Today we look at the Baby Bumbo seat, whether or not it’s a good product or not, is very contradictory. The answers regarding the information depend on whether you speak to the manufacturing company or a motor pattern specialist.
If you aren’t familiar with the product, it is often used to prop up babies before they can sit up in a seated position on their own. Babies are often put into the bumbo seat when they haven’t developed any head and neck control while laying on their tummy, let alone without the ability to sit up yet.
When looking from a developmental perspective, we suggest parents avoid the bumbo seat as it compromises the child’s ability to develop core stability when eventually progressing to the seating position on their own as they are forced into this position artificially by the external device without any benefits.
There isn’t any room for trunk control or pelvis stability as the seat isn’t allowing activation of the muscles or joint movement to occur. The legs are held at a higher angle than the pelvis and there is no natural weight bearing that occurs while they are seated in the bumbo seat.
The manufacturing and sales team of the bumbo seat, states that it “stabilizes the child into slight hip flexion, placing the pelvis in a slight anterior pelvic tilt which facilitates lumbar extension.”
However, upon analysis, it does the exact opposite. The baby’s pelvis experiences a posterior tilt, which facilitates lumbar flexion, not extension. Which then puts the baby’s chest behind the pelvis, and makes the head come forward.
This incorrect postural alignment can lead to a rounded back, and the head tilting forward unnecessarily when in the seat, which inhibits the use and activation of their core muscle.
The product is very similar to when we looked at the negative impacts a jolly jumper has on baby’s development as they are forced into the standing position before they can on their own with similarity to this product having the baby sit before they have developed the muscular strength to do it on their own.
Instead of putting your baby in a bumbo seat, lay them on their play mat on the ground and allow them to explore and develop during their tummy time. Head control, visual fixation, and tracking skills are developed during tummy time. If your baby is sitting as opposed to crawling it is vital that tummy time is considered.
Sitting is a huge milestone for a child because once they can do it unassisted, they will be crawling and walking in no time! So, when showing signs of sitting even for a few moments clap and congratulate your baby on their achievement.
So the answer to the question is the Bombo baby seat a yes or a no well unfortunately it’s a no from me.
Enjoy each milestone as they come naturally and don’t try and force these things to happen sooner because there are consequences to your baby’s development if you do. Your baby is perfect and they will develop when their body is ready.
Have a watch of the video below, which looks at the baby bumbo seat in more detail.