Perfektly Mary

I have a Bumbo and it is the best thing in the world! My daughter LOVES it. Also, there IS a warning lable on the back of the seat and I think it is PATHETIC that it has to be spell out. Are parents that stupid when it says in red letters on the back of the bumbo “never use on a raised surface” to them that doesn’t include tables, or chairs or table tops? Jen M- commenter at Babytv.com Bumbo recall forum

Most of the time my better judgment prevents me from putting the kids in harmful situations. But other times, I see the risk and choose to ignore it. That’s how it is with me and the Bumbo.

We’ve used our Bumbo with both Maddie and Christian. When Maddie was little I don’t think I ever used it on the table. I didn’t need to. I usually had it on the floor while she played with a toy. Now that I have two babies to feed at once, and Christian is not a self-supported sitter, I’ve been using the Bumbo on the table to feed him while I feed Maddie in her highchair. At first, I got nervous because I’ve been trained to experience terror when putting any type of unit holding my child on a high surface. But the Bumbo seemed different. It’s huge, sturdy base that required jiggling to get the kid out of, made me feel like it was safe. My decision to use it on the table felt a lot like when I had to decide if I would lay one of the kids down in the center of my bed, surrounded by pillows, knowing babies have fallen off of beds. Weighing the risks I went with my gutt and did it, so, no Jen M, I don’t feel “pathetic”.

The only thing I could imagine going wrong was him falling off the table. As horrific as that would be I found it highly unlikely since we have a large sturdy table and I position him in the center of it. I figured worse case scenario would be it somehow tipping over and causing him to hit his cheek on the table.

Then I saw a Target advertisement for the Bumbo. They actually advertised it as a feeding chair. Prior to that, I’d never thought of it that way. I thought I was just using it as one. Bumbo itself advertises it as a a chair to help infant posture, not a feeding chair. Once I saw the Target ad, I felt justified in doing what I was doing. Of course Target didn’t advertise the Bumbo on the table, but where do you feed your family? On the floor? No, you feed them at the table! Why would you put the Bumbo on the floor if everyone else is eating 3 feet higher?

I started getting nervous though when I noticed Christian doing things in the Bumbo that Maddie never did. He stretches out his legs and his butt comes clear out of the seat while the chair starts to tip back. He’s only done this once or twice, but it makes me really nervous. My time away from the table while getting Maddie more juice, or getting a napkin for a mess, keeps getting shorter and shorter. I’ve started to second guessing my actions.

I read a story about a little boy tipping backwards in the Bumbo. His skull cracked, began filling with blood and he had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. That scenario made my heart stop. Given what I’ve seen with Christian I know it can happen. So I sold the Bumbo to a consignment shop and now feed Madeline only while Christian screams hysterically. But I’ve still kept it.

I find myself praying at every meal that I’m not making a stupid decision for convenience’s sake. I don’t want to put Christian in danger, but sometimes making life easier gets the best of me. Most of the time it’s not that bad having two small babies. But feeding times and getting the kids in/out of the car by myself are by far the hardest.

He’s almost sitting up, so as soon as he is I’ll be buying another highchair and putting an end to my fear and guilt.