Jumperoo Bad?

[Brieanna]

I was telling my friend how I was about to buy a jumperoo (luv u zoo) and she told me she had heard they were bad for babies, but she didn't know exactly why. Does anyone know why a jumperoo is bad for a normally developing, healthy baby?

I won't use it for a babysitter (I plan on using it around 20-30 mins a day and she will still get lots of floor time), of course, but I need a little time to do some things and she HATES being in a sling/carrier (I have tried 4 different types, including a moby, and she hates them all) and she is outgrowing her bouncy seat.

I looked it up and found lots of people who said they heard it was bad but no one that actually had heard from a doctor or other trusted source about WHY it was bad so does anyone know?

thanks!

 

[ermm23a]

My son is a preemie and we take him to see physical therapists to make sure he is developing properly. They told us that jumperoos are very hard on a baby's neck. And that if you are going to do one, never leave them in it for more than 20-30 minutes at a time.

 

[Brieanna]

Thank you ermm23a for the advice.

I guess no one else really knows! The reason I asked on this site was because the other day I read a response to a post that said jumperoos were bad but they didn't give details (can't find the thread now) but they seem fine to me and everyone I know has one so I wanted to get advice.

 

[iHeartbaby#1]

I have never heard anything like that. If jumperoo's were truly 'bad' they would have to put it in the product description. The ONLY warning i can see is that jumperoos should only be used by babies that can hold their head up well.

I wouldn't worry hun, go for it. My LO still loves his jumperoo and he's 9 months

 

[lisaf]

We have a program here where we get home visits from a nurse and from a child development expert (can't remember her certification).
Anyway, the development expert told us not to buy the jumparoos/exersaucers/walkers/doorway jumpers. It has something to do with them developing better if they're not placed in too many devices. That children need to learn to walk appropriately and that being in those devices that suspend them above the ground teaches them to walk on their toes instead of learning to walk heal-toe. I think she also said it can contribute to pigeon-toe walking.

I'd also read that when you put them in crotch-suspending devices for too long, it can cause hip dysplasia. Of course that is talking about parents who leave their kids in those for hours a day and then put them in a baby bjorn etc. There is a lot of potential for abuse of the devices if their kids are cranky but LOVE the jumparoo etc.

BUT, even with that information, everything in moderation is still usually just fine and 20-30 minutes a day is not excessive at all.
They don't tend to pull items from the market that are developmentally a problem, only if its an injury/death hazard and even then it can take a while. There are plenty of items sold for car seat accessories that actually can compromise the safety of the carseat. They only recently pulled sleep-positioners, and they haven't pulled crib bumpers yet even though the recommendation is not to use them until after 1yr (at which point they become useless since the kid can use them to climb out).

 

[supertabby]

I don't know the answer really but like lisaf mentioned, walkers are considered not to be great for babies as they can teach them to use their tiptoes to walk and therefore cause issues with learning to walk normally if used a lot. But probably if used in small amounts like 10 or 15 minutes a day they'd be fine. I imagine the jumperoo would be a similar situation.

I also don't understand why cot and crib bumpers are still sold, or crib size duvets and crib size non-breathable blankets since there's no safe situation to use them!

 

[Brieanna]

Thank you all! ^^^I was hoping someone knew more than I did! It makes sense about the toe-walking thing and this is exactly what advice I was looking for.

I agree that things in moderation should be fine. I don't use a crotch-suspended carrier so using the jumperoo for 15 mins a day while I attend to a few chores shouldn't be bad.

In a perfect world I am sure we would all devote 24 hours a day holding/carrying LO, but in reality we have to wash clothes (mostly hers, haha!!!), cook and clean!

I am starting to understand the whole "It takes a village to raise a child" saying! I do wish I had some friends and/or family nearby to help, but I love being able to get helpful advice from here.

 

[goddess25]

They are not bad in moderation, we have an exersaucer and my LO uses it for about 20m per day and really enjoys it. Like the poster above they have been cited as bad in terms of their development. Pigeon toe walking and hip dysplasis have been mentioned and also a lot of babies are spending far too much time in an upright position when they need to be on their tummy's to learn proper movement. They need to be on their tummy's initially to pull their legs up to their bottoms which is the precursor to crawling and then obviously it will progress from there.

I agree that too much time in all of the contraptions probably isn't the way to do it but for a short spell its absolutely fine. After all our babies need a big variety of stimulation to learn and develop.

 

[dacosta]

i have a jumperoo and walker and wont be using the walker again as although my first loved it, it did seem to teach her to walk on her toes a lot. i didnt have any problems with the jumperoo and my lo loved it but i was sure not to leave her in it more than 20 mins.

 

[special_kala]

everything is bad when used wrong or excessively. As long as your lo isnt in it all day then they are fine

 

[Blah11]

I've seen people put 3-4 month olds in theirs and personally, I wouldn't until 5 or so where they can sit up themselves for short periods and have excellent head control. Also make sure their feet arent flat on the ground, just tippy toes.

Walkers however, I find dangerous.

 

[Blah11]

They are not bad in moderation, we have an exersaucer and my LO uses it for about 20m per day and really enjoys it. Like the poster above they have been cited as bad in terms of their development. Pigeon toe walking and hip dysplasis have been mentioned and also a lot of babies are spending far too much time in an upright position when they need to be on their tummy's to learn proper movement. They need to be on their tummy's initially to pull their legs up to their bottoms which is the precursor to crawling and then obviously it will progress from there.

I agree that too much time in all of the contraptions probably isn't the way to do it but for a short spell its absolutely fine. After all our babies need a big variety of stimulation to learn and develop.

Babies don't need to crawl at all. Its not a developmental milestone. In some countries, crawling is really rare as the babies are carried in slings a lot and when placed on the floor its not on their stomachs as the floor is muddy or has animal poo on it.

My LO never crawled and she didn't roll either until she was up on her feet. She took her first very steady steps at 17.5 months and could walk ina straight line very quickly (no wobbly baby stage). Now shes like any other 2.5 yr old

 

[KatieB]

I've seen people put 3-4 month olds in theirs and personally, I wouldn't until 5 or so where they can sit up themselves for short periods and have excellent head control. Also make sure their feet arent flat on the ground, just tippy toes.

Walkers however, I find dangerous.

Totally agree. Anyway, I personally don't like them and as the reasons listed previously, this is why I won't buy one. I do think that if used in moderation they should be fine, however I just don't like the idea of putting DS in one but each to their own.

 

[KittyVentura]

Anything that supports the baby via the crotch is bad if used excessively or for very long periods. It's bad for hip and spinal development which is why these things come with a 20 minute rule generaly. Walkers, door bouncers and "crotch dangling" baby carriers work by the same logic.

So yeah get one, your baby will love it. But just dont stick your baby in it for hours at a time and take any other similar crotch dangling activities when allocating time to it (I.E don't move from a jumperoo straight to a door bouncer etc) xx

 

[special_kala]

Anything that supports the baby via the crotch is bad if used excessively or for very long periods. It's bad for hip and spinal development which is why these things come with a 20 minute rule generaly. Walkers, door bouncers and "crotch dangling" baby carriers work by the same logic.

So yeah get one, your baby will love it. But just dont stick your baby in it for hours at a time and take any other similar crotch dangling activities when allocating time to it (I.E don't move from a jumperoo straight to a door bouncer etc) xx

My HV commented on how comfortable Willow looked all tucked up in the ergo..cue a 10 minute lesson from me on crotch danglers

 

[nicole_]

everything is bad when used wrong or excessively. As long as your lo isnt in it all day then they are fine

this pretty much.
people have been using bouncers/walkers etc for decades and how many people do you see walking round on their toes/broken necks lol

 

[SophiasMummy]

My LO started in her jumperoo at 2 and half months, didnt do her any damage and she hasnt ever tried to walk on her tiptoes from it, she would go in it for 5 mins at a time at first and gradually spent a bit more time in it, she doesnt use it anymore but I love it so much that its still up in my livingroom lol. I agree that the time they are in there for should be limited though xx

 

[carly_mummy2b]

As long as baby can hold their heads well and with good control they're fine, Vinnie is 10 months and still loves it :-D

 

[Mindy_mini]

I've a friend who blames her dd's jumperoo on her dd not putting her legs straight to Stand with support and says it's hampering her walking development. Personally I think it's all a load of tosh. My dd has had her jumperoo longer and is totally fine. She stand with her feet flat on the floor - no tip toeing. (tbh, my friends dd has been a bit slow with everything - rolling, crawling,weaning, dropping bottles, sttn etc. I know you shouldn't compare but it a baby is slow with lots of things I personally wouldn't spry about other things until they were really late if that makes sense)

My dd loves her jumperoo and uses it daily but I wouldnt let her in it for more than 30 mins a day.

 

[lisaf]

My HV commented on how comfortable Willow looked all tucked up in the ergo..cue a 10 minute lesson from me on crotch danglers

ergo is one of the better carriers.. it doesn't dangle them straight from the crotch like a bjorn does. It distributes the weight evenly from knee to knee.