The Bumbo Baby Sitter (baby chair)

[SoBlessed]

What do you guys know about the The Bumbo Baby Sitter? It's designed to enable a baby between 3-6 mos to be seated unaided in a upright sitting position.

[alegna]

I don't think it's developmentally appropriate.

-Angela

[EvansMomma]

This question quite often results in some heated debate on here.
Not sure why...I mean I think it's just one of those things that fall into the "in moderation" category. It's a nice little something for your baby to sit in once in a while, but is like many other baby gear items and can be abused.

Just don't leave your baby in it for hours and hours, and I'm sure it's fine. We used it for a bit, but Evan didn't like it very much. He's not one for feeling confined to something, so he would buck like a wild horse to get out of it.

[Chronic Chrissy]

I've seen it on "yummy mummys" and thought it was pretty interesting especially since they claimed it couldn't be tipped. I warn you now though alot of people here are going to tell you it's bad because it's not "developmentally appropriate." But if you DC really wants to sit and needs a little help cause he gets frustrated I don't see the problem with you weighing the pros and cons and making a choice. Remember follow your insticts.

[aisraeltax]

i use it as a highchair when we are out and about...but didnt use it until around 6 months. he could sit but i didnt feel comfortable with the restaurant highchairs.

[mommyto3girls]

I used it with Sage from just over 6 months until around 9-10 months. We also used it as a highchair when we went ot restaurants because she couldn't sit it that style chair. Sage was early and didn't sit until a bit over 7 months. She wanted so badly to be able to sit and be a part of things and this allowed her to do that. Again, it is all about how and when you use it

[nonnymoose]

DS2 is four months and as soon as his butt hits the Bumbo, he arches his back and pops right back out of it. I'm going to take that as a "no" vote from him, at least for now. I don't think we're going to be using ours too much until it's time for a high chair - I really like the idea of using it for that purpose, and ditching the huge regular plastic high chair that's clogging up our kitchen.

[lovingmommyhood]

I love it. What a wonderful baby seat! It's awesome and my DS loves sitting in his.

[MsGrizzle]

I had no idea it was "developmentally inappropriate". A friend of my mom's gave ds one. He is 3 months old and it basically molds to them so they can sit. How is it any different than sitting upright in my lap leaning against me??? He uses it maybe 10 minutes a day and he gets the proudest look on his face. Then he lets me know he is done and we take him out of it. I usually sit him in it when playing board games with my older son and I think Nathan thinks he is part of the action. Then when tired of it, he sits in my lap. You can actually see him sitting in it *just fine* in a pic on the link below.

My silly, skinny 6 year old also thinks it is really fun to sit in as well!

[Joannarachel]

There are some people on here who will come down pretty harshly on people who use the Bumbo, to the point of saying "I'm amazed that someone on MDC would use this" (translation, if you use this you aren't good enough of a mother to be posting here) :

I have it. I used it from about 3-6 months. It was convenient item for those inbetween months where she wanted to be upright and wasn't physically capable yet. I used it for brief moments occasionally...10 minutes when doing something I couldn't sling her for, like the laundry or cooking on the stove.

It did not lessen my attachment to her, it did not lessen her attachment to me, and it did not cause horrible back and hip problems.

Used IN MODERATION it is a cute, handy little thing, but not necessary by any means. It's pricey. I'd recommend borrowing from someone before you spend 40 bucks on something that will only be good for a few months.

[lovingmommyhood]

Originally Posted by soapdiva

I had no idea it was "developmentally inappropriate".

I wouldn't have even asked if I were you soapdiva. Is right.

[Greenie]

All bolding is mine.

Originally Posted by soapdiva

I had no idea it was "developmentally inappropriate". A friend of my mom's gave ds one. He is 3 months old and it basically molds to them so they can sit. How is it any different than sitting upright in my lap leaning against me??? He uses it maybe 10 minutes a day and he gets the proudest look on his face. Then he lets me know he is done and we take him out of it. I usually sit him in it when playing board games with my older son and I think Nathan thinks he is part of the action. Then when tired of it, he sits in my lap. You can actually see him sitting in it *just fine* in a pic on the link below.

My silly, skinny 6 year old also thinks it is really fun to sit in as well!

Yeah. I TOTALLY AGREE. I think that when something is "developmentally appropriate", your DC will be the first to let you know. MY DS started using his around 4 months, and really loved it. Not all the time, of course, but when he did sit in it, it was something that he seemed to enjoy. When he was done, he let us know.

Originally Posted by Joannarachel

There are some people on here who will come down pretty harshly on people who use the Bumbo, to the point of saying "I'm amazed that someone on MDC would use this" (translation, if you use this you aren't good enough of a mother to be posting here) :

I have it. I used it from about 3-6 months. It was convenient item for those inbetween months where she wanted to be upright and wasn't physically capable yet. I used it for brief moments occasionally...10 minutes when doing something I couldn't sling her for, like the laundry or cooking on the stove.

It did not lessen my attachment to her, it did not lessen her attachment to me, and it did not cause horrible back and hip problems.

Used IN MODERATION it is a cute, handy little thing, but not necessary by any means. It's pricey. I'd recommend borrowing from someone before you spend 40 bucks on something that will only be good for a few months.

Yep. Exactly.

I totally reccomend getting one. It's awesome! :

[Decca]

I have one. I think it's "developmentally inappropriate" for my (almost) 4 month old baby right now because his head is still a little wobbly when he sits in it, but I look forward to using it in the future. He likes sitting up a lot when we pull him up, but he still slumps over in the Bumbo.

[nighten]

We love ours and use it in moderation for sure. I don't see how it's developmentally inappropriate, since it causes them to sit with legs slightly higher than bum, so their weight is on their bottom, not their spine -- it causes her to sit the same way she sat in my Kozy mei tai, and I doubt you'll find many here who'll argue THAT'S not a healthy way for babies to be.

Anyway, if you decide to try it, just make sure not to use it in the tub, and to ALWAYS be right there when baby's in it, as they can flip out by arching their backs. Also don't put it on a table or raised or uneven surface, but those are common sense things to me. *shrugs*

We like ours very much, our pediatrician AND chiropractor both said it wasn't harmful to her in any way (both are pretty crunchy, btw), and we plan to use it as a booster seat in restaurants soon, as she's already sitting up on her own nearly unassisted nonstop now.

But the bottom line is, if you don't feel in your gut it's a good thing, then don't use it. And if baby doesn't like it, don't use it. But our babe enjoys sitting in it on the floor while I'm in the kitchen doing things I can't do with her in the sling. And I wasn't comfy putting her in the exersaucer until she could firmly put her weight on her feet (we aren't fans of putting weight on baby's crotch as it's not a weight-bearing area of the body), so the bumbo was a great alternative, since she would cry if lying on a blanket (she LOVES to sit up to see). Anyway, it's definitely been a help for us. And I'm very glad we have one.

But the key with it (as with anything except being in mama's arms) is moderation and go with your gut.

ETA: I have heard in the past people argue that babies shouldn't be in a seated/upright position until they're able to do so on their own and forgive me for saying so, but I think that's silly. Guinevere has preferred to by upright since day one and when in our laps would fuss if she wasn't "sitting up."

[Greenie]

Originally Posted by Decca

I have one. I think it's "developmentally inappropriate" for my (almost) 4 month old baby right now because his head is still a little wobbly when he sits in it, but I look forward to using it in the future. He likes sitting up a lot when we pull him up, but he still slumps over in the Bumbo.

Yeah, I started using mine once DS could hold his head up really well.

We never got a high chair b/c we had the Bumbo. Now DS just eats wherever we are.

[mommyto3girls]

They are often used in Physical Therapy with premies and babies with low muscle tone. There is some mention to it on the bumbo seat main homepage

Sage is 16 months and Maia is almost 4 and they both like it as a booster or just a place to hang out and read a book (not sure why, I think they like the woord "Bumbo")

[nighten]

Oh yeah -- I forgot to add that -- please don't use it until your babe has strong head control.

[lovingmommyhood]

My DS is 3 months old today and has sat in it for 2 weeks wonderfully. He holds his head up very well and is quite strong. It all depends on the baby.

[ArtistMama]

Our dd was born with head control, and was sitting without support late in her second month of life. This was not worth buying for us. She thought it was hilariously funny, so maybe it was worth the three minute giggle fit we got when we first tried it, but overall not worth buying. It made for some cute photo shoots a couple times, and got no further use.

She was VERY chubby and didn't fit in it long anyway. Her thighs were just too fat for the leg holes. Also, she could get out of it by arching her back and popping out over the back of it. We didn't use it much.

Probably e-bay bound...

[nighten]

ArtistMama has a good point: definitely try it out in the store first -- some babies might be too chunky to be comfy, for sure! Bumbos come out the box easily.