9 Harmful Baby Products to Avoid for Better Baby Development

First time moms are often bombarded with products and things that will help you “reach” baby’s developmental milestones. I am a huge advocate of evidence based research on which items are ACTUALLY helpful, and which are NOT.

These harmful baby products below will impede your baby’s gross motor, brain and social development. Avoid these things for better baby development in their first year!

Many of these products claim to give parents back more time in their day, or have some independent play. However, many of these items also come with huge caveats to be played once the baby reaches certain developmental milestones or under full parental supervision. This means that you will not really be saving more time by investing into these items. Instead, it may slow down, impede or harm your baby’s development in their first year.

If you are looking into purchasing the items below or received them as gifts, look at my alternative recommendations and swap them out.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a percentage of sale as commissions for qualifying purchases at no additional costs to you. We only recommend based on our tried-and-true honest opinions. TimeValueofMommy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. For more details please read our Disclaimer page.

Gross Motor Development

1. Jolly Jumper

What is it?:

Either secured to a door frame or a free standing stationary stand for the baby to jump on their own.

The Jolly Jumper claims to…

• Gives baby complete freedom of movement while allowing healthy exercise.
• Improves balance, helps develop rhythm and coordination and strengthens muscles.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Head injuries are the most common type of injury linked to baby jumpers. It can happen when the baby is bouncing too hard, or if the baby falls forward out of the jumper.
• Risks of hip injury, hip dysplasia or dislocation.
• Poor hip development. Baby’s hips are set in an unnatural position, which focuses the “exercise” on the wrong leg muscles that are required to crawl and walk.

Alternative(s)

• Baby swing, Baby bouncer (limited motion, limited time)
• Play pen, Play gym/activity mat (open, safe area)

The best “exercise” for babies when they are developing their gross motor skills to be able to crawl and walk, is floor time. Tummy time is crucial to develop strong neck and back muscles.

Having a baby safe space to move about freely will help babies develop the proper leg and feet reflexes and muscles to learn to crawl and eventually walk. You can encourage these motions by placing mirrors near the baby, playing with baby by showing them high contrast cards or toys in different directions, and getting them to grasp or grab different items close to them.

2. Walkers

What is it?:

A baby device that has wheels on the bottom and a seat where the baby can “walk” and move around independently before they can walk by themselves.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Baby walkers are banned by the federal government in Canada since 2004. They are unfortunately still available in the U.S.
• Walkers give babies access to areas they would not have otherwise been able to access. They can reach higher places and reach dangerous objects, or roll down stairs. Infants do not have the cognitive ability to understand danger at this age to have so much autonomy.

Alternative(s)

• Activity center, activity cube,
• Push toy

Babies will walk when they are ready. Walkers force babies to be in positions to “walk” when they are not ready. This can be the cause of different injuries on their developing muscles and bones. When their muscles have developed enough strength, they will begin supporting themselves by pulling themselves up.

Give them the opportunity to pull themselves up with an activity cube nearby your sofa or couch. Then give them 10 minutes at a time on an activity center. As they begin to become more mobile, introduce them to a push toy and they can start to navigate longer distances.

Keeping developmental activities “one step” ahead…pun not intended…would be crucial to help your baby thrive and be ready to discover their surroundings!

3. Bumbo Seat

What is it?:

Floor seat for babies between 3 – 12 months.

The Bumbo Seat claims to…

• promote baby’s back and neck strength while preparing them to sit on high chairs.
• contoured for ultimate support for a comfortable experience.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Curved back shape hunches baby to be sitting in a “C” shape and force their spines to not be in an upright posture. This causes slouching and poor core engagement.
• Dangerous position for hip dysplasia as sitting inside a Bumbo forces the hips to be close together due to the tight openings for legs, instead of having free movement and spread apart to the side.

Alternative(s)

• Upseat Baby Chair with Tray

The Upseat is a great ergonomic alternative if you are looking for a supportive seating arrangement for your baby before they are able to sit on their own.

I am STILL using this seat with my daughter as a convenient booster seat and she’s almost 2! I prefer this over highchairs because it’s super easy to clean, easy to store and multifunctional.

It is important to encourage anterior pelvic tilt; which is a slight forward rotation of the pelvis that engages the muscles responsible for upright posture.

Check out their case study here comparing the Bumbo and Upseat on why sitting properly is so crucial for your baby’s healthy spine and hip development.

4. Baby Shoes (with “flexible” or hard soles)

What is it?:

Shoes for tiny babies from birth to before they are ready to walk.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Babies shoes have no benefits for your baby’s feet. When shoes are too hard or inflexible, they restrict the natural foot movement.
• Almost all children younger than 18 months have flat feet (some even up to 6 years old!). Check out the linked page for learning to choose the right kind of choose for your child AFTER they learn to walk.

Alternative(s)

• barefoot is best!
• socks with grips or clothes with footies.

While baby shoes are adorable and hard to resist, they do not serve any developmental function. On the contrary, hard soles can cause injuries because your baby has not even grasped the use of their own feet yet. Similarly to learning to flip and crawl, stick with open environments and remember, natural is best!

Providing your baby the safe space to explore, to pull themselves up and move about will utilize all of their muscles and in time, they will learn to use their body for moving around.

5. Wrong Baby Carrier Positions

What is it?:

Babies in carriers that do not fit, are too tight, or too lose. Babies that are put into back carrying positions, or positions that restrict their leg movement.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Babies are born with very immature hips and need free movement to build muscles and strength.
• Hip dysplasia is a huge risk to infants because if their hip sockets do not develop the right way, it can cause dislocation and unintended pressure on their weak spines.

Alternative(s)

Babies should not be carried facing any other positions other than facing INWARDS heart-to-heart with their legs in an “M” shape for the first 6 months. Their spine should be in a straight, upright position.

My personal favourite is the Konny Baby Carrier Summer (air-mesh) [Amazon]. This carrier is no fuss to put on, as easy as wearing a t-shirt! I could NOT figure out the sling carriers or the wraps for the life of me. My daughter HATED the ergobaby carrier until she was about 9 months old. I wanted something to hold my newborn close to me for those contact naps while still having my hands free. This carrier saved my back and gave me some time to do some stuff around the house.

I also like that the Konny is so breathable and light-weight. Read their founder’s story here.

Brain & Social Development

6. Baby Mittens

What is it?:

Little baby mittens to prevent babies from scratching themselves, and/or to stay warm.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Babies need freedom to explore their hands. Newborns will put almost anything in their mouths as that is how they begin to develop their associations with their environment. It is also crucial for developing hand-eye coordination. Placing a mitten on their hand prevents them from proper exploration and causes developmental delays.
• Mittens can be unhygienic and cause overheating.

Alternative(s)

Trim your baby’s nails! If you are worried about those tiny razors cutting you up or their own precious little face up, do yourselves a favor and get a nail file. I could not imagine using a nail clipper no matter how “baby safe” it was marketed to be.

This nail trimmer is by far the easiest to use and store, with different heads for different ages. I never have to worry about seeing blood when clipping my baby’s nails.

If you are worried that your baby’s hands are too cold, know that bluish and cool hands and feet are normal on healthy infants. You can check your baby by feeling the nape of their neck to see if they are sweaty to cold to the touch.

7. Mobiles for Baby Sleep

What is it?:

Mobiles hang above the baby crib to help baby sleep.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Mobiles do not help baby to fall asleep as it is more stimulating than calming. It could transform your baby’s association of the crib to a place of play instead of a place of rest.
• Infants (especially in the fourth trimester) that wake at night are awake because they have a need. It could be they are hungry, they have a dirty diaper or need some cuddles. Distracting them with a mobile could prevent you from tending to these very real needs in a timely manner.
• Mobiles can be a hazard especially when babies are able to move and reach up to grab it. If not installed properly, it can fall onto your baby.

Alternative(s)

Give baby plenty of stimulation and play time with a play gym. I have the Play Gym by Lovevery [Alternative: Skip Hop Baby Play Gym] but you can get so many other options with play gyms that have things hanging for your baby to look at and grab.

Having a fun and appropriate wake window will be more beneficial in promoting a sleepy baby to shut their eyes. Providing a routine and solid sleep associations will help with building better sleep habits long term.

8. Flashy Toys

What is it?:

Toys that are very “active“, meaning that because they are blinking, flashing or talking to the baby. Examples here, and here. Playing with these active toys will cause your baby will be sitting there passively.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Building your child’s attention and focus is really building those connections in your child’s brain to be in-tune with an activity for prolonged period of time. When you provide toys that are distracting, they don’t provide a chance for the baby to engage and investigate its function.
• Distracting babies trains babies to NOT pay attention. This means when you DO want your child to focus and learn, they will have a difficult time. This is especially detrimental for learning and retaining information.

Alternative(s)

Check out my post here under T is for Teaching Your Baby on passive vs. active play and how that can save you time in the long term!

[Related Post: “Working Mom Hacks to Save Time“]

Toys that help strengthen neuro connections by teaching babies about the world, its cause and effect, will create a foundation for your child to be naturally curious and wanting to learn.

Build focus and independent play with passive NOT active toys. I highly recommend you check out my post, as well as one of my favourite authors Janet Lansbury’s post here on “Baby, Interrupted – 7 Ways to Build Your Child’s Focus and Attention Span”.

I personally signed up for the Lovevery play kits where the founder really focuses on building those 100 billion nerve cells that your baby is born with through play! You can sign up for Lovevery play kits here.

9. TVs or Screens

What is it?:

TV/Screens. This seems like an obvious one, but screens in general are not helpful for baby’s brain development, especially in their two years of life.

We live in a world full of screens so it will be unlikely that you can bring up your baby completely screen-free.

Reasons to Avoid:

• Babies under a year old do not learn anything from a machine/screen. They cannot associate what they see on the screen to what they see in the real world.
• Screens hijack attention spans and the ability to control impulses.
• Screens delay language development even if it’s just “playing in the background”. This means less language development.
• Screens reduce empathy. This is detrimental for social development.

Alternative(s)

• Cocomelon alternative: Ms. Rachel! It’s a compromise to provide a “real teacher” – at least a real person inside the screen rather than the flashy cartoons with fast cuts and crazy colors.
• Facetime calls: call grandparents, uncles and aunties. Interaction with a real human over the screen is perhaps one of the only ways a screen can do less harm.

We often give our kids screens as a way to distract them to get some time back in our day. You can check out my top time-saving tips here with my blog post linked below:

[Related Post: “Working Mom Hacks to Save Time“]

My recommendation is always to engage and teach your child as you are doing the chores around the house, or even when you are working! Maria Montessori says “play is the work of the child”. Provide passive toys that the child can engage with while you are working at home in close proximity. Create kid-friendly spaces and ways for them to join you and help you with your chores.

I now have to negotiate how many books I’m going to read to my daughter before I leave the room for her night time routine. She will keep the book train going if I don’t stop her! There are SO many benefits of reading books to your child. Check out my post here on curating your baby’s first library and how to read to your baby to promote engagement.

[Related Post: “Baby’s First Library: Birth to 12 Months Old“]

In your baby’s first year, they are not only developing physiologically, but also developing the bonds of love and trust with their loved ones. This important facet of life as part of social and emotional development comes from the way the parents interact with their babies. The way they hold, play, talk, and interact with the babies will be the foundation for how they will interact with others.

Children need to play to develop a healthy mind and body. See WHO’s guidelines on healthy development in children under 5 years of age.

This post was all about the top products to avoid for proper baby development. If you are concerned about your baby’s development or their milestones, speak to your healthcare provider and they can provide you with tailored guidelines on how to help your child thrive.

While there are so many products and gadgets out there to help make parenting easier for the modern parent, these products mentioned above will do more harm than good.

If this post has helped you, Subscribe to Time Value of Mommy’s newsletter to keep updated on new posts that can help you as a first time parent.

Please let me know if you learned anything new in this post or if you have other suggestions I can add to the list!