What's the Chair Thing for Babies to Sit in on Teh Floor

UPDATE: Several years agone, at the fourth dimension I wrote this article I was very much on a mission to answer the questions I was receiving from parents. Then I got nerdy and granular, using my OT lens to dissect different seats on the market. I'll leave the original content because it is factual but I'd like to bookend it with this:

If you are reading a blog post near which infant seat is best for development, you almost likely don't need more than fuel the analytical parts of your brain. You most likely don't need me to reinforce the idea that if you don't do every.unmarried.matter. "right" your infant will have a developmental issue. What y'all most likely need to hear is this…used in moderation, no unmarried slice of baby gear will derail salubrious development. The master problem with baby gear is that modern babyhood isn't using this piece of gear vs. that piece of gear. The primary problem with baby gear is that it is collectively overused.

Don't get hung upwards on this product vs. that product. Prioritize time outside of babe gear when you can. When y'all need to, use gear your baby is developmentally set for and don't criticize yourself for using it.

While babe seats are definitely not a necessary piece of equipment and don't truly assistance your baby learn to sit down upward, they can be helpful and convenient for parents - and fun for babies.  Here are three factors to consider when purchasing a infant 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 little bodies in unnatural and unhelpful sitting positions. The original molded foam Bumbo is the nigh popular of this sort. Information technology has a scooped out "bucket seat" that allows people to put babies in them earlier baby is developmentally prepare for sitting in a seat.

But poor positioning of the pelvis affects the posture of baby'southward whole torso and leads nearly often to a rounded dorsum and some squishing of the back of the neck (nerdy therapist term: neck hyperextension).

I enlisted the help of my toddler to show what this tipped back position of the pelvis (nerdy therapist term: posterior pelvic tilt) does for posture every bit a whole. The line at the bottom highlights the tipped back position of his pelvis.  You can see that to stay upright, he has to round his back and then to compensate for that rounding, he has to shrink the dorsum of his neck to go along his head level.

This positioning makes it harder for baby to optimally coordinate and apply muscles of the artillery, hands and mouth. This is ane of the major reasons I strongly discourage parents from using a Bumbo or similar seat every bit a feeding seat for infant. Now, is using this type of seat going to derail healthy development? No. But too much fourth dimension in this position may contribute to long term poor posture and eating in this neck extended position increases a child's risk of choking.

Buying TIP:Cull a babe seat that has a flat sitting surface where infant'southward bottom will be, similar the Fisher-Cost Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat or the Upseat. Wait until baby is showing signs of readiness earlier using a babe seat.

Leg Position & Support

Since babies learn to sit down by using their legs and feet equally sitting surfaces (not just their bums), the all-time baby seats are those that allow baby's entire legs and feet to exist in contact with the sitting surface. This gives them a bigger sitting surface (nerdy therapist term: base of operations of support) and more of their body to use to remainder.

Also look for a seat that allows baby'due south legs to motility a bit instead of being completely immobilized (as with the traditional foam Bumbo).

Ownership TIP: Choose a seat that supports nether baby'due south legs and allows them to move, like the Upseat or the Fisher-Price Sit down-Me-Up Flooring Seat.

Arm Support

Since babies just learning to sit are hardwired to wobble, the all-time baby seats are those that allow for some of that wobbling to occur. In order for a baby seat to safely allow wobbling, it needs to allow baby to use their artillery to help correct wobbles (and avoid slumping and slouching).

The positioning and arm use won't exist the same as practicing prop sitting or independent sitting on the floor with your help or supervision (what I similar to call "sitting practice"), but having a back up surface for infant's arms virtually closely resembles the developmental work they're fix to do.

BUYING TIP: Look for a seat with steady and substantial chest-level tray or support, like the Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Upward Flooring Seat or the Upseat.

My Favorite Baby Seats and Alternatives

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My husband rolled his eyes every time another new Amazon box arrived. "Another baby chair?" he'd ask. But I was determined to endeavor equally many seats as possible to find my favorite ane. And so hither are two of my favorites based on the considerations we've talked well-nigh (none of them are 'perfect' merely stood out among the rest):

Fisher Toll Sit down-Me-Up Floor Seat - You've probably guess by at present that this is my favorite choice for a floor seat for babies.

Summer Infant 3 Stage 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 I've tried out a few other products that I liked. The Galt Playnest is an inflatable ring with a zip-on fabric cover that has some beautiful little things for baby to play and look at. Call up of it like a cloth covered inflatable pool band. Because baby is sitting on the floor, the Playnest offers a flat sitting surface and freedom to movement the legs. It gives infant plenty of opportunity to wobble and allow baby to use hands on the floor or on the inflated nest.

And The Upseat was developed by a concrete therapist. Don't be fooled by the molded foam that looks a bit like the original Bumbo seat. The Upseat supports baby in proficient positioning.

Alternatives to a baby seat:

If you're a regular reader here at CanDo Kiddo + Family, you know I'm a baby gear minimalist and love finding things around the house to apply with babies instead of making new purchases. Whether you're striving to practice more than with less, trying to stay within your upkeep or merely 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 guest 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-owned business.

Using Infant Seats Wisely

My biggest tips for wise use of babe seats are:

• Look UNTIL BABY IS READY FOR A SEAT (learn the signs here)

• Be Sure TO PROVIDE Enough OF DAILY "SITTING Practise" (get tips here)

• AIM TO Employ A Baby SEAT Merely WHEN You NEED TO

I love a tip from a reader on the CanDo Kiddo Facebook page who said she used her babe seat past the back door to give babe a condom spot while older siblings got shoes and coats on to go out the door! Infant seats aren't BAD when used in moderation. Some are definitely better than others but a few minutes in any seat a day won't ruin your babe'due south development. My promise is that yous would make informed baby gear decisions that work for your family!

Remember, your updated takeaway is…

Don't become hung upwardly on this product vs. that production. Prioritize fourth dimension outside of baby gear when you can. When you lot demand to, utilize gear your baby is developmentally ready for and don't criticize yourself for using it.

Not sure what gear babe is developmentally ready for?

I've created a guide for that! A nerdy overview of babe gear and early on development to help you cull and use babe gear wisely.

Popular 6-12 Months Posts:

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

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