Bumbo Recall

If you own a Bumbo seat, you need to contact the company for a latch that can be added to the seat. The new latch is shown in the picture above. The previous Bumbos did not include the latch.

I like the Bumbo. I'm not a die-hard fan. But I'm a sort-of-fan. I don't think anyone should shell out the money for one since your child can only use them for a very short period of time. This period is from the point they can hold up their own head -- until the point that they can wriggle out of them. Or in other words, about 4-8 months. Borrow one from a friend and enjoy allowing your child to sit up and see the world before they can do so unassisted.

The product is nice because it's lightweight. It's easy to carry around. And you can wipe it down easily.

Here's a no-brainer. Don't put up on a high surface. It's intended for use on the ground.

Another no-brainer. Child can fall out of it. Watch the child in it.

But because people lack the brain cells needed to take care of their children, Bumbo has to foot the bill. Here's the recall information for the product.

Parents.com listed the recall on their Facebook page. I admit that I rolled my eyes when I read there was a recall. But I didn't realize how much my feelings would be mirored in the comments I read on the Facebook page. I laughed out loud at some of the comments from parents when they heard about the recall.

• "ugh - they need a recall on the stupid parents."
• "I think some people's reproductive systems should be recalled."
• "They say that Bumbo will send a repair kit. . . . but you can't fix STUPID."
• "Agreed, we have one too...it is all about common sense. Should we recall changing tables if you leave your baby on top of one unattended?"

And that was just four of the 1,000+ comments about the recall.

When my little ones first started wanting to sit up but couldn't do so unassisted, I'd set them in a sea of pillows so that they could see the world but fall over and not get hurt. I didn't leave them sitting by themself. I was very close to them. When I used the Bumbo I did it the same way. We even put it on a counter sometimes. But we were always right there. Using it to help them see the world. Not allowing them to see the world by themselves.

I'm up in the air about getting the seatbelt attachment. It wouldn't hurt. Obviously. But I'm really not sure I need it or that I would even use it. I put my kids in the Bumbo, on the carpet, and I sit next to them.

I fear that no person will ever be able to invent a product again that isn't eventually slammed down by all these regulations and requirements. Yes, children's safety should be considered. But when you are talking about 4 million Bumbos and you are only talking about 2 dozen injuries -- I think we have to look at the caregivers.

Just my two cents.