Because you are here, we safely 🙂 assume that you are intrigued about Otteroo but want to learn more about whether it’s safe. So we thank you for your curiosity and are grateful to take this opportunity to address the 3 most commonly asked questions from our parents.
So, is Otteroo safe?
Well, our answer, like that to many questions in life is: IT DEPENDS!
Just like every product you interact with, safety is a function of using the product as intended and as directed. Otteroo is no exception – it’s 100% safe when instructions and precautions are followed.
What does that mean? It means as an inflatable, Otteroo needs to be inflated fully, and free of any air leaks, to maintain its structural integrity.
It also means that, like any toy intended to be used in the water, constant and close supervision is unnegotiable and an absolute must!
At the end of the day, Otteroo is a super fun, developmentally beneficial water toy that babies love – and comes with a lot of additional anecdotal perks like banishing witching hour, better sleep, love of water, etc.
Does it hurt the baby’s neck?
This one, is a hard NO! And we wrote a really nerdy article here for those who are interested in science. And if science isn’t your jam, check out social media to see thousands of happy Otteroo babies who wouldn’t be smiling if they were uncomfortable.
But in short, buoyancy reduces the pull of gravity by 90%. That coupled with the fact that a baby’s head is way larger than adults and they’re more squishy (read: fatty), their weight when cradled in Otteroo in the water is miniscule.
How about the FDA & CPSC warnings?
We assume if you are still here you are big on research and have seen their warnings and our response.
The warnings were prompted by an isolated incident when a child was left alone in the bathtub for extended periods of time. These government agencies decided that the parent who did not stay with the child while in water was representative of all parents.
While we were absolutely heartbroken by this incident, after selling 400K+ Otteroos over 10+ years, we firmly believe that parents understand that one should never leave a child unattended in or near a body of water.
We go to great lengths to ensure that our communication is plentiful and clear about how to safely use Otteroo, focusing especially on the importance of never leaving the child unattended and checking for proper inflation/any leaks prior to each use.
Again, we appreciate your diligence and we welcome any questions or concerns you may have. Feel free to drop us a note at hello@otteroo.com.