2 Qs...Bouncers And Teddy Bears.

I can't believe your 3 month old is sitting and standing!?!? If she's really sitting up that well, even before they're sitting up well, they can go in a bouncer/exersaucer for short periods of time. They'll just lean up against the side if they need to. They just shouldn't be in there a long time. As for the stuffed animal...unless she just HAS to have it to go to sleep, I'd quit. Imagine how you'd feel if something horrible were to happen...even if the stuffed animal weren't to blame, you'd just never know. But that's just me and I'm a bit paranoid about that kind of thing.

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Hi C.,
I would check out the American Pediatric Association Website www.aap.org in terms of recommendations regarding bouncers etc. My sister in law is a physical therapist, and she was a bit skeptical about their benefits, and more concerned about their negative impact on growth and development. I am not an expert, but I would research thoroughly at what month it is OK to use and/or would ask my dr.

Same for the teddy issue...check out the APA website.

HTH. Jilly

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Here's a good summary of concerns I've heard about bouncers and your baby's development: http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/gosh_families/advice_and_support...

In summary, it's probably too early and could alter her normal physical development. But if you're really eager to try it out, very short, supervised periods probably won't hurt her.

As for the teddy bear, it sounds like you are also supervising that situation quite satisfactorily. SIDS deaths occur when babies are in their deep-sleep cycle. The first 20 minutes of sleep are usually light, and having a teddy during this time shouldn't pose a risk.

You might ask your aunt to find some documentation for you on the danger of SIDS during the period of light sleep that babies go through to reach deep sleep. If she finds and reads the available evidence for herself, it will probably reassure her better than just hearing you tell her it's okay.

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My babe started actually enjoying her jumper around 4 months. She is 6 mo now and usually only lasts about 20 minutes at a time in it. She is like your babe in that vshe gets restless in her play gym. I think anything they are doing they just wanna either situp or crawl or walk so bad, they get so frustrated doing the same thing too long. So while I say she's probably ready I can't say you will get too much use out of it. We don't, but every baby is different;) As for the teddy bear, I say as long as you take it away once she's asleep its fine. When she was about 4 months and rolling over in her crib my babe would start crying at night if she rolled on her tummy and was having a hard time holding up her tired head....so just keep an eye out for the time being!

Ask your pediatrician, then whenever you get unsolicited advice you can say, "Wow, that is interesting, but my pediatrician says...." That way it reassures them that you are not the worst mother of the year because you listen to an expert. I often would use my pediatrician as an excuse even when I didn't ask him something just to keep my well-meaning MIL from telling me to do things she did umpteen years ago. Just smile and remind yourself it is because they love your baby that they offer the advice. I often forgot that when I was a brand new mom.

I don't think she is too young for a bouncer. She isn't going to push and bounce if it hurts. If your husband is VERY against a bouncer, then let her sit up in a walker.

Tell your aunt she can't come over and see the baby if she is going to question your parenting so severly. You are active and aware, question yourself, search for answers, ask advice, and it is up to you to make your informed decision. If your aunt is much older than you, her experience comes from a different generation, and it is quite likely that medical research has carried on without her. At the very least, it is controversial with educated and experienced experts on both sides of the fence. Your aunt needs to let you be the parent of your babies and respect your choices.

I have known 3 month olds who were fine in a saucer--you can fold a blanket to help her "fill out" the seat since she is younger.

Ignore the aunt. I sleep my children on their sides as infants because the back scares me and used *gasp* a blanket (halfway up, not to the chin) in an antique bassinet. I think my MIL loves me because I'm NOT insane and obsessed with safety trends--a child that cannot even turn over is not going to get stuck in the bars of a bassinet. :) Tell the aunt that when she has her next child she can keep the stuffed animals away. In the meantime, you are going to continue to raise your daughter. (I know snarky things are easier to think than say, but again, ignore her at least.)

It's none of your aunt's business.

My granddaughter has a monkey that is her lovey. She has had it since before birth.
In fact the music box was broken (pull the tail and it would play) by the time she was born.
But she still loves is, as she is alive and well at age 6.
She also loved her bouncer. In fact she loved to be placed in it upside down, and always under a watchful eye.

Updated

My granddaughter has a monkey that is her lovey. She has had it since before birth.
In fact the music box was broken (pull the tail and it would play) by the time she was born.
But she still loves is, as she is alive and well at age 6.
She also loved her bouncer. In fact she loved to be placed in it upside down, and always under a watchful eye.

P.S. I did do surgery and remove the music box and tail spring, and it
gets washed almost as often as her lovey thermal blanket that
was not only her mother's but her uncle's too. He had it first.

I think your question unintentially caused confusion, and thus the reason you are getting such a wide variety of answers... There are bouncers, there are jumpers, and there are exersaucers. I get the impression the you are asking about an exersaucer, but many others obviously thought you were referring to jumpers. You may need to clarify what you are actually considering for use.

My girl started in her bumbo-like chair around 3 months and she loved it! A trick that I read somewhere was to use a thick magazine (or soft-back book) behind her for a little extra head support. And don't leave her unattended at all. It may be a bit soon for the exersaucer, but if you think she'll use one, I don't see any reason why not to go ahead--my girl started using one at 4.5 months (I suggest you buy it used just in case she hates it). As for the stuffed animal, I think it's okay as long as you take it away once she's asleep. My girl also loves stuffed animals and I let her sleep with a "beanie" tigger when she was tiny--she loved to suck on his tail and ears! Now, she's 20 months and has moved up to a 12" tigger--and a few other animals that she can pick from when she goes to bed. I say, just follow your mama instinct. Good luck!

1) When i cant remember proper age recomendations or weight for toys/baby gear. . . I look them up online and find out what the item recomends.

2) with my first child i would have said you were out of your mind letting a baby have a teddy. but i had my second and she loves a little blanket and i do the same taking it away once she is asleep. as long as your taking it away and keeping a close eye on her because five mins anything can happen!

3 months is a little young for an exersaucer. I started mine in them at around 4 months. You might try a bumbo. My DD loved the bumbo and we got the tray and a suction toy to put on it.
I personally wouldn't worry about the teddy bear, but I'm sure everyone else will tell you differently. I really don't see it being an issue as long as you're taking it away.

I would go ahead and try the excersaucer. I tried my son in it around this age, and he wasn't interested (he developed an interest around 4.5-5 months) but if your child is interested, why not?

As for the teddy...well, that's for you to decide. I had the opposite problem. I refused to give my son a teddy because I was pretty terrified of SIDS, and my MIL thought this was completely cruel. She was also horrified that I swaddled my son. You're always going to get unwanted advice. Talk to your pediatrician about the risks, and then as a mother, make the call you're comfortable with. Good luck.