You Paid How Much For That?
Written: Mar 28 '06 (Updated Sep 07 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: baby can sit up unsupported, many uses, comfortable
Cons: price
The Bottom Line: A great addition to your baby stuff, if you can rationalize spending that much on a small foam seat.
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| pinkskittle's Full Review: Bumbo Chair |
look for updated info in the "my experiences" section
Our son just turned 3 months and loves to try to sit up on his own if he's sitting on my (or anyone's) lap facing out. He'll grab my hands and pull himself up to sitting straight. Sometimes he'd cry if I made him sit reclining (and wouldn't hold my hands out for him to pull up on). It was then I decided a Bumbo Chair might be in order.
I learned about Bumbo through my online mommy forums and they seemed to be a great hit.
The Cost
This was a big issue. Since I'm in Canada, they are significantly more expensive than if I were to buy one in the US. Not including sales tax, a Bumbo in Canada is $60 wherever you go. Including sales tax, a new Bumbo would be $70 Canadian! (Sales tax varies per province). I showed my husband pictures and he freaked. $70 for that?! (hence the title of my review). In the States, the cost of a Bumbo seat is more like $40 USD (or $46 Canadian). I felt a little ripped off for being in Canada. I don't know how stores here get $60 for an item being sold for the US equivalent of $46. I guess exchange rates can be tricky (plus costs of importing them might be an issue here, too). Anyway, my father-in-law decided he was going to buy one for us, but I told him we'd split it instead. So I paid $29 USD for my Bumbo.
If price is an issue for you, try finding a cheap used one on Ebay or in local classifieds. Another idea is joining online parent forums that has parents near you geographically and see if anyone has one used or one they're almost done with.
Ok, so what is a Bumbo?
The Bumbo seat was made in South Africa and is made of low-density foam (not hard plastic) and it allows your baby to sit up on his own. It is non-toxic and easy-to-clean.
It comes in 5 colors: blue, aqua, lilac, yellow, and lime. I was going to get the aqua one, but when I saw it in the store, the color made the seat look cheap, so I went with the blue.
The back of the seat is raised to support his back if he is not yet sitting up on his own. It allows baby to see from a completely new perspective and can explore more freely with his hands.
It is a bucket-style seat, meaning that the leg openings are higher than the seat, which gives baby more flexibility of his hips and knees, in turn giving baby correct support for the lumbar area of the vertebral column (lower back).
The design allows for proper development of the spine, but I'm sure babies who don't have a Bumbo wont have bad spinal development. However, babies with special needs may benefit greatly from this aspect of the seat.
Also, babies suffering from GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux), which is painful to babies when they are lying down, would benefit because it does keep them upright, allowing gravity to keep the stomach acids down.
Safety
The Bumbo seat is safe for babies from 3 - 14 months (or up to 22 lbs) and they should be able to support their own head.
The seat has a piece that comes up between baby's legs so he doesn't slide out (eliminating the need for safety straps). This piece does not push up on baby's groin.
It has been endorsed by pediatric and orthopedic faculties. To see a complete list of awards and certifications, see http://www.bumbobabyseat.com/infant-chair-awards.html
My experience
I read from other reviews that portability is an issue. My suggestion is to keep the box it comes in. There is a carrying handle, which makes carrying it out of the home a breeze (the seat weighs a few pounds at most). I realize boxes don't last forever, especially around kids, but it is a temporary solution.
So far, I only keep my 3-month-old in the seat for 15 minutes or so at a time, otherwise his neck gets tired since it isn't super strong yet. He seems to enjoy his time in the seat as long as he's well rested and ready for action.
The instructions recommend using the seat on any flat surface. It can even be used as a booster seat, which we do so if I'm sitting in a chair, we can interact at the same level. I think it will eliminate our need for a high-chair. It doesn't eliminate our need for a bouncy seat because the bouncy seat gives his neck a break. It should not be used as a car seat, in the shower, in the bath, or on any uneven surface. It also advises to supervise a child in the seat, depending on age and development, as he might be able to move out of it.
updated info My son is now 8 1/2 months. There was a small period where we didn't use the Bumbo and I thought it was a total waste of money because he started sitting on his own at around 5 or 6 months. Now my son not only sits on his own, but scootches around on his bum, lunges for stuff, but not quite crawls yet. I use the Bumbo seat with him if I just want him to sit still. For example, I'll put him on my bed in the Bumbo while I put away laundry. It's awesome! We also bring the Bumbo to restaurants to use as a booster seat (because who knows when those seats resaurants carry get cleaned!).
end of updated info
In the end, I give it 4-stars. It lost a star because of the price.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pinkskittle
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Member: jenn
Reviews written: 44
Trusted by: 3 members
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