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Original poster

Bumbo's, who's tried them and what are they like?

34 replies

Bevspooner · 13/11/2006 21:41

Im thinking of buying abumbo for my little boy (he's 3 months old), They seem like a good ide and like the next step from his bouncy chair.
However talking to my mother she seems to think that he will grow out of it too quick and its a waste of money.
Has anyone got one or had one?
What did you think?
Was it a godsend or a waste of money?
Please let me know
Thanks (grin)

OP posts:
danceswithmonkeys · 13/11/2006 21:44

some people swear by them. I bought one for ds and he HATED it. I think it's one of those things better borrowed than bought!

Macdog · 13/11/2006 21:48

I was given one when dd was born.
She squirmed around in hers an lolled over the side of it.
Keep meaning to dig it out again and give it another try(she's 9 months now).
It seems to do quite a big weght range, though. Maybe your ds would be in it for longer than your mum thinks.
Try looking for a secondhand one?

NannyL · 13/11/2006 21:57

I know of 3 (yes three) babies who have fallen out of it.... unfortuantly one of the 8 month olds (who was not particularly wriggly and couldnt even crawl and was only just sitting up, was sitting in it on the tabel and went head first onto the floor...

it was never used (in that family) again. given the fact that for some babies they dont work (ie the children sort of fall out head first) i wouldnt bother with one TBH

i know of more families who hate them than love them tbh

AitchTwoOh · 13/11/2006 22:00

my dd hated hers. my chiropracter says she would have them banned if possible as they are dangerous and damage young spines. she's fanatical about tummy time, though.

Jelley · 13/11/2006 22:02

My ds (and I ) loved it from about 4-7 months, but he's already outgrown it (he leans so far back his head touches the ground).

Definitely borrow if you can (But if you buy, they sell at reasonable prices secondhand on ebay...)

jamieboo · 13/11/2006 22:04

the picture always makes me laugh on the side

Drusilla · 13/11/2006 22:04

DS loved his but I didn't get it till he was about 6 months and wished I had bought it earlier because he grew out of it so quickly. Once he was even thinking about starting crawling it was quite easy for him to get out of it.

malodorantemelly · 13/11/2006 22:06

For dd1 I used it from 4 months to 14 months. She ate it in for all that time. She did come out of it once at about 8 months or so, but she was on the floor and I was sitting right in front of her, she was ok! I think she may have been having a strop at the time, and had arched her back. It does warn on the back not to leave your child unattended in them.

Why the hell would anyone put a bumbo on a table?? Or a bouncer... ggrrrr!

Wasn't aware of any back issues, though.

Bought 2 for my dt's but funnily enough I only used them when I was cutting ds2's hair. They went from bouncers straight to highchairs.

TheBlonde · 13/11/2006 22:13

I have one
Definitely a waste of money as it had a v limited lifespan
If you fancy one go for 2nd hand

melpomene · 13/11/2006 22:30

My dd1 tried sitting in one at a friend's house. She wasn't happy in it because she was too high up to reach the ground so when she dropped a toy she couldn't pick it up.

Original poster
Bevspooner · 14/11/2006 10:13

Thanks everyone, I think you've made my mind up. I probably won't get one.
Now next dilemma what did everyone do for a highchair when they were on the move (at grandparents and friends houses)?
I was gonna use the bumbo but that ruled out, whats been everyones experience of those "travel" highchairs... the ones you strap to a normal chair or the ones you clamp to the table?

OP posts:
princessmel · 14/11/2006 10:17

We borrowed 2 and my dd loved it. Only for a short time though. From when she wanted to be sitting up but couldn't, to when she was sitting ok on her own.
We took it loads of places as its nice and small. She liked to sit in it on the table when ds was eating. It made her the right level to join in!
Also she couldn't play with her toys very well in the bouncy chair as she was leaning back in those and just wanted to be upright.

princessmel · 14/11/2006 10:19

We use booster seats that strap onto a chair.

Original poster
Bevspooner · 14/11/2006 10:27

I'm worried about safety with both types anyone had any problems?

OP posts:
flock · 14/11/2006 10:52

Can recommend Totseats. Haven't yet found a chair it doesn't work with. Only problem is that the baby is too low to get access to the table top, but that's not a major drawback in something just used for travel etc.

Rookiemum · 14/11/2006 12:21

Don't bother with the bumbo, I bought one and its now gone into the attic as DS only used it about 5 times and he is now 7.5 months.

I have bought a baboz I think its called which is a fabric high seat. DS seems a little young for it yet but I lent it to a friend with an 18mth old and she said it was fantastic.

We inherited a cheap Ikea high chair that we leave at my parents. For other venues I will either have DS on my knee or if he is being squirmy we can feed him seated in the buggy.

eenysugarplumfairy · 14/11/2006 12:23

we got one off ebay, I wouldnt buy it new. DS hasnt used it yet, he is still too small but I hope he likes it.

DizzyBint · 14/11/2006 12:25

they're only meant to last from when baby wants to be sitting up until they can properly. so only for maybe 3 months.

dd loves hers. she sat in it from nearly 4 months, lolled over the sides at first but learned to put her arms out to keep her up. now she's nearly 6 months she can almost sit on her own, plus her legs are getting a bit chubby for it so we'll sell it on soon.

can't believe people using it for an 8 month old! dd tries to get out of it now so she can sit by herself!

Macdog · 14/11/2006 14:52

We've got the fold up booster type high chair that straps onto any chair as well as the cheap IKEA white plastic one.
I'd recommend an inflatable cushion surround for a high chair until your ds is able to sit up properly. IKEA do them for a few pounds.
My dd squirms around in her booster one, but sits up nicely in her other one.
The IKEA one has removeable legs for transporting.
Hope this was the sort of thing you were looking for
Sorry it sounds like an IKEA ad

ginmummy · 14/11/2006 14:56

Bevspooner - they do grow out of them quickly but I guess it's only the same as with a bouncy chair or baby walker. I can see where you're coming from as it does seem a lot of money for something that is only going to be used for about 4 months or so, but I personally think they're a brilliant idea as it taught ds to sit upright and I used it as a highchair on the floor and kitchen table for a few months too. I eventually handed it down to my cousin who took it to Glasgow for her next daughter and she used it for her and now that she's expecting another baby it will be used again too. It's one of those things that can be handed round and passed down again and again.

SparklyfestiveYellowFeathers · 14/11/2006 15:03

My mum and mil bought a booster from Argos. I think it was only £9.99. It straps round the chair and has a removable tray.
My dd used it from 6 months ish and shes only just stopped using it at 3!
We have one from Kiddicare which is more rounded and you can alter the seat height by flipping the chair up. Although I'm not sure if they still sell them now.

mapleleaf · 14/11/2006 15:36

we loved ours. used it for only about 8 months, but it was worth every penny. my husband used to put our dd2 in it whilst he showered and shaved in the morning, thus allowing me a lie in !!! she would happily sit in it with a couple of toys around her. it was also brilliant when beginning to wean as it is easier to wipe down than the bouncy chair. don't worry if you don't find a second hand one because resale values are excellent.

malodorantemelly · 14/11/2006 22:28

My 3 year old ds 1 used to sit in his sisters bumbo!! Can't believe your babies didn't fit after 8 months of age.

Jelley · 14/11/2006 23:16

My 6 yr old can get in ds' Bumbo

Jelley · 14/11/2006 23:16

My 6 yr old can get in ds' Bumbo