SITTING PRETTY

I put my baby in the Bumbo Baby Sitter when I noticed that she could hold her head up steadily. Hannah was almost three months old. At four months, she could sit on her own for about thirty seconds at a time. She needed her arms for support (like a tripod), but her time in the Bumbo gave her a clue as to what sitting up and viewing the world in a different way was all about.

The Bumbo is a lightweight, non-toxic baby seat made of low density foam used to help babies sit on their own. It is easy to clean and portable. The seat does not have any straps, however, it holds the baby in securely because of its unique design. The raised leg openings decrease stress on the baby's spine while the front support prevents the baby from sliding forward. It comes in many colours such as pink, yellow, blue, and purple. When ready, a Bumbo tray can be purchased so that the baby can play while sitting.

For safety reasons, the Bumbo should not be placed on an elevated surface. Parents should watch their children carefully while they are in the Bumbo.

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH A JUMP

Happy Earth Day! To celebrate, we recognize Fisher-Price's Precious Planet Jumperoo. This is a free-standing jumper with a 360 degree swivel chair and several stations of play. There are three height levels to adjust as your baby grows. The music function can be set to continuous play or to motion sensitivity so that the music turns on when your baby bounces about. There are toys to spin and turn, a couple of dangling toys to swat at, and toys that make rattling sounds. Requires 3-AA batteries.

Available at Toys R Us for $129.99 (Cdn).