vibes here.

Personally I love the concept of a bucket seat for big reason: the infant can be moved from the car to another place without being exposed to the cold. (Using a safe "shower cap" cover or boot).

I also liked that if DD fell asleep in the car, I could bring her inside. After we switched to a convertible, I spent many hours in the car reading or twiddling my thumbs while she slept. But I recently saw more research confirming that infants left in buckets can reach very low oxygen levels due to the angle of the seat. So I guess I won't be letting baby #2 laze around in it.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by Sharlla

that has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever seen next to the fake arm you put in babies crib LOL

Fake arm? Link please!!!!

[katelove]

Originally Posted by dachshund mom

"Bucket" makes it less confusing too. You could say infant seat, but many convertibles are for infants now, so that isn't clear. Infant carrier makes me think of a sling/ergo, and some don't use it out of the car as a carrier. What term would be appropiate? "Car seat with a handle" is too long. Perhaps you see the term bucket more on mdc because a higher percentage of us use convertibles for infants and use slings.

In Australia they're called "baby capsules" or just "capsules". Convertibles are called "convertibles" or "carseats".

I'd never heard the term "bucket" until I joined MDC either but I didn't get any negative conitation from the term.

They always look hideously uncomfortable to carry to me but then I get a sore shoulder from carrying my, fairly light, handbag so maybe I just have no stamina

[MidnightCommando]

I haven't read the previous responses but I see it as a matter of opinion. I preferred to wear my DD but also had abucket and used that too. I don't judge someone for using a bucket seat and I would hope someone wouldn't judge me for wither slinging or carrying a bucket.

[BetsyS]

I don't judge/think less of people that use buckets, but mostly I'm just in awe.

My babies both hated the carseat with a passion. If I took the bucket seat into a store, I was carrying a baby, with an empty bucket seat on the stroller or in the buggy. Otherwise, they were screaming bloody murder.

Using a sling was just survival.

[madskye]

I was a bucket-lover, and I called it a bucket, and I never thought that was a negative term. The seat is roughly bucket-shaped and it has a handle...so...bucket is fine with me.

My DD was the most laid back baby in the world. She was happy in the bucket, she was happy in my arms, she was happy pretty much anywhere, except in a bjorn, a sling, or a baby swing. So, if I brought her to a friends house in the car, and brought the bucket in, and she's up on the table happy as a clam, I never messed with her and took her out just because it would be better for me to hold her. I loved holding her, but I also liked to be able to see her smiling face, and mug for her, and do assorted things I couldn't do while she was in my arms.

[lolar2]

Originally Posted by claddaghmom

Personally I love the concept of a bucket seat for big reason: the infant can be moved from the car to another place without being exposed to the cold. (Using a safe "shower cap" cover or boot).

Oh yes.

I also liked that if DD fell asleep in the car, I could bring her inside. After we switched to a convertible, I spent many hours in the car reading or twiddling my thumbs while she slept. But I recently saw more research confirming that infants left in buckets can reach very low oxygen levels due to the angle of the seat. So I guess I won't be letting baby #2 laze around in it.

The angle of a bucket being carried around-- or sitting on the floor, or snapped in a stroller/ travel system-- is different from its angle in a car. Are both angles bad for O2 levels? I'd thought the car angle was not so good but that the flatter angle for other purposes was OK. Was I wrong about that?

[Drummer's Wife]

Tiredx2 - we had the Fisher Price stay-in-view seat, too. LOVED that infant seat.

I don't think negatively when I see babies in infant "bucket" (sounds odd to me) seats at all - and I could have cared less if anyone in public felt bad for my babies if they happened to be in one, instead of being held or in a baby carrier. They don't know me, or my family, to know that I am a Montessorian and prefer to not overuse any type of baby "container" and that I have a nice collection (more than a dozen) of carriers. You can be AP and use a carsest designed for small babies.

I can see being judge-y if you know the person closely, and know for a fact their infant spends hours and hours a day stuck in a carseat - but come on, let's be real, even if those same people didn't have an infant bucket, they would likely find another device to strap baby into for most of it's waking hours. The touch and interaction would probably be similar. So, no, I don't blame infant seats as being evil detriments to caring for a baby - in fact, I think their benefit far outweighs any negatives, from personal experience with four kids. Plus, since we know that the majority of convertible seats don't safely fit a newborn, I would recommend an infant bucket sear to new parents anyday, over one.

[littlemizflava]

i dont like them because
-they are annoying and heavy to carry around.
-you get bruises over your legs from them.
-they are not worth the money with only being used on average for 4-13 months.
-put the money towards one good seat not a all in one.
-most parents when the bucket is outgrown go to a ff carseat.
-encourages parents to be hands off and not hold their baby.
-babies stop breathing in the seat because of the angle.
-being moved around all the time increases the risk for damage all the bumps and falls it suffers jeopardizes the safety of the seat.
-i have seen crash test of then coming off the base.

Of the 66 infant seats tested in frontal crashes, nearly half of the seats either separated from their bases or exceeded injury limits.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/saf...stigation.html

[new2this]

The only reason I got the negative feeling vibe was from the way it has been worded around here so thats why I was asking the perception of tone I guess on line since well we can't really hear the main tone when someone types.

But I got my answer. So thank you all.

[jammomma]

Originally Posted by GoBecGo

Aw, wait a minute, LOOK how comfy this mama looks!

http://www.twinkleandwhimsy.com/flyi...rierstrap.aspx

That looks hideously uncomfortable. Who the heck would use that?

[lolar2]

Back problems come in so many different variations, I'm sure there is at least one for which that is the most comfortable baby-carrying method.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Before ds' birth, I spent my sling budget on a Maya Wrap and New Native. Ds hated them both with a passion. It was a few months before I bought a Hotsling and Ergo and those worked out well.
I had a child who raised holy heck if strapped into anything. But on the off chance that he would happily sit in it while I shopped, I went for it.

Those things are horrible to carry around!

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by lolar2

Back problems come in so many different variations, I'm sure there is at least one for which that is the most comfortable baby-carrying method.

This is a good point. I love my Ergo, but one of the reasons I don't babywear more often is because my shoulders can't currently take it. I don't know what's up, but ever since my last section, my upper back (well, my lower back, too, to be honest) has been giving me grief, and extended baby-wearing is pretty rough. With the bucket, I can put it down for a second to rest, shift it around, etc.

[dachshund mom]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

Plus, since we know that the majority of convertible seats don't safely fit a newborn, I would recommend an infant bucket sear to new parents anyday, over one.

But quite a few newer model convertible seats are designed to fit infants, are marketed as fitting infants, and DO fit infants perfectly. I don't see why the fact that different styles of convertibles have different weight minimums is a valid reason that you must get a bucket.