Are Sit Me Up Seat Good for Babies

UPDATE: Several years ago, at the time I wrote this article I was very much on a mission to respond the questions I was receiving from parents. And so I got nerdy and granular, using my OT lens to dissect different seats on the market. I'll leave the original content considering it is factual but I'd like to bookend information technology with this:

If you lot are reading a blog postal service about which infant seat is best for development, you virtually likely don't demand more fuel the analytical parts of your encephalon. Yous most likely don't demand me to reinforce the idea that if you don't do every.single.thing. "right" your babe will have a developmental issue. What you lot about probable need to hear is this…used in moderation, no single piece of baby gear will derail healthy evolution. The primary problem with baby gear is that mod babyhood isn't using this piece of gear vs. that piece of gear. The primary trouble with infant gear is that information technology is collectively overused.

Don't become hung upwardly on this production vs. that product. Prioritize fourth dimension outside of baby gear when y'all can. When y'all need to, utilize gear your babe is developmentally set up for and don't criticize yourself for using it.

While babe seats are definitely not a necessary piece of equipment and don't truly help your baby learn to sit down up, they can be helpful and convenient for parents - and fun for babies.  Here are iii factors to consider when purchasing a baby seat as well as recommended seats plus some tips for using them in moderation and a few alternatives to consider.

The Sitting Surface

Some chairs for babies put picayune bodies in unnatural and unhelpful sitting positions. The original molded foam Bumbo is the most popular of this sort. It has a scooped out "bucket seat" that allows people to put babies in them before babe is developmentally ready for sitting in a seat.

But poor positioning of the pelvis affects the posture of baby's whole body and leads most frequently to a rounded back and some squishing of the back of the cervix (nerdy therapist term: neck hyperextension).

I enlisted the assistance of my toddler to show what this tipped back position of the pelvis (nerdy therapist term: posterior pelvic tilt) does for posture as a whole. The line at the bottom highlights the tipped back position of his pelvis.  Y'all can run across that to stay upright, he has to round his back and so to compensate for that rounding, he has to shrink the dorsum of his neck to keep his head level.

This positioning makes it harder for babe to optimally coordinate and use muscles of the arms, easily and mouth. This is 1 of the major reasons I strongly discourage parents from using a Bumbo or like seat every bit a feeding seat for baby. Now, is using this type of seat going to derail healthy development? No. Just besides much time in this position may contribute to long term poor posture and eating in this neck extended position increases a kid's hazard of choking.

BUYING TIP:Choose a baby seat that has a flat sitting surface where babe's bottom will be, similar the Fisher-Cost Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat or the Upseat. Await until infant is showing signs of readiness before using a babe seat.

Leg Position & Back up

Since babies learn to sit by using their legs and feet as sitting surfaces (non just their bums), the best baby seats are those that allow baby's entire legs and anxiety to be in contact with the sitting surface. This gives them a bigger sitting surface (nerdy therapist term: base of operations of back up) and more of their body to use to balance.

Likewise look for a seat that allows baby's legs to move a flake instead of being completely immobilized (every bit with the traditional foam Bumbo).

BUYING TIP: Choose a seat that supports under baby'southward legs and allows them to motion, like the Upseat or the Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat.

Arm Support

Since babies but learning to sit down are hardwired to wobble, the best baby seats are those that allow for some of that wobbling to occur. In order for a baby seat to safely allow wobbling, information technology needs to allow baby to use their arms to assist right wobbles (and avoid slumping and slouching).

The positioning and arm apply won't be the same as practicing prop sitting or contained sitting on the floor with your help or supervision (what I like to telephone call "sitting practice"), but having a support surface for baby's arms most closely resembles the developmental work they're ready to practice.

BUYING TIP: Wait for a seat with steady and substantial chest-level tray or back up, like the Fisher-Cost Sit down-Me-Up Floor Seat or the Upseat.

My Favorite Infant Seats and Alternatives

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My married man rolled his optics every time another new Amazon box arrived. "Another babe chair?" he'd ask. But I was adamant to try as many seats as possible to find my favorite ane. So here are 2 of my favorites based on the considerations we've talked about (none of them are 'perfect' but stood out amongst the rest):

Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat - You've probably guess by now that this is my favorite selection for a floor seat for babies.

Summertime Infant iii Phase Super Seat - wait for the models that come with a play tray for arm support.

Updated to add a few more seat options:

Since writing this mail service I've tried out a few other products that I liked. The Galt Playnest is an inflatable ring with a zippo-on material embrace that has some beautiful piddling things for babe to play and expect at. Retrieve of it like a fabric covered inflatable puddle ring. Because infant is sitting on the floor, the Playnest offers a flat sitting surface and freedom to motility the legs. It gives baby plenty of opportunity to wobble and let babe to apply hands on the floor or on the inflated nest.

And The Upseat was developed by a physical therapist. Don't exist fooled by the molded cream that looks a fleck like the original Bumbo seat. The Upseat supports babe in adept positioning.

Alternatives to a babe seat:

If you're a regular reader here at CanDo Kiddo + Family, you know I'grand a baby gear minimalist and love finding things around the house to apply with babies instead of making new purchases. Whether yous're striving to do more with less, trying to stay within your budget or simply don't have room for all this stuff, there are several household items that work great for supporting a wobbly sitter. I shared several of the alternatives I used in this invitee post for Mama OT.

I also LOVE Toki Mats for the large prophylactic fall-zone they provide wobbly sitters. Bonus points for being made of organic and natural products and for being a mama-endemic business.

Using Baby Seats Wisely

My biggest tips for wise use of infant seats are:

• Expect UNTIL BABY IS Set FOR A SEAT (learn the signs hither)

• BE Certain TO PROVIDE PLENTY OF DAILY "SITTING Practise" (go tips here)

• AIM TO USE A Babe SEAT Simply WHEN YOU NEED TO

I beloved a tip from a reader on the CanDo Kiddo Facebook page who said she used her babe seat by the dorsum door to give infant a safe spot while older siblings got shoes and coats on to go out the door! Babe seats aren't BAD when used in moderation. Some are definitely amend than others but a few minutes in any seat a mean solar day won't ruin your baby's evolution. My hope is that you would make informed baby gear decisions that work for your family!

Retrieve, your updated takeaway is…

Don't get hung up on this product vs. that product. Prioritize fourth dimension exterior of babe gear when yous tin. When y'all need to, apply gear your infant is developmentally ready for and don't criticize yourself for using it.

Not sure what gear baby is developmentally ready for?

I've created a guide for that! A nerdy overview of baby gear and early development to help yous choose and utilise baby gear wisely.

Pop half dozen-12 Months Posts:

jordanmarknow.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.candokiddo.com/news/baby-seat

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