Baby hammock safety: things every parent should know

While a baby bouncer is generally not a dangerous product for your baby, there are still more than 2,000 babies who are injured each year due to improper use.

Baby hammocks can be a great way to safely entertain your baby and give them some down time, as long as they are used correctly. Let’s take a quick look at some things to consider before buying a new baby rocker or baby rocking chair.

defective parts

Many of the gorilla injuries, according to a 2007 report by ConsumerReports.com, were due to faulty parts. This means there was a manufacturing defect or the parts were damaged from misuse.

For this reason, it’s always a good idea to research the history of the brand you’re interested in buying. If they have a strong track record with no recalls and few customer complaints, then you can feel more confident with their newer products; however, this is not a guarantee.

You should also avoid buying used products. Just because a jumper appears to be in good condition on initial inspection doesn’t mean there hasn’t been misuse in the past. This could be as simple as poor assembly by the previous owner or a drop in transit. Any of these things could be enough to damage it and cause it to malfunction.

If you do end up buying a used one, you should always properly research the model as well as the year it was produced and make sure no recalls have been issued.

Placement

This may seem obvious, but every year, babies are injured by jumpers falling from surfaces like tables, countertops, or even from a small height, like a slightly raised outdoor deck. Keep the baby bouncer on firm, level ground and away from stairs. Although they are designed not to move during operation, this can happen depending on the surface and you should always keep a close eye on them when in use. Always look for non-slip padding mounted on the bottom of the one you’re interested in and make sure it’s not wearing down or degrading in any way.

Security features

Your hammock should always include the following:

• Safety harness
• Anti-tip functions
• Non-slip padding on the bottom.
• Wide base for greater stability.

safe use

Always make sure to get your baby out of a hammock every time you move it. Due to moving parts, it is too unstable to carry or lift with baby inside. Also, they are not designed for the extra weight during transport and this could cause the handle or bars to break with the baby inside.

It is also recommended that you limit your baby’s use to approximately thirty minutes. Different studies have shown that prolonged use could lead to the development of ‘flat head syndrome’, which basically causes a flat spot to form on the back of the baby’s head. This can remain for a lifetime and prevention is very important! Follow these tips, use common sense, and you and your baby will have a lot of fun with a new bouncer!