Posted on 3rd Sep 2011 @ 5:15 PM

Parents (and grandparents) will buy just about anything (that's marketed) for babies. And more and more products on the market are touting themselves as being "ergonomic." So you knew it was just a matter of time before you started seeing dozens of "ergonomic baby products" on store shelves.

However -- and brace yourself, because this may shock you -- many of these products are no more "ergonomically sound" than their standard counterparts.

Which baby toy is ergonomic and which one isn't? Exactly.

Here is a list (in descending order of added value due to design improvements) of 10 baby products which are marketed as "ergonomic."

1. Evenflo TRUVENT Angled Bottle. This product can demonstrate tangible benefits to a baby: less colic, reflux, and gas pain. The vented bottle helps liquid flow more smoothly, and the angled shape lets mothers feed infants in a semi-upright position to facilitate digestion.

2. Baby Nipple Thermometer. This thermometer wins the "innovation" award. With this tool, parents can take a baby's temperature by sticking this pacifier-like thermometer in his or her mouth. After all, babies don't like being poked in sensitive places any more than adults do.

3. Memory foam baby pillow. Babies like to be at ease, and having a pillow that supports their head, neck, and shoulders comfortably can accomplish that. But the product description also refers to this pillow as "anti-snore" and "massage;" which addresses issues that adults tend to deal with more than infants.

4. Teeth EZ. This teething toy claims to have an "ergonomic shape [that] ensures all parts of the jaw area are reached." It's unclear how problematic inconsistently-strong jaw muscles are for babies. But the toy is certainly useful if it's more ergonomic than, say, a corkscrew or a parent's finger.

5. Baby Human Ergonomic Baby Spoons. The fact that its two-headed shape helps prevent choking is a positive feature. But the claim that this product teaches "self feeding skills" is probably bogus, since most babies are quite adept at putting things in their mouths. (Unless you want your infant fully etiquette-trained by age two.)

6. Baby Scale. Sure, it's great to be able to weigh your baby whenever the mood strikes you. But claiming that this product has an "ergonomic design" because the weighing surface has curved sides to keep babies from falling off of the scale is probably a bit of a stretch.

7. Wooden Baby High Chair. This chair also boasts an "ergonomic design" because it is tilted slightly backward (much like a music stand for sheet music). But one also wonders if that will just encourage the baby to slide forward and fall out of the chair. Is that what is known as an "ergonomic benefit?"

8. Baby stroller. This product promotes an "ergonomically safe and comfortable ride." People… it's a stroller. If it has a cushion and is being pushed by someone else, the average infant will like be pretty comfortable. After all, it probably won't be used on a rocky mountainside.

9. Plastic baby toilet seat. Again, the item purportedly has an "ergonomic design." Please. The whole point of toilet training is to teach children the social niceties of using a commode as opposed to the simpler and more instinctive method of soiling their pants. Toddlers won't appreciate any ergonomic "perks" of a toilet training seat. All they care about is that the seat A) won't let them fall in, or B) doesn't have spikes on it.

10. Optical baby mouse. Yes, really. Even though it's also designed for "small hand-type ladies and children" (?), this mouse is being marketed as a baby product. Well, if your infant is developing carpal tunnel syndrome from surfing the Web too much at night, then you have much bigger problems than a non-ergonomic mouse.

To recap: just because it says the word "ergonomic" on the packaging of a baby product does not necessarily mean that it's any better for a baby than the similar item on the shelf above it which does not mention the word. But it will almost always cost you more money.