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As tiny human beings, it’s amazing how much stuff babies actually need. And it’s hard to say no to any, since you feel like your new bundle of joy only deserves the very best. This is especially true if you’re a new parent!

When shopping for baby gear, everyone ― including doting parents and gift-givers ― makes it a point to steer clear of items that might endanger bubba’s safety. They check to make sure the clothes are flame retardant, the plastic is BPA-free and toys don’t have small parts that baby can choke on accidentally.

However, not many people know that several commonly used baby products can pose a danger to your kewpie, even though these meet all safety standards after undergoing rigorous testing. Sometimes, it’s because of misuse or prolonged use, other times, the product can hinder baby’s development.

Here’s a round-up of the eight most popular baby products that can pose health risks. Scroll through the photo gallery to find out which ones you should toss out today as they might be lying around your house right now… 

Bumbo Floor Seats

When the Bumbo seat was launched, parents couldn’t wait to get their hands on it. It does a great job of propping junior up into a sitting position to make feeding easier. Plus, your chubster looks cute sitting on the seat, which come in many different colours. However, in 2007, the product started getting recalled after the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission received reports of incidents in which babies fell out of the seat when they lean, arch or rock themselves too much. Plus, the seats were not meant to be placed on tables, counters and chairs, which parents were doing. An improved version of the Bumbo seat was released soon after with a restraining belt, but experts thanks to the wheels at the bottom which rotate 360 degrees say it’s still not enough to keep your kewpie completely safe. Plus, physical therapists have noticed that the position forces tour tot to sit with the back rounded and the head leaning forward, which can interfere with your child’s postural alignment. (Photo: iStock)

Walkers

Walkers seem like a great way to lend mobility to your kewpie at a stage where they are eager to explore their surroundings, but can’t walk properly just yet. Junior zipping from one end of the house to the next in seconds seems like a fantastic idea…until you consider the safety issues. Every year, many tots suffer injuries associated with rolling down a flight of stairs, falling over ledges or into home pools while they were in their walker.  Also, contrary to popular belief, walkers do not encourage kids to walk faster. In fact they delay your little one from trying to achieve this milestone, since he’ll get dependent on his walker. (Photo: iStock)

Neck floats

This flotation device first made the news after baby spas all around the world started using them during their water spa sessions. When attached around bub’s neck, it keeps them upright and creates a weightless feeling while allowing them to wiggle around. However, Kyran Quinlan, an associate professor of paediatrics at Rush University Medical Center in the US, said in an interview that these floats scare her to death. “These are potential death traps...To have your precious baby one poorly sealed seam away from going under at the pool is frightening,” Quinlan noted. Swimming instructors also note that it’s not the best way to introduce your water baby to the sport, as it prevents them from the all-important human contact that they need when they explore the water. (Photo: iStock)

Baby pods/nests

These portable infant beds have soft padded sides that are elevated. They come in handy to pop baby in it for breast- or bottle-feeding or some play-time. However, this unassuming product becomes a danger hazard when you leave bub in it for extended periods of time ― worse when they are left unintended. They might suffocate when they bury their face in the soft padding, since they can’t turn their head away when things get uncomfortable. If you place it on your own bed as a co-sleeping aid, baby can also roll out of the pod, out of the bed and onto the hard floor surface! (Photo: Paddle Pod)

Non-ergonomic baby carriers

Baby carriers are a great way to keep your kewpie close to you as you go about your daily chores. However, since many of them are intended to carry your child up until toddlerhood, they don’t provide enough support for tiny infants. Many of them require a separate insert, which some parents overlook, so that baby is pressed against the body instead of being carried. When this is done too often, your little one is at high risk of suffocation, plus, skull and head injuries. By the way, some carriers don’t give your child ergonomic support. This means that instead of the recommended sitting position, your eewee is literally hanging off the carrier. This carrying position has been linked directly to hip dislocation in babies. (Photo: iStock)

Jumpers

Nothing is cuter than a bouncing baby... And nothing excites a baby more than being able to jump up and down ― over and over and over again! It’s probably the reason why jumpers are one of the first things new parents add to their baby shower registry. Companies have also come up with several variations to cater to the high demand. Some boast a sling that you attach to a door or the ceiling, while others are freestanding ones with springs or frames. Fun as they are, jumpers won’t benefit your wee one’s development in any way. Since these are designed to be propelled when babies use their toes to push off, infants will get used to pointing their toes. When they maintain that position, it affects their posture and may even delay walking. Also, all of them have a risk of malfunctioning and can easily fling baby forward or backward. (Photo: iStock)

Bath seats

Bath seats do a great job of keeping baby upright during bathtime, but also provides a false sense of security, especially when junior can easily slip or tip over into the water. Even those that come with suction cups aren’t all that safe when there’s water involved, By the way, if you didn’t already know, newborns can drown in water as shallow as 2.5cm deep, so never ever leave them unattended in the water. (Photo: www.westcoastkids.ca)

Crib bumpers

Crib bumpers help to create a cosy environment for your tiny snoozer, but they can also trap their hands and legs between the strings that are used to keep the bumpers in place. The best thing you can do during those early months is to place your little one in a crib free of anything that can pose a health risk, including crib bumpers, loose bedding, soft toys, blankets, pillows, bolsters and even a too padded mattress.