- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
November 2012 Moms
Sprite2012
member
JJ Cole Bundle Me not safe?
Sprite2012
member
I bought a JJ Cole Bundle Me for our Graco Snugride. Since we live in Colorado, the temperature during the winter months can range from 40 degrees during the day down to -10 degrees at night. Though mild, our winters can get chilly. I wanted something convenient to keep our son warm while in the car or being carried in his seat from car to wherever. Anyway, I thought this thing was a great idea.
I just washed it and put it on our carseat, just to check it out. I was having issues with the straps, so I did a quick search online for a tutorial on installing the thing (even though it seems really self-explanatory) to make sure I'm doing it right. Then I read all kinds of negative crap... "the hospital wouldn't let us leave with the bundle me on the seat"..."the fire department immediately took the bundle me off and said it was unsafe". Apparently, according to the reviews I read, you should NOT put anything between your baby and the back of the carseat because should an accident occur, "the material between the baby and carseat will compress and loosen the safety belt holding your child in place".
This freaks me out. Anyone else planning to use one? What are you thoughts? Should I buy a winter baby suit, just in case the bundle me is out of the question?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: JJ Cole Bundle Me not safe?
That's the one I registered for I think it's just called the JJ Cole carseat cover. It has elastic and slips over the top, so it doesn't go under the baby at all or interfere with straps that I've heard of
We used a Bundle Me for DD-4y. It was wonderful to have for a winter baby in Alaska. I am sorry to see this jump to damn it as an option, but no one is jumping up and down fighting against the numerous misuses of blankets in infant seats. There are only so many options for babies in deep winter. DD hated the shower cap style covers and got too hot in them. She was always very comfy in the bundle me. I am debating pulling it from the car seat, but until I see actual results of safety crashes where bundle mes were found to cause injury, I'm not willing to jump up and down in horror over something that is still on the market. It hasn't been recalled, and with the ferocity of recalls on baby products, I can't imagine a "baby death bag" would still show up for new parents to buy.
Just my 2 cents...we all have to make parenting choices for our families that might not jive with what others are doing. (Just wait til you get to the RF v.s. FF discussion after our Nov 2012 babies are past the infant stage. That was a sight.
We live in WY, and it also gets cold here.
I am not planning for a bundle me or anything other than a blanket. We have a garage, and I don't plan to go anywhere unless it's necessity, like doctors for the winter months. I just don't see why we would need it, I'm not going to stand outside for long periods or time, so a carseat cover to block the (insane WY) wind and a blanket to keep him warm, while we walk from the parking garage to the elevator seems like it would work for us.
H can do all the grocery shopping, or whatever.
With our LO we hardly went anywhere with her until she was 3 to 4 months old. I know that's not the norm, but I'm a little bit of a worrier in terms of flu season.
? Voted Cool Cat ~ 2012 Sweetpea Mom Awards ?
I'm having a really hard time finding any decent information or proof that the Bundle Mes are unsafe. They have not been recalled and there is no statement by any official authority deeming them unsafe to use. I found this on JJ Cole's website:
https://jjcolecollections.com/quality-and-safety
Wouldn't they be recalled if they were a true safety hazard? What is the difference between bundling your baby up in a winter coat in a carseat vs using a Bundle Me?
I know in the Chicco car seat manual it says to remove coats, blankets, ect before strapping your child into the seat. I have seen other reports regarding how the padding interferes with properly strapping the child into the seat. Upon impact the extra material would be compressed and allow your child to slide around inside the seat. None of the reports or manuals I have seen mention the J.J. Cole bundle me specifically.
They aren't only marketed for carseats, and are perfectly safe for use in strollers. And there is no difference...and neither are recommended. If you feel that you need more coverage than a hat and blanket provide, a thin, fleece bunting can be used.
I used the shower cap style for DS. I loved it. I did buy a Bundle Me for this baby, but I plan to only use it in the stroller. DS will be taking the bus to and from school this year, and we will have to walk a couple of blocks to the bus stop, so it will get plenty of use.
Cole Joseph 7/05/07
Nora Anne 11/03/12
9lbs, 6oz
As PPs have said- there is no difference between the Bundle Me and a winter coat. Here's a good video that demonstrates with a coat why it's not safe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5AwtaQnNO8
You always have the choice to still use a Bundle Me despite the recommendation against them by car seat safety experts, but I guess I'm not really sure why you would, when there are other good, safe, affordable options available.
With DS, we used a shower cap style cover while he was an infant and it was no problem. It unzipped, so once we got in the car, I would just unzip it and open it up so he didn't get overheated. Last winter he was already in a convertible seat, so I bought a fleece bunting (this one https://www.columbia.com/Youth-Tiny-Bear%E2%84%A2-Bunting-%E2%80%94-Infant/WN0012,default,pd.html) to wear so we didn't have to take on and off a coat while we were out and about. It's thin so is safe in the car seat, but fleece is really warm, and it was definitely enough for quick trips from the car to indoors. We live in Iowa, so we have usually have pretty harsh winters.