BebePod Or Bumbo Chair

Updated on September 07, 2008
G.G. asks from Aurora, IL
12 answers

I am trying to decide between the BebePod and the Bumbo chair for my three month old?

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So What Happened?

Bought a Bumbo. She loves it.

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C.M.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I agree with the other posters
I would vote neither.
Children will sit up when they are ready.
3 months is too early. I think most babies are developmentally ready to sit no earlier than 5 months or so.
Until then, their bodies are not made to be seated.
Even once they are older it is unwise to force them to be in any one position.
Sitting in those chairs can cause spinal problems because their bodies are not ready for the stress of all that weight being compacted down on their spine and hips.

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M.B.

answers from Chicago on

We were told not to use it from other moms because their kids fell out of it. We got one as a gift but my son hated it anyway so we never really used it.

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N.L.

answers from Chicago on

My mom bought my son the Bumbo as a birth gift. The tray never would clip on and I would say he used it maybe 3 times. I wouldn't recommend it just because of the cost and limited time you can use it before the baby can fall out and get hurt. My 3 yr old now sits in it for fun, but that lasts for 5 mins. I feel bad cause my mom thought it was such a good idea and I would hate to tell her it was hardly used.

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C.S.

answers from Chicago on

We used the bumbo with our daughter at about 3 months. She loved it! Make sure your child is strong enough to hold her head up well and can sit decently well in your lap before putting her in the bumbo. The other post says it can hurt their spine, however the bumbo is make to provide proper posture and help your child sit correctly if he/she is ready. We purchased the extra tray and she used it as a seat to eat in when visiting others who didn't have a high chair. Just remember not to put it on an elevated surface...the floor only!

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A.B.

answers from Chicago on

I didn't get either for my daughter, who is almost 9 months old now, but my best friend got her son the Bumbo. She strongly suggested I do NOT get it for my daughter because she had her son in it and he fell out of it flat on his face. I took her word for it and didn't get it for my daughter. Not to mention, they are kind of expensive for the amount of time you use them. Good luck.

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

The bumbo is great from 3 months-6 months. After that they can get out of it, or fall out of it. I think it says it can go up to 18 months and will probably be okay after a year when they can walk and get out themselves but from 6 months until then it can be dangerous. My daughter is almost 7 months and I saw her the other day reaching behind her to try to get a toy and she was almost out of the thing. Never leave them unattended because they CAN fall out. If I had to do it over again I probably wouldn't have bought one.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

We have the Bebe Pod and I thought it provided good support. I think that the other posting about the spine might be if the child is too young to be sat up. I didn't start using the BebePod until my son was trying to sit up by himself, just was tipping over. I have also heard of my friends saying that their child fell out of the bumbo. I never had that problem.

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C.U.

answers from Chicago on

I bought the bebe pod only because it came as a set with a toy that clipped on to a tray for eating and 2 place mats, I bought it when my daughter was 4 months and she could already hold up her head on her own.

My daughter just turned 1 and we still use it when we go to peoples houses and use it as a high chair.

Of course we use it on the ground and I sit next to her and feed her.

C.N.

answers from Chicago on

I have heard that the Bumbo is better for chunky thighs because it has bigger let openings but both are bad for a baby's spine because they are being forced to sit and put weight on it when they aren't ready to, if they were ready they would sit up on their own.

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D.O.

answers from Chicago on

I bought 2 bumbos when I had my twins last year. It wasn't a disaster but they weren't as great as I thought and hoped they would be. The trays had such a tight fit that I had a hard time getting them on the chairs. And one of the girls had such chunky thighs that there were times when I picked her up and the chair came with her! I only used them occasionally to give the girls a different viewpoint, so I didn't get my money's worth.

On a side note, I find it ridiculous that people complained to the manufacturer when they put their babies on tables and the babies got hurt. It's a chair made of foam (or whatever it is). It belongs on the floor - not on the table. It even says that on the box!

Good luck with your decision. If you're interested in the bumbo, I'll sell you one of mine so you don't have to pay full price.

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M.K.

answers from Chicago on

We used the Bumbo with our infant daughter (used it for first cereal feedings) UNTIL there was a voluntary recall issued for them. There are a few issues with these seats. First, it should always sit on a low surface. Some parents would place it on a table/countertop & then the child would wiggle out & fall. Common sense should tell you never to place it on a high surface as there are no restraints. Our daughter had to have physical therapy for a brief period of time for torticollis. The therapists at Children's Memorial all recommended NEVER using either the Bumbo or the BebePod for various reasons. Those chairs were created to assist developmentally disabled children who otherwise could not sit up on their own. Essentially, using a Bumbo/BebePod could harm their development as their little bodies aren't developed enough to be seated upright. Tummy time is much more important as those muscles will quickly strengthen & your little one will be sitting up in no time. Alternatively, you could use a boppy pillow to slightly prop baby and for tummy time. If you do decide to use either of them, never leave your child unattended and only use for a very short period of time.

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A.R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

It's yours if you want it - free!

I am all for them in theory - I think they could be great. But my son hardly used it. Ours is a Bumpo in a darling lime green and I still have the box.

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