We didn't use one with our now 3-year-old, and we're not using one with our 6-month-old.  Their transition was to an activity saucer, which little Carter is just getting into and enjoying immensely.  I recall my wife had some concerns about a bumbo chair, though our nephews used one.  They were much slower learning to walk, but I hesitate to pin that on the chair.

Mixed feelings about bumbos. They do let a infant "sit" but with a very rounded back.

The question is why use them? For what benefit? What else have folks used in tha past?

What does it replace? and why not wait until 6 months when they are ready to sit?

You know we are putting our babies into "things" rather than just placing them on a blanket and letting them have some floor time.

if you don't mind me asking, what concerns did your wife have?

They weren't around when my kids were little.  Just curious ... why do you want to use one?  What do you think the benefit might be? 

my son LOVES being held and sitting on my lap and hates laying down.

when i'm folding the laundry, doing dishes or whatever, i put him in the swing but sometimes he hates that too, he loves sitting upright and observing from that angle. 

a friend got us a bumbo and i put him in it yesturday to experiment and he loved it. after about 3 minutes i took him out because i don't know how safe they are and he cried up a storm. 

a couple of my friends use them for their kids and love them.  i researched the internet about them but didn't get much info.

my daughter hated hers... we'd plunk her in and she just bend herself forward enough to pop out, kind of like a cork.  i think we tried it on and off from about 3 months to 8 months every once in a while.  i think it just didn't give her any wiggle room - it was like a rubber vice but a vice that when jiggled, pops the kid out.  in the end, the second hand store got ours... (it was a lovely shade of purple though...)

I had to google to find out what they were.  They look like a fun piece of furniture that some babies might find comfortable and some parents might find convenient.  I think my biggest concerns might be around the length of time the baby might spend sitting in one - being deprived of (1) time in Mommy's arms and (2) floor time. 

I'm a great believer in floor time. Unless your floor is cold or in a high traffic area, I think the best place for a baby is on the floor, lying on its belly surrounded by toys - lifting its head and shoulders, wiggling around, eventually crawling, rolling over, sitting up, creeping, pulling itself up, standing, and walking.   (Before it can roll over, a baby also needs some time on its back waving and kicking and reaching for toys suspended above it.)   With lots of floor time, I see little need for a bumbo chair. 

Last night I was visiting a friend with a baby almost 4 months old - she commented on how much the baby likes to be held in a sitting position so she can see what's happening.  When busy with tasks - she uses a fisher-price bouncy chair kind of thing & puts in on the counter, on top of the dryer, at the end of the dining table etc. so baby is 'involved' but not necessarily being held, which seems to keep her happy. 

I don't recall how far babies can see with good acuity at that age - but perhaps the swing is too far away for your little guy to realize you're nearby?

I agree with seeler - lots of floor time is great and really important for development. 

I'm just curious about this too, but don't want to derail - my friends pick their child much more than I would have - ie whenever she's just making any sounds they scoop her up to be held - even when I would interpret those as just happy vocalizations, infant "chatting" or  squealing, not crying or calling for specific attention due to discomfort.   Is this more of a trend with today's parents?   It may be cultural in this case, but I'm not clear.

I thought there was some developmental issue, but mostly, it turns out my wife is cheap and won't pay $65 for one.  Also, our kids have fat legs and she figured it would take two adults to extract our kids from one.

Those little foam seats cost $65????   I was thinking maybe one would be nice to take to the baby shower I'm attending next week.  I usually spend around $20.   Anybody got any other suggestions.  Third baby - first girl.   I've suggested that they name her Seeler (or my other name)..

lol

They work well as a portable high chair.  Also it gives parents a chance to eat while keeping the child able to view everyone else who is eating.  My little cousin was able to sit on the picnic table during supper while we were at the lake.

Peace

Joel

 Joel, I am with you on that one. 

The infant development lady who came to visit our son regularly to check  his progress (being a preemie) loaned us one for a couple months so Baby could build his core muscles more and it was a 'safe' place to put him for not -too-long  periods of time.  When used  with discretion t hey're a wonderful thing provided baby doesn't hate it.  (yes they are pricey.)

I would say that it's definitely becoming more common for parents to pick up their children a lot more, or even to wear them constantly.  The fancy name is "attachment parenting."  I'm in favour of whatever works for the family, personally.  I had planned to be one of those baby wearing types, but my daughter hated to be carried around or held; she spent almost all of her waking hours on a blanket on the floor.  She didn't even like to be held for feedings, and once I stopped nursing she wanted to just lay there flat on her back to drink her bottle.  Every baby is different, every parent is different, and no matter what you choose there will be pros and cons in the long run.