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There are so many products on the market aimed at babies that even with just looking at them without an expert eye on child safety it is possible to see that they are unsafe yet people still buy them and really rate them!

Various unsafe yet popular baby products include:

Cot bumpers. Okay so you may not think that they are all that dangerous but they are no longer recommended so why are they still allowed to be sold? Cot bumpers apparently can add to the increase chances of cot death. They stop the air being able to circulate as freely around the cot and also increase your chances of babies being suffocated as they roll into them and then become stuck. Babies often get stuck in awkward positions as their bodies are too weak to be able to move them around how they want and so it can be very dangerous for a baby to roll into the cot bumper.

The bumbo. This is such a popular product now. It's all over the shops and everyone seems to be buying them. They are basically little seats which look like potties. They don't have any form of restraint on them so your baby can shift around and manage to wiggle out or launch themselves over the back. If your baby pushes back and arches their back they can get into all sorts of difficulties. Leaving your baby unattended in one of these seats is not advised but many people do turn their backs on their babies, or worse, I've seen them put the bumbos upon tables and settees and risk their baby's falling from this height!

Baby Walkers. These are all very well and good with teaching babies how to walk but when your baby sets off across the room and then bangs heavily into the wall or a piece of furniture it jolts them to a stop which cannot be good for their little shock absorbers in their bodies. They also involve your baby standing for long periods of time, the recommended time is just 20 minutes on a baby walker or a jumperoo type device but so many people have their babies in these for much longer.

Moses basket quilts. I cannot understand why moses baskets even come with quilts! I think it's appalling! Nowhere is it advised that babies under the age of 6 months should sleep underneath quilts. This is a huge factor contributing towards cot death yet moses baskets often come with quilts and sometimes even pillows! there is no way that these products should come with quilts! Babies should never sleep under a quilt!

When buying baby products try to keep in mind what are the recommendations these days for what babies should be wearing/using/sleeping in and see if you can make your nursery as baby friendly as you possibly can. Look for things like the stability of a product and never leave your baby unattended if you are uncertain about the safety of a product. Always use your initiative and common sense and do what you know is right for your baby to keep them safe. If there are various aspects of products that you are unsure about then contact the manufacturer to find out more or to voice your concerns. Remember your baby's safety is paramount.

Learn more about this author, Laura Bingham.
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