Bumbo Seat: Age Requirements, Safety and Review

We pride ourselves in being unbiased gear experts. Learn more about how we research, expertly review and curate products here.

The Bumbo seat was created for infants aged 3 to 12 months to give your little one a safe place to sit, even if they aren’t quite ready to sit on their own yet. 

Made of high-quality, non-toxic foam that's similar to the foam used in car seats, the Bumbo first came onto the market in 2001. Dubbed the "baby sitter," the name comes from a combination of two words, bum and bottom, which make Bumbo.

Since its inception in 2001, there has been a recall and new safety precautions around the baby product. In this article, we take a look at the proper age and weight requirements for the Bumbo baby seats, as well as risks, recalls, safety precautions and our honest review. 

Bumbo Seat Age and Weight Requirements

According to the manufacturer, the Bumbo Floor Seat is designed for babies once they are able to hold up their head, around ages 3 to 12 months. It’s recommended to wait until your little one has hit that sitting milestone and has good head control, so they are more comfortable and do not topple over. This happens closer to 6 to 8 months of age. Always check with your Pediatrician if you are unsure. 

The Bumbo Multi Seat, on the other hand, is made for babies 6 - 36 months who can already sit up unaided. 

There are no specific weight limits on either seat, however, the seat is meant to be comfortable and nonrestrictive. So, make sure your baby can move comfortably without falling out. 

Bumbo Seat Recalls and Safety

Though many parents are fans of the company, Bumbo has had a few safety issues. Namely, 1 million of the seats were recalled in 2007 due to reports of children falling out of their seats and suffering serious head injuries. This recall resulted in the company adding a warning label and instructions telling parents to only use the baby seats on the ground floor. 

Another recall occurred in 2021. The original infant floor seat didn't have a restraint belt in it. For the second recall, the straps were required. Buyers could send in a request for the repair kit to make the seat up-to-date and safe. The kit also came with a new warning sticker stating the infant seat is only for babies that can hold their own head up and that the seat should only be used on the floor and never on a raised surface, in the bath or kiddie pool or as a replacement for a high chair. 

Is The Bumbo Seat Safe? 

Seat placement aside, there's controversy about whether or not the Bumbo is safe for babies and their developing bones and spines. 

Bumbo Floor Seats are safe when used properly and according to the manufacturer's safety instructions. To use the seat safely, make sure to: 

• Only use the seat if your little one is 3-12 months of age and has proper head control 
• Only use the seat on the floor. Never a raised surface 
• Always supervise your little one while they are using the seat 
• Do not use the seat for long periods of time (typically no more than 15-20 minutes) 

Our Bumbo Seat Review 

There are a lot of reviews out there on the Bumbo seats, both good and bad. To help you cut through the noise and avoid spending hours on the internet figuring out if this seat is a good choice for you, here is our unbiased review of both the Bumbo Multi Seat and Bumbo Floor Seat. 

Bumbo Floor Seat Review 

• Avg. Retail Price: $49.99
• Avg. GBG Price: $28
• Up to 60% off retail 

• Dimensions: 14.96"D x 14.96"W x 9.25"H
• Age Range: 3 - 12 months 
• Maximum weight: Around 22 lbs 

The Bumbo Classic Floor Seat is an easy-to-wash, sturdy baby chair with a three-point safety harness, elevated leg openings to help your baby lean back and a rounded back so the soft-sided chair supports their spine. As the name suggests, the Bumbo Floor Seat is meant to be used on the floor only to help young babies ages 3 - 12 months sit upright. You can start using this seat once your little one is able to hold their head and neck up on their own. Many parents use this seat for playtime and feeding. 

Pros 

• Easy to move from room to room 
• Easy to wash 
• Great for entertaining littles while you cook or clean 

Cons 

• Not great for natural learning to sit 
• Can not be used on an elevated surface 
• Should not keep your little one in the seat for too long 
• Does not fit well for babies with chunky legs 

 What Parents Think: 

• "Once they could hold their heads up I would put them in the Bumbo so they could always see what I was doing," says mom Jerisha Parker Gordon. "It just allowed them to sit up and 'play' with their toys. We would bring it everywhere because it was lightweight and they always had a comfy seat that wasn’t a car seat or swing." 
• "They aren’t harmful occasionally but are often overused," says mom and developmental specialist Meg St-Esprit McKivigan. "Sticking a kid in for 20 minutes so they are happy while you cook is one thing, but hours a day or as an 'aid' to teach sitting is so, so bad. It’s not even a natural sitting position."

Bumbo 3-in-1 Multi Seat Review 

• Avg. Retail Price: $59.99
• Avg. GBG Price: $28
• Up to 64% off retail 

• Dimensions: 13"D x 14"W x 11"H
• Age Range: 6 - 36 months 
• Maximum weight: 33 lbs

Unlike the Bumbo Floor Seat, the Bumbo Multi Seat can be used three different ways: as a floor seat, booster seat and feeding seat to accommodate different stages of your child’s development. The Multi Seat is designed for babies who can already sit up unaided and can be used beyond your little's first year (up to 36 months). Many parents like to use this seat as a booster seat as there are straps to keep baby tight in a seated position and adjustable height settings. Like the other Bumbo seat, this should only be used for short periods of time (no more than 30 minutes). 

Pros 

• Easy to move from room to room 
• Has a tray for feeding and play 
• Easy to clean 
• Can be used multiple ways 

Cons 

• Not great for natural learning to sit 
• Should not keep your little one in the seat for too long 
• Not as comfortable for larger children 
• Slightly more expensive 

 What Parents Think: 

• "Our son was developmentally delayed due to low muscle tone so we loved ours and got extra time out of it," says Denver mom and writer Leah Charney. "It is excellent for skinny babies but harder on squishier babies. Ours has a tray, so we used it as a mobile high chair, both going out to eat and strapped to dining chairs at friends houses." 

While the Bumbo works great for some families, it’s not a product you need. Especially, if your little one is on the chunkier side. If you’re worried about the Bumbo seat not supporting baby’s development, contact your Physical Therapist or Pediatrician to see what they recommend for healthy development.

GoodBuy Gear parents who didn’t use this seat instead opted for the Upseat (same idea as Bumbo, but without any recalls, plus a nice story). If you want to avoid a seat altogether, other GoodBuy Gear parents encouraged tummy time on the floor with a nice big gym mat so any tipping is safe. 

The good news is, whether you like the seat or not, you can always sell it back to us if it doesn’t end up working out.