bumbo..yay or nay? - Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Forums ~ BellyBelly

allycat06 · #1 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 02:59 PM

Hi everyone,
I am considering getting a bumbo for my 5 month old to use as a portable high chair when we are out and about. Just wanted to get some opinions...is it ok for their backs to sit in them for extended periods? DS can't sit by himself yet but is just fine when propped up. Are they good value for money and about how long did you use yours for?

tannedangel · #2 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 03:25 PM

We have one for DD, and its been great. We got it when she was about 4 months old but started using at at 6 months old. She is 18 months now and still uses it occasionally.
PLEASE dont use them on bench-tops and chairs, they are intended for use on the floor, and with good reason. My DD was able to get herself out of hers within weeks, and if they lean backwards/forwards the bumbo will topple over. I know of a few babies where this has happened on a high area and they have fallen and hurt themselves, you cant be too careful!

Chiropractors and the like dont recommend it. We took our DD to a Chiro frequently, and we asked him about it and he said they dont recommend it as it can put their backs out and cause their spines to devellop incorrectly.

Apart from that though I think its awesome, I know of women who used them as bath seats (although this does ruin them) and I found it great when having a picnic!

funkeeefrog · #3 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 04:16 PM

We decided to get a fisher and price portable chair with traytable instead. It's really handy because it straps onto normal chairs

Ellie · #4 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 04:21 PM

We got the 'bebepod'...I liked the 'softer' plastic and came with a tray which has been great for portable high chair...love it!

kellbell · #5 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 04:24 PM

We use our Bumbo everywhere, beach, park, at friends houses - best thing we have ever bought. Hope to keep using it for a while yet.
We sit ours on the table but i would never leave her in it on her own, as i can see how she could tip out of it

MummyTummy · #6 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 04:34 PM

Yay! definitely yay!

We had ours from about 4 or 5 months. He didn't like it for long periods of time in the early days, but as soon as he could sit up by himself he just loved it. We used it as his highchair when he was first learning to eat solids (we did BLS) and it was great because when he tipped food over the edge it didn't splat everywhere because he wasn't high off the ground.

As for putting them up high on things, we did, but only because DS was not a wriggler, and only ever when we were there with him. We used to sit him on the kitchen bench while we cooked dinner, and it really gave him a different perspective. He would always look forward to cooking time. But if you have a wriggler this would be just too too dangerous. Although he still fits in to it now, we rarely use it anymore - except in emergencies. So he has to be content watching the cooking from his high chair which isn't quite as effective.

As for using it as a portable high chair, I don't think it is the answer. They don't pack down and can be quite awkward to carry when you are carrying everything else including a baby. If your bubs can sit up by themselves you are better off getting something like the Phil & Ted's Me Too chair which clips on to the side of the table. It folds down completely flat for travelling.

tellytubby · #7 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 04:41 PM

I'm going against the grain. We got one for DD and very very rarely used it. I found the way it would position her, she would almost always have a little spew.. kind of like it was crunching her stomach together or something.. not sure ?
Thought it was a waste of money in our case.
But with that said i've borrowed it out to two friends with bubs, one of them was the same as us and didn't rate it, the other used it constantly and flogged it - said it was great!
So i guess it depends on the baby. Good luck!

~Negrita~ · #8 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 05:30 PM

We got one as a belated gift from friends when our DD was 5 months - for us, it is one the BEST and most used baby items we have

- She loves it and we find it easy to cart around with us and it came with the tray so we use it as her "high chair" (not on elevated surfaces though) when we are out at friends or family houses

allycat06 · #9 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 06:55 PM

thanks for the feedback gals

i've seen a few in good condition on ebay
hopefully i can snap one of them up at a good price

mbear · #10 (**permalink**) October 29th, 2009, 06:56 PM

We have a 5mth old and have just started using it....i just bought the tray too - which i didnt have for my other two children. The tray defn makes it more useful - we will use it as a highchair too until he's a little bigger to go into a high chair.

Its on my list of top 3 items to buy when having a baby.......

Ive heard its not for all babies though....some like it, some dont....

Carrie · #11 (**permalink**) October 31st, 2009, 08:51 PM

I would say nay - I don't think it's the best to sit up your bub for longer periods of time unless it is something they can do on their own. If they can sit on their own - sure go for it but if not it can't be the best for their poor little back.

tattoo_mama · #12 (**permalink**) November 5th, 2009, 04:34 PM

i have one and i love it (and so does my DD!)
they are actually recomended by the Down Syndrome Associations for children who cant sit up yet so i dont see how they are 'bad' for kids...
its great cause you can take it anywhere and its so easy to clean
i got mine on special for $55 at Toys r Us