Can a 2 Month Old Sit in a Bumbo? – Bumbo Safety & Alternatives

All your dreams about being a mother are finally coming true. You are about to be blessed with a beautiful child. At this moment, it is normal for you to worry about your diet. You must be nervous thinking, ” Can I eat flan while pregnant?”

The answer is yes, you can eat Flan while you are pregnant. But wait, don’t start eating this already- you gotta know a few things before you do!

Can a 2 Month Old Sit in a Bumbo?

To answer the question can a 2 Month Old Sit in a Bumbo- Ideally, you should only introduce a sitting apparatus when your child demonstrates sound control over their neck and head but are there specific guidelines? Keep reading to find out more.

When is the Best Time for My Baby to Use a Bumbo Seat?

can a 2 month old sit in a bumbo

You may be aware by now that with a baby comes stuff! From Moses baskets to bouncers and jumperoos your home may be overcome by the number of things your tiny little baby needs.

Another item that you may have is a Bumbo seat. Before we jump in and answer the question, can I put my 2 month old in a bumbo seat? Let’s look at what it is.

A bumbo seat looks like a bubble. It is solid yet soft with the option for a cushioned insert, some come with safety straps and there is also the option for a tray. The seat is designed to support your baby’s back but they must demonstrate good head control before using it. 

Are Bumbo Seats Safe for a 2 Month Old?

Of course, anything that has been manufactured for babies has to go through grueling health and safety checks. 

The Bumbo is considered safe providing you only use it according to the specific guidelines.

  • Never use it on a raised surface.
  • Never leave a baby unattended.
  • Always use the straps if there are some.

What Should I Expect From My 2 Month Old?

At two months old you should expect your baby to demonstrate better head control than when they were newborn. They are developing their core muscles which are pivotal for the bigger milestones like crawling and sitting.

You can expect that they are now willing to turn their heads toward interesting sounds but some days you can still see them as a nodding dogs.

It is important to remember that every baby is different. My firstborn was very strong very early. She had amazing head control and she was fairly comfortable using a bumbo seat from around 2 months.

My second baby on the other hand is so lazy! I wouldn’t have dreamed of putting her in a bumbo at 2 months old. She still seemed so tiny and the muscles in her back and neck were immature. Now we are nearing 6 months – Only now does she seem comfortable but this isn’t all the time.

What I’m trying to get at here is that every baby is different, so I cannot guarantee whether your baby will be ready or not. It is totally down to your instincts. 

If you are not sure then it will not hurt your baby to try it out but be sure to support their head, if they are bobbing then it is still too early.

Can a Bumbo Aid Development to my 2 month old?

As with any baby toy, there is always an underlying developmental lesson to be learned but it made me curious about whether using a bumbo seat could aid development. 

A study led by Rebecca J Woods has researched whether practicing sitting can help a baby develop was undertaken back in 2012. The synopsis of this research was that many babies younger than 8 months were found to be sitting unaided when parents have used supporting aids. It is important to notice that this study does not isolate the use of Bumbos but it has taken all types of supported sitting practices into consideration. 

Because my youngest didn’t have good head control early on I used myself as a support so I sat her between my legs with me as her safety net.

So with this in mind, there is no solid evidence to say that having your 2 month old sitting in a bumbo should only help development providing they demonstrate good head control.

But further to this study, another study from University of Missouri suggests that allowing babies to develop in their own time will give their muscles time to strengthen. You should expect your baby to be sitting by 8 months old. Many do it earlier but whether you use a Bumbo or not they will learn in their own time.

Precautions to Take

Can my 2 month old sit in a bumbo seat? The advice I received from my own pediatric team was to limit and monitor the use of baby apparatus such as the Bumbo seat. 

Prolonged use of seats, bouncers, and swings can in fact hinder a child’s development. Known as Child Container Syndrome, babies can actually be too supported and this can affect the growth of the muscles they need to do things unaided. In hindsight, I suppose the muscles become lazy as they have never really been put to work!

Alternatives to 2 Month Old Sitting in Bumbo

If you don’t think a Bumbo is for your 2 month old then there are alternative methods you can practice to help those muscles strengthen.

  • Tummy time: The benefits from tummy time are endless, from strengthening muscles to enjoying playtime, your baby will always benefit.
  • Cushioned support – Using as many soft items as you can to pad out your 2 month old baby’s surroundings, once they are in the seated position you can see how long they last before falling. 
  • Toys – Reaching for toys and playing with mom can be so much fun. It encourages your little one to stretch those back muscles that are needed for sitting.
Wrapping Up

The answer to the question ‘can a 2 month old sit in a bumbo?’ Is totally dependent on the child. Many babies have been able to use sitting apparatus from an early age whilst some still needed head support.

If your baby has good head control then it won’t hurt to give it a go! You will soon know if they are comfortable. 

Bumbo seats are practical for outings or visits so if you are using one remember to do so sparingly and try to use some alternative methods. 

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