To be utterly annoyed that things are sold for babies that aren't advised??

[minniemummy0]

I'm expecting my first baby soon. I'm 35 and consider myself fairly intelligent, and I've not been completely sheltered from babies, I've got a niece and nephew.

But honestly, it annoys me so much finding out that things available freely are potentially harmful. The two examples I can specifically think of are cot bumpers and walkers.

Even at the Mamas and Papas baby event I went to, the gentlemen who gave a talk on sleeping, which wasn't essentially an advert for their own products, said the bumper was for show and not safe for baby, and even when they are older could be used as a leg up to get out of the cot, so still not really safe.

And then now I read in another thread tonight that baby walkers stunt baby's development! What the heck! Why are they even sold?! I thought they helped baby to start walking safely! I was obviously wrong but can you honestly blame someone for presuming that?! It seems not something that would ever have occurred to me!

Aibu to think you should be able to presume baby related items are safe, and not damaging to baby, and if they are they shouldn't be bloody sold?!!!

[ComputerUserNotTrained]

This is madness.

I wouldn't have been able to lift mine out of his cot without a dropside. When he was bigger I could have left him in a walker I suppose, but...

Walkers? Disastrous indeed if the baby tipped himself down the stairs in one, but how many twenty-somethings are there who can't walk because they were put in one?

How many adults are now unable to talk because they had dummies?

[Haffiana]

I remember having really bad chapped lips one Winter, so I put some Johnson & Johnson's baby lotion on them. It hurt and stung so bad my eyes watered. And people use it on a baby's sore bum...

On the other hand I remember a huge pile of strange and malicious crap circulating around the internet for YEARS stating that for eg that J&J baby shampoo had local anaesthetic in it, which is why it was 'no tears'. There seemed to be a really concerted campaign to discredit the company and its products. I think that this is still going on to a certain extent - a quick google will tell you all you need to know about their ingredients, but it seems easier to to repeat stuff without doing your own research.

[mymycherrypie]

Rear facing I meant to say!

[mymycherrypie]

I remember a massive row about car seats too kitty. We had our eldest in one when they were very new to the uk. I think only a choice of 3 available and from one shop in Milton Keynes.

In laws and practically every one j knew thought I was completely insane. They are available everywhere now. SIL is pregnant... am very interested to see what type of car seat she buys!

[Bluefrog26]

What about grobags? They seem fine but just wondering if anyone has come across any problems or safety issues. Just bought one but could take it back if needs be.

[Fernanie]

Not technically for babies, but home dopplers / phone apps to listen to the fetal heart when you're pregnant! So dangerous!

[adifferentnameforthis]

I find it hard when people say "it's common sense". You know what, it isn't. I'm lucky, I come from a research background and I'm bloody paranoid but no one is factoring in that some parents don't have the academic ability to "do the research" on products.

Products sold for babies should be safe. Some parents will be unable to use literature to determine for themselves which products are unsafe.

[Beachbaby2017]

Are you in the U.K., Kitty? Your post reminded me about the different laws, I should have mentioned your name in mine :) I don't know how it comes to pass that in one country, something "may be unsafe" and in another it's illegal to sell it! I'm sure the backstory on those regulations is always complicated.

[MrsHathaway]

If you ever see someone with a baby in an outward facing sling, you'll see them holding on to the baby. Baby is usually very low, too. The angles/moments are all wrong - baby is leaning out, not in. That's also why they feel heavier, and give you worse backache etc.

Good slings hold the baby where you'd naturally carry them - on your hip or cradled against your chest or in a piggyback, always leaning in and falling asleep sweatily drooling and within kissing reach. But unlike BB or outward facing, you're always confident to let go.

[Beachbaby2017]

Oh yeah, another one is that they aren't supposed to be in car seats very long at a time, but those travel system stroller are ubiquitous and, as far as I can tell, don't come with a warning about how long it's okay to leave the baby in the car seat for.

Of course everyone should read up on what they can and supervise properly, but a lot of baby stuff is sold with an aura of being safe or at least common practice, and it isn't. The vast majority of infants that I see out and about are in car seats attached to strollers.

The country by country variations can be perplexing too. Drop side (side-car) cribs are banned in Canada, but I see people post about them all the time on here so I can only assume they're commonly available.

[Oscillationss]

I don't think fabric wraps to carry babies are a 'modern fad'.

[RiverTam]

I understand that a child can't electrocute themselves by putting their fingers in a socket, but what if they put something metal in one? Admittedly this was the 70s but DH was electrocuted by jamming some keys he'd got hold of into a socket. If the sofa hasn't been where it was he would have slammed into the wall and could have been killed (he was flung across the room). On that basis, we had socket covers with zero ill effects (ditto everyone else I know). I don't get why they are less are, they were damned near impossible to remove.

[londonrach]

Johnson products again another item that should be banned. Awful for my dd skin (had to get gp prescripted cream to sort it out after just one week of use) and tbh each of the mums i spoke to at three baby groups have one by one found the same. But you buy it as a new mum thinking its safe. We love childsfarm and another cream beginning with a in my town. You learn dont you

[Smellbellina]

Cot bumpers are quite obvious if you take a moment to think about it.
Most other things are purely down to adequate supervision.
Honestly, it's not rocket science it's common sense.

[TheFirstMrsDV]

Bumbos are terrible if your child has reflux.

[Alittlepotofrosie]

Its ridiculous that huge brands like Mothercare sell bumpers. Hasnt there ever been a campaign? My mum is amazed that i won't consider using one.

[foodtech]

Some baby bjorn carriers do the froggy leg. I have the baby bjorn 1 and it allows you to carry them with legs out like that. Think some of the older carriers don't though. It's so confusing for people on what is safe or not. I bought a cot set and it had a bumper that has never been used. Would have benn cheaper with a nice blanket and sheets. Total waste of money.

[londonrach]

Cot bumpers are lethal and banned in usa wasnt it. Walkers are ok in short doses. Socket covers..again should be banned. Agree op

[ChocolateRicecake]

Shitty carriers? Or people using carriers shittily?

Of course a good product can be used incorrectly, but some products are designed better than others.

Even as a long-time Ergo user, I originally had a 360 as I liked the idea of baby facing forwards, but even that is only recommended for limited time and seems to have come about out of parental desire as much as 'good for the child'.

[Rockhopper81]

Isofix was the only option when I was looking for a child seat for my two youngest nephews - I wanted one with a 5-point harness, but where the harness could eventually be removed to become a high-back booster. The 'buckle' for the seatbelt on my car is too high to allow a non-Isofix to be fitted safely, which meant I had to buy a seat that was more expensive. Obviously their safety is absolutely worth it, but I can't say it wasn't annoying, as well as limiting choice. (I do love the ease of Isofix, I have to admit, but I've been putting car seats in and out of cars since the oldest nephew was born almost 13 years ago, so I'm not wary about seatbelt-secured seats at all.)

I also cannot put an infant seat base, that has a 'leg', in the back of the car, as there are under-floor storage compartments, which they can't be fitted on top of. Yet this is a 7-seater, family car?? It just doesn't seem logical to me at times...

[RandomlyGenerated]

Our paediatric physiotherapist recommended using a Bumbo when DS was diagnosed with plagiocephaly.

[yellowgymball]

YANBU

It's scandalous that cot bumpers are even still sold.

I would much rather a baby got their leg caught or had a minor bump when rolling over, than fucking suffocating to death when rolling over and pressing their face against it.

It is the exact same reason that pillows and proper bedding are not advisable until they are older.

There's someone I know of running a business online, designing and making their own children's bedding sets. She always includes a bumper. She also always puts a warning saying the bumper should be removed before baby goes in the cot and only be used for decoration.

WHY?! Who even has time to take it off and put it back on again every day? Why bother.

Just scrap the useless bumper. And there will always be someone who knows better who uses it anyway or can't be arsed taking it off at night.

[biscuitmillionaire]

There's a Zara home store in my town centre that always has a small cot for a new baby in the window, with pillows to look pretty. I've been tempted to point out to them that pillows cause cot death, but they'd just think I'm a nutter, wouldn't they?