The Bumbo scare!

Amber32984@aol.com

So, I just read an article of how a 9mo old fell out of his bumbo, off the kitchen table and fractured his skull!  The article went on to talk about how there have been many cases filed against the company due to safety issues.  The company then put a warning sign that said it should not be used on a raised surface.  Then to find out there were still accidents happening on low surfaces (I assume the floor).  

Parents are now upset at Target because they haven't pulled the product off the shelves bc of how much $ it brings in.  Target claims the warning label should be enough.  It is also noted that unlike car seats and high chairs, the Bumbo is not governed by any government or industry standard.

 Ok. With all that being said, what do you think?  I have several friends that have used it and loved it.  I am registered for it, but after reading that I am second guessing it!!!

 The article is called, "Did Bumbo Ignore Child Safety in Favor of Profits?" if you want to look it up. 

jennre

Seriously,  in my opinion,  common sense goes a long way.  I used one for my DD and I will use it again.  Once she could climb out of it I stopped using it.  Duh.  People really need to use the brain that was given to them. 

 

Anything to make a buck. 

Dewey12

Meh.  I think it's pretty obvious that you shouldn't be putting your baby on an elevated surface, no matter what s/he is in.  Also, I've seen the Bumbo used by some of my parents at story time.  There's never been an issue.  I'll still be using it.  Just under supervision.

LPQueenie99

jennre:

Seriously,  in my opinion,  common sense goes a long way.  I used one for my DD and I will use it again.  Once she could climb out of it I stopped using it.  Duh.  People really need to use the brain that was given to them. 

This!

KatieMarie27

Where was the parent(s) during the accident??  Was the child left unattended for awhile??

I think this has more to do with parents assuming it is completely safe to leave their child in the Bumbo while they go do something else.  There is no safety belt, the thing isn't attached to anything and a young infant is using it - HELLO!!!
I will still ask for one.

TheBeeCharmer

I used one with my daughter and would have never put her in it unattended or on a table. I will use it again with this LO. That being said, I didn't use it that long and her little legs didn't fit in it that long! 

metzy144

I think as long as you're not an idiot and don't put baby in it on raised surfaces, don't leave them unsupervised if they are on a raised surface, and stop using it when baby can crawl out, you should be fine. We used one with DD and she survived. I just can't believe how stupid people are.

lulling

I am not getting one, but not because of the safety information.  I have two friends that have used them and said that while they were convenient they only used them for about 2-3 months and then they went in the basement.  So I just chalked it up as another plastic piece of baby-ware that would serve a short term purpose and then collect dust.

Oh!  I just re-read that and saw that the child was 9 months old!  I am not quite sure if a 9 month old would even fit in a Bumbo that well.  

 

CometsMom

I used one with DS and will use it again with DD. I never put it anywhere but on the floor on the carpet or playmate anyway. Like PP said - common sense goes a long way...

lilmisssunshine84

I will definitely still be using one, some people just don't have any common sense or know how to pay attention to their children, but then turn around and blame everyone else but themselves. When my child is old enough to get out out it, I won't use it anymore. People will do anything to make money.

Amber32984@aol.com

It didn't really state where the mom was but mom said she saw it happen in a split second so I assumed she was in the room with baby.

 I will still get one, I just wonder if all the accidents were due to baby falling out or if they got hurt some other way.  I would never leave her unattended!!!! 

Wifey1012

I'm not removing it from my registry. After a certain point when they are strong enough to get out of it, is probably when they have out grown it.

countrygrl5533

We used them all the time when I worked infant care. Never had an issue. You use them on a floor or in a play pen not on top of something.

So I truly think this was a case of the mom not thinking it through not the Bumbo being defective. There is no reason why they should be taken off the shelf or anything crazy like that. The item itself is safe when used properly.

Fergie+1

First off... how in the hell did they manage to stuff a 9-month-old's chunky legs into the Bumbo? Secondly... W(here)TF were the parents? Who's dumb enough to leave their kid on a TABLE at any age? ::headdesk::

Okay, vent/over. We have one from DS and will re-use it for this one. As with anything, if you supervise your child while they play in/on/with something, you really shouldn't have the issue of, say, your kid falling off a table. It was useful to plop him in when I needed a shower and wanted him in the bathroom.

LilyPotter218

I didn't register for one just b/c I have heard just as many people who love them as those who hate them.

I figure if we try one and she likes it, Ill find one on Craigslist. Would never put her in it on a table, or unsupervised. The dog would use her as a popsicle if I left her on the floor  

digwriter

When I read this the words that stood out for me were "on the table". Like, seriously, you put your infant in a plastic thing on an elevated surface?

Can we start suing people for bruised forehead injuries that result from face palming ourselves due to their stupidity?

jengelz

I just had to google what a Bumbo was. All of my friends hated that thing, so I never even looked twice at it.

And just like everyone is saying: 1) how did a 9 month old fit in that thing? 2) why was it on the table and 3) I thought those things were supposed to be for younger babies that couldn't sit on their own yet?

Joie80

I've registered for one. They come highly recommended from my friends. I agree with all the pps about using common sense and supervision.

Mattel

Agree with PP's... why in the world would you put the baby in it on the table? I bought one for my Godson and when he outgrew it, my cousin gave it back to me, so I will use it for LO, but I will use it responsibly, like all baby gear.

mrsawtry2B

I'm sorry, this will be mean, but I can't help but say it.  Any person that places their child on a table (or any other raised surface) while they are sitting in a bumbo is an idiot.  If you look at it, it is obvious that it is only meant to be placed on the floor. 
And how the hell did they fit a 9 month old in a bumbo???  We used one for DD and she loved it and so did we.  We used it longer than 2 or 3 months, but even for that amount of time, I think it was worth it. 
I will 100% be using one with my little boy. 

gdizzle

I decided to register for the Summer Infant Seat over the Bumbo, but not because of these stories.  I agree that it's common sense and that I would never think to put my child in a Bumbo on a raised surface.  It kind of goes along with not putting your carseated child on the top part of a shopping cart.  I see that far too often and it makes me cringe.

k8trz1024

jennre:

Seriously,  in my opinion,  common sense goes a long way.  I used one for my DD and I will use it again.  Once she could climb out of it I stopped using it.  Duh.  People really need to use the brain that was given to them. 

 

This!!!!!!

kmberman

IMO, people need to use common sense. I used one with DS1 and plan to use one with DS2. It was so awesome for feeding time while sitting on the floor and he loved it! He would watch his baby einstines video while sitting in his bumbo seat (on the floor, with me watching him). Yes the baby can still get out of the seat once they get bigger (unless they have super chunky thighs like DS had then he gets stuck) If it something that you want get it and use it with caution just like you have to do with anyother product that you have in your home.

BitsKD13

Actually it's BRU that's catching crap for not pulling the Bumbo not Target (I saw the report yesterday). But moving on...

The one set of parents being referenced the most in the article even saw their kid falling out of it.  Now I know kids can be quick but could they really not get to the child before he fell off the table and onto the floor?  I think a lot of these accidents come down to a lack of common sense.  

Now I know when my (sort of) cousin's twins were infants, and too young to roll over, she'd have one on the kitchen table on a play mat and in a Boppy while she bathed her other child in the sink.  Yes there was a risk but she kept an eye on the babies the whole time.  When they started moving she'd strap one into a bouncer while bathing the other.  But she also kept everything in the middle of the table so even if they did roll they wouldn't fall off the table.  

 I have not currently registered for a Bumbo just because I am not sure if I want one, or if my cousin will pass her's along or not (why waste money when I can get one for free?).  

mcp

Instead of placing blame on a company, how about blaming the caretaker for putting the baby in danger by putting him/her on an elevated surface?  I just don't understand when I hear stories about infants falling from elevated surfaces (tables, countertops, beds) after the parents placed them there.  We used the Bumbo a few times with our first but he didn't love it and outgrew it very quickly.  We'll try it with our second, but I would never leave him/her unsupervised in it.   

shanad

Fergie+1:

First off... how in the hell did they manage to stuff a 9-month-old's chunky legs into the Bumbo? Secondly... W(here)TF were the parents? Who's dumb enough to leave their kid on a TABLE at any age? ::headdesk::

Okay, vent/over. We have one from DS and will re-use it for this one. As with anything, if you supervise your child while they play in/on/with something, you really shouldn't have the issue of, say, your kid falling off a table. It was useful to plop him in when I needed a shower and wanted him in the bathroom.

Agree with Fergie !00% on the whole post.  Idiot parents, probably not defective product perse.  I used one for DS and will use the same one for this baby, just to prop him up when he can sit on his own yet.  Other PP are right though, there is a limited window to when the bumbo can be used either bc of the size of the child or their increased mobility.  It's nice to have, but not a necessity.  I used it for a few times as a high chair on the floor when at a friends house to feed DS and it was helpful.

Ivana_Stolichnaya

Parents need to use a few of their brain cells and realize that you don't put the Bumbo on a counter, table or any type of furniture.  Even set on the ground it's hard for a small baby to rock out of it unless they are too big and strong to even be in it.  A child at the recommended age and weight placed on the floor in the Bumbo should do just fine.  I had NO problems when my daughter was in her seat.

raceyrae

It shouldn't be used on a raised surface...common sense.  It helps kids to start sitting up.  Even on the floor, while learning to sit up, they're going to tip over.  It will happen so I don't see what "accidents" could happen in a bumbo on the floor that wouldn't happen in general while the child is learning to sit up. 

We have a bebepod chair that has a tray (so keeps them in better) and I plan to use it with DS assuming he likes it, as I did with DD#1 and DD#2.  But I don't put them in it anywhere other than the floor.

Lisichka

Honestly, I think 9 months is a little too old to be using bumbo, no? Also, who leaves their kid on such a high surface unattended?? That being said, we never actually used with DD, I didn't see the point of it even. We worked on sitting with her and just went ahead and bought her a booster chair (this one actually), we figured we'd use that for feedings as well.

LillyGrrl

Ridiculous. Do Not Leave Your Child Unattended. That should be rule #1 of having an infant. You leave the room for any length of time when the child is under two years of age and I can freakin' guarentee shiit like this will happen, low surface, high surface.  HELLO PEOPLE!

Someone was always with our DD when she was an infant and particularly when she was in a bouncey seat, bumbo or swing.  Even in a 5 point safety harness.  You don't want bad things to happen to your children I will say again Don't Leave Your Child Unattended!  Is it really so hard?

Welcome to the litigious world we live in where it MUST be the fault of the manufacturer that you decided to leave your child unattended in a device which requires constant monitoring. Gah.

reneenearl

If I was going to second guess the bumbo it would not be for any of the reasons stated in the original post.

I would never put the bumbo or the baby on an elevated surface like that, and on the floor they should still be fully supervised. When my neice was first using her bumbo, she was just starting to be able to support herself sitting up and could only do it for short time periods. It never even crossed my mind to turn my head away for one second.

I got a Bumbo from a yard sale, looks brand new and came with the tray for 10 dollars. If he likes it we will use it! Fully supervised on the floor!!

No one should be angry at Target or anyone else for selling it. If you Don't like it don't buy it, if you do buy it, follow all the directions and warnings. Simple as that.

chrissc34

I got two hand me downs.  I plan on using them while my husband and I are supervising.  It seems like its not so much the product but the consumers that are misusing the product.

Mrs_MBed

jennre:

Seriously,  in my opinion,  common sense goes a long way.  I used one for my DD and I will use it again.  Once she could climb out of it I stopped using it.  Duh.  People really need to use the brain that was given to them. 

 

Both my DDs used the bumbo without injury.  When they were old enough/coordinated enough to move around to point of moving it around or tipping over, I stopped using it. Not that difficult.  I plan on getting another one so we have one for each boy.  

straws24

lulling:

I am not getting one, but not because of the safety information.  I have two friends that have used them and said that while they were convenient they only used them for about 2-3 months and then they went in the basement.  So I just chalked it up as another plastic piece of baby-ware that would serve a short term purpose and then collect dust.

 

Exactly this.  

jajsundevil

FWIW my triplet niece and nephews just turned a year old and they still fit in a Bumbo.  SIL uses it on the floor just for feedings when visiting MIL's house.  We'll take one of theirs when LO is born and gets to the point of being able to use it.  I agree that people need to use some common sense but it seems much easier to just blame someone else.

sunnyday016

1. A bumbo is not age-appropriate for a 9-mo old. They are for babies who can't sit up on their own. A 9-mo old is too strong and could easily climb out on their own (if they could even fit in it in the first place).

 2. If you use it on an elevated surface, you're an idiot and you're asking for your child to fall to the floor. There are warnings all over the box. It's meant to be used on the FLOOR. 

sunnyday016

jajsundevil:

FWIW my triplet niece and nephews just turned a year old and they still fit in a Bumbo.  SIL uses it on the floor just for feedings when visiting MIL's house.  We'll take one of theirs when LO is born and gets to the point of being able to use it.  I agree that people need to use some common sense but it seems much easier to just blame someone else.

Ok, I could see how it could be handy for feeding an older baby. That would be the only appropriate use IMO. 

sunnyday016

LillyGrrl:

Ridiculous. Do Not Leave Your Child Unattended. That should be rule #1 of having an infant. You leave the room for any length of time when the child is under two years of age and I can freakin' guarentee shiit like this will happen, low surface, high surface.  HELLO PEOPLE!

Someone was always with our DD when she was an infant and particularly when she was in a bouncey seat, bumbo or swing.  Even in a 5 point safety harness.  You don't want bad things to happen to your children I will say again Don't Leave Your Child Unattended!  Is it really so hard?

Welcome to the litigious world we live in where it MUST be the fault of the manufacturer that you decided to leave your child unattended in a device which requires constant monitoring. Gah.

You wouldn't leave her sleeping strapped into a swing to go to another room? I guess I think that's a bit extreme. 

jgal84

What do I think? WATCH YOUR DAMN KID!! This is ridiculous. We have a bumbo, and DD#1 loved it! And, so did we. But, we didn't leave her alone in it to just sit there and chill. I'm so sick of companies getting blamed for faulty products when the real blame is on negligent parents.

BOTB2011

It's a seat for your child... it isn't a babysitter. So like just about everything else, baby still needs to be supervised while using it!!

bingham101

Its not a safety set theres no way to buckle your child in so I agree common sense goes along way. We have one we will place it on the floor for LO.