In my experience and that of the 5 friends I have who have recently had babies, there is no restriction with the bumbo. It gives baby more confidence with sitting up by themselves and saves the danger of toppling over constantly with the cushions. No one with half a brain would leave a baby in it constantly to play, it's just another option. It gives baby Picky the confidence to reach out for toys without falling, and now he can sit up by himself (at 5 and a bit months) he still likes it. As you haven't tried one aims1202, you wouldn't know the advantages of them. Baby Picky sits up with cushions round him, in his bumbo, on the bed, on the floor, in his highchair (would high chairs also be too restrictive in your opinion? Maybe stopping baby getting what they want when they want?) Sorry for the rant but I don't think you can generalise with babies, different things work for different people, it was just another option.