Safer Child Products

I recently read an article referring to recalls and warnings about the Bumbo baby seat.  Many parents have been using the Bumbo on chairs and other elevated surfaces.  Then babies were falling and sustaining skull fractures.  Not good.  So, I was thinking about it.  I know that Bumbo was intended for use on the floor to support a baby in an upright position once they can hold up their head. I have read the box.  That being said, my husband and I realize that we do not always read directions included in packaging because a product’s use and function seems obvious.  I’m sure that is what was happening with the Bumbo as well.  People think they know how to use it, maybe it was a gift or even a hand me down, with no box!  It certainly looks like it could be a booster that would sit on a chair, and wouldn’t it be nice to have baby in an upright position for a change?

Allen and I are very safety conscious. We always buckled the seat belts in the high chair and stroller, and always buckled tightly the booster seat w/ tray to the chair.  However, I know many parents do not feel the need to take that extra step. They certainly mean no harm by it, but they probably do not think it’s necessary.  Either they “know” that their child isn’t going to go anywhere, or they want their toddler to be able to climb out when they are ready.  It makes me nervous to see a child climbing out of the stroller while it is moving, and I’ve seen kids get tangled trying to climb out of a booster seat at the table.  The height of a high chair frightens me, because surely there would be injuries if a child fell from that height, were they not buckled in.  I am not passing judgment. I am just reflecting on common practice. 

My final thought is this.  Babies are very wiggly.  They do have control yet of their bodies. You never know when the baby is going to decide to kick or squirm or throw their weight and if the bouncy seat or infant carrier (or Bumbo) is up on the table, then they are likely to fall off.  Please keep all baby seats on the floor and supervise them at all times.

If parents are having trouble using something simple like a Bumbo, then it’s no wonder statistics show 3 out of 4 car seats are installed incorrectly!  It’s not stupidity; it’s that these products are not made with common sense in mind.