Strollerderby

For crying out loud! Again the twit-parents bumbling through parenthood and messing it up for the rest of us. First we have the FDA ripping cold meds because some morons mis-dosed their tots; now the dumbos with the Bumbo. Honestly, can someone just give these dufuses a class in parenting so the rest of us can use the damn seats and drug our children? Again, another safety "crisis" for our neurotic parenting culture to obsess over. Yeeesh!

My mom, who works in an ER, just took care of a baby that fell of the kitchen counter in her bumbo just about a week ago,so apparently there are 29 that have fallen. Luckily the baby was fine, but I agree - read the instructions people.

Crabmommy, I'm not sure it's fair to blame the cold medicine recalls on "moron" parents.  There are documented cases where parents gave the correct dose, as advised by their pediatrician, and the child died.  For example:  www.cnn.com/.../index.html

It's just a bad risk-benefit ratio.  Even a tiny risk of overdose or death is too big when there's no evidence of benefit.

However, I do agree on the bumbo thing.  In that case, it's just common sense not being common enough.

Crabmommy, I'm not sure it's fair to blame the cold medicine recalls on "moron" parents.  There are documented cases where parents gave the correct dose, as advised by their pediatrician, and the child died.  For example:  www.cnn.com/.../index.html

It's just a bad risk-benefit ratio.  Even a tiny risk of overdose or death is too big when there's no evidence of benefit.

However, I do agree on the bumbo thing.  In that case, it's just common sense not being common enough.

No one's ruined your Bumbo for you, crabmommy. No recall police will show up at your door asking for it back. You can keep putting your baby in it, at the top of the stairs, facing backwards, if you want.

Indeed, point taken. I can use my Bumbo. And I certainly don't mean my snarkiness to extend to the case mentioned -- where a child turned out to be allergic to a cold medicine and died. But let's be clear: that is an  isolated case. And the FDA and everyone concerned have said the meds have been recalled because of "potential misuse of medications" (and not product safety) to quote the CNN piece mentioned above. My point is just -- the hysteria we live in. The culture of recalls. The terror of parents and manufacturers. It's all a bit too much for me. I realize there are risks implied with meds and bumbos and all these things. But when improper use is the major culprit, it's exasperating to see the effect on our society...and on our sanity. (Ok, I mean, MY sanity).

"dumbos with the Bumbo" mwahahaha that's a good one :)

I hear that they're going to recall all cars next.  Apparently people have been hitting stationary objects and even OTHER CARS!  And it clearly states in the instructions that you should avoid hitting anything that isn't a bug with your car.  So, in order for everyone to be safe, they're going to recall all the cars.  They're going to stop selling them, and anyone who has a car already is going to get four big stickers that say "Don't hit me!" - one for each side.

After all, think of the chillllllddrrrruuuuunnnnn....

Actually, its not a true recall.  You just send away for a more obvious sticker which you then have to put on the bumbo, which state (probably in bolder print?!) that this item should not be placed on tables, etc.  Still stupid.

oh...but you already said that.  Sorry!

isn't it common sense NOT to put the damn thing on a table w/your kid in it and turn your back for a split second?

of course it doesn't help when your doctor suggests that you feed your kid in a bumbo seat or bouncer chair etc. by placing either on the TABLE so your kid can eat at your eye level. yeah I got that piece of advice. I ignored it, as the suggestion I start him on cereal at 4 months.

it never occurs to anyone to actually eat/feed your kid at THEIR eye level.

I agree with the point crabmommy was making.  Many of these situations are due to ignorance or neglect on the part of the user - not reading the directions, not following the directions even if you read them,  not paying attention , etc.  User stupidity does not mean the product needs to be changed or removed from the market.  Is a new sticker going to suddenly make an idiot smarter.  Very doubtful.  

Crabmommy, I have to back up Renee. The cold medicines ban wasn't so much because of dumb parents, it was because that stuff is basically snakeoil. The FDA is supposed to make sure our medicines' benefit outweigh their risk, and when there's no benefit, it's pretty clear that no amount of risk is ok. I don't always agree with the FDA, but i think they got it right this time.

Now the Bumbos...that's another story.

I am a representative of the manufacturer and I just want to encourage anyone intersted in learning more about the SAFE use of the Bumbo Baby Seat to visit www.bumbosafety.com. Our online survey has found that 14 percent of Bumbo parents never noticed the warning label on the product (!) and 12 percent didn't know their kid could get out of the seat (it's in the warning and instructions). So we are redoubling our efforts to get the word out and also cleaning up some of the vague language and confusing photos in our own materials. We want to prevent future injuries. Period.