Parents love bouncers and swings as a safe and fun place for their babies to spend time while they get their errands done around the house. In this case, the baby bouncer is a suitable choice.
Typically, a bouncer is a lightweight, low-to-the-ground seat designed to sit on the floor and bounce when your baby kicks his legs or moves his arms. Usually heftier than bouncers, a swing is a seat that moves your little one back and forth, or from side to side, both with some squeaky toys and rattles attached to keep the baby occupied for as long as possible.
So what is what in the world of rocking and bouncing baby chairs?
There are all different kinds of best baby bouncer.
Most of the best options will offer a direct bouncing motion that responds to the way your baby moves, while others have more control options for parents, including features like swaying, playing soothing sounds, and even vibrating. Plenty of our favorite bouncers are minimalist and modern in design, so they could blend into every living space.
Rockers are usually suitable from birth until about 6 months and have slanted bases so that you can rock your baby gently. The rocking motion can help to soothe some babies, and most rockers enable you to just give it a nudge with your toe to set it moving.
Bouncer & Swing
Bouncers can sit newborns and babies until they can sit upright, which is usually about 6 months. They are flexible enough to move slightly when you push down or when your baby kicks as she gets older. Bouncers usually have a toy bar, ideal for keeping your baby entertained while you get things done. And they can come in handy as a feeding seat for when you begin weaning.
Swings are ideal if your baby will only settle when she’s being rocked or walked back and forth. Usually suitable from birth, this type of chair can normally be used until your child is about 6 months old.
Editor’s Choice
4moms mamaRoo 4 Bluetooth enabled high-tech baby swing
Why is it better?
- Gently soothes sore gums
- Easy to grip
- Amazing design and effectiveness
The Lineup At A Glance
[supsystic-tables id=17]6 Best Baby Bouncer Top Rated In [year]
1. 4 moms Baby Bouncer Seat
This is the brand new, [year] model, developed based on users feedback. 4 moms really tried to listen to their users and offer exactly what they wanted for their money (a whole lot of money!)
- Beautiful and sophisticated design
- Numerous options
- Machine washable seat
- Very expensive
- Heavy to tote around the house
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This is the brand new, 2017 model, developed based on users feedback. 4 moms really tried to listen to their users and offer exactly what they wanted for their money (a whole lot of money!)
The MamaRoo is both capable and stylish, and adds a whole new realm of motion to bouncers. It bounces up and down and sways from side to side, just like parents do when comforting their baby. It has 5 unique motions that simulate a baby’s favorite and most relaxing activities: car ride, tree swing, rock-a-bye, ocean floating, and kangaroo bounce. The overhead toy includes interactive, reversible toy balls. Keeps baby’s attention with the sound of the crinkle ball, rattle or reflective mirror ball.
The seat reclines to multiple positions to allow baby to lie back and relax or sit up and play. The mamaRoo is also Bluetooth enabled so you can control the motion, sound, speed and volume from your compatible smart device without disturbing baby! There is built in music, including nature sounds and white noise, and you can also play MP3s.
What’s more?
It has a machine washable seat, a nicely padded cover with good ergonomic support, and a sleek and unique style.
With all of its great features and style, there are of course some drawbacks. First, it does not take batteries so you need to position it in a place close to a wall outlet. Second, it is not lightweight bouncer at all. Last but not least, it is the priciest bouncer on our list.
Lastly, if you’re looking for something fancy and different, this is the option for you; odds are you’ll love it and think it was worth every penny!
2. BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance
This is the best, simplest, and most versatile baby bouncer on the market. It is available in basic cotton, which is truly soft and durable, a more breathable mesh, and an organic cotton version.
- Weighs less than five pounds
- Adjustable positions for babies with acid reflux.
- Organic cotton option available
- Very expensive
- No toys to entertain the baby
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This is the best, simplest, and most versatile baby bouncer on the market. It is available in basic cotton, which is truly soft and durable, a more breathable mesh, and an organic cotton version. This bouncer uses your baby’s natural bouncing motions. Hence, you won’t need to be next to an outlet or keep replacing batteries.
The ergonomics of this unit are really great, they position the baby with some leg flexion and with nice head padding. It also folds completely flat, which is great for traveling or storage. Also, you can adjust it into four different positions, which is excellent if your baby suffers from acid reflux.
What’s more?
There are some cons, however, that you should consider. First, it is the second most expensive bouncer on our list, which can be a limiting factor for many people. Second, instead of buckle clips on the harness, this bouncer uses buttons which can be a pain when you’re trying to quickly get a crying baby in or out. Finally, the unit can be used from 8-lbs to up to a 29-lb baby, but this is a bit misleading. When your baby reaches 19-lbs, Baby Bjorn recommends flipping over the seat cover so that it is used as a bouncer seat without the restraint part. But if you have a really large baby that is over 19-lbs but not ready to sit without a restraint, this might not work very well for you.
If you want to add toys for your little baby to this product, you can look at our list here.
3. Nuna Leaf Baby Bouncer Chair
The Nuna brand is a collection of smart baby gear inspired by Dutch designers. They claim their products are engineered with extreme endurance testing and real-parent problem solving to take the work out of being a new parent.
- Sturdy material and ergonomic design
- Fit for babies and older kids
- Ecologically conscious
- High price for such limited options
- Short period of rocking ( 2 min)
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The Nuna brand is a collection of smart baby gear inspired by Dutch designers. They claim their products are engineered with extreme endurance testing and real-parent problem solving to take the work out of being a new parent. The design behind the Nuna rocker was inspired by a “carefree float of a leaf on a breeze,” hence the name.
The rocker combines style with functionality and has some great features, f. eg. it can be used from newborn up to 60kg! Meaning it has a really long lifespan and even big brothers and sisters can use the chair when it’s not soothing the baby.
This baby rocker operates without batteries, doesn’t ask for any kind of charging, so no cords, plugs and annoying buzzing noise to disturb the sleeping baby. Only a gentle push will rock your baby for around two minutes.
It’s really easy to strap baby in using the Velcro fasteners. They are quite heavy duty so you know that the baby will be safe.
The downside to this is that the chair needs repeated attention so even a quickish chore like putting on a wash can’t really be achieved while the chair is still moving.
Lastly, Nuna Leaf rocks only from side to side, no recline function. It is very soft and comfortable, they made the chair from Oeko-Tex certified fabric. Hence, it’s easy to wash and also wipes down no problem at all. The skin friendly fabric and organic cotton insert also keeps your baby cool.
4. Fisher Price My Little Snugapuppy Deluxe Bouncer
Fisher Price is a reliable company that is welcomed into zillions of homes around the globe. Their range of product vary to meet all the customer requirements, trying to make high quality goods for reasonable prices.
- The sounds play up to 20 minutes
- There is a volume control
- The legs of the bouncer are slip-resistant
- Requires batteries
- There are not many items to entertain an older baby.
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Fisher Price is a reliable company that is welcomed into zillions of homes around the globe. Their range of product vary to meet all the customer requirements, trying to make high quality goods for reasonable prices.
This bouncer is the absolute winner in the cuteness competition!
They designed My Little Snugapuppy Deluxe to be snugly for the baby. The seat is deep with a plush seat that has a supportive headrest. The chair has a gentle vibration, and there is a 20-minute music option as well. To entertain the baby, there is a removable mobile with a kitty and puppy.
What’s more?
It has a three-point harness that helps your baby securely in the seat, and it is safe from birth up to 25 pounds. The entire seat pad is easy to clean and is removable and machine washable and safe to dry.
Two things to note: there is some assembly required so it’s best to put this together before baby is born, and it is one of the larger models in the list so if you don’t have a lot of space this might not be the best pick for you.
5. Tiny Love Take-Along Bouncer – Lightweight Baby Bouncer
Sometimes you want to bring your baby gear with you on a trip or to a grandparent’s house. You look for a bouncer that folds up flat so it can easily be stored in the trunk of your car during trips.
In that case, this is the right pick for you!
- It’s highly portable
- Can be used for camping trips in nature
- No complicated assembly
- Lightweight and simple
- Such simplicity should be cheaper
- Not smooth bouncing movements
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Sometimes you want to bring your baby gear with you on a trip or to a grandparent’s house. You look for a bouncer that folds up flat so it can easily be stored in the trunk of your car during trips.
In that case, this is the right pick for you!
Tiny Love Take Along bouncer has flexible fabric and netting that makes it light and airy, and keeps sweat from developing against your baby’s back. The colors are modern and simple, and the 3-point harness does its job. There’s nothing fancy here: no dangling toys, music, or motion. But it’s perfect for parents who take pride in simplicity, and also the ability to transport it, store it, and otherwise quickly move it.
Those who hate assembling their bouncers will love that this one doesn’t require any assembly.
It comes with a carrying bag, so you can keep it clean and protected when it’s in the trunk of your car. When you fold it flat, you’ll need both hands.
What’s more?
For being a portable bouncer, it can handle a wide range of weights. It can hold babies from 8 pounds to 29 pounds. It doesn’t play music or use artificial movements so it doesn’t require any batteries.
It’s lightweight but also sturdy and well-constructed. The fabric is high quality, as are the buckles and rubber feet to keep it from sliding around hardwood or tile floors.
Truly, the simplicity of the design can be counted as a downside for those looking for recline settings, music, vibrations, and dangling toys.
Overall, for those interested in finding a baby bouncer seat that won’t set you back too much money and is also great for travel and easy to store, this is a great option.
6. Bright Starts Pinwheels Bouncer – Affordable Baby Bouncer
Bright Starts is a well known and respected company that manufactures a wide range of baby products and the quality is always above price.
- Non-slip rubber over the legs of the bouncer.
- Breathable material for the cover
- The seat pad is removable and machine washable.
- Vibration mode
- Affordable
- Tons of batteries for vibration mode
- Limited period of use
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Bright Starts is a well known and respected company that manufactures a wide range of baby products and the quality is always above price.
This colorful bouncer use batteries (C-battery not included) and vibrates to soothe baby. The bright and cheerful design helps keep them engaged while the included toy bar with toys and a mirror provides support for baby’s coordination and fine motor skills.
You can easily remove toy bar which comes very handy in moments when you’re trying to pick your baby up and you don’t want to bump them on the toy bar.
It has a three-point harness to hold baby firmly from newborn to 6 months.
What’s more?
This is a budget friendly bouncer that is really lightweight (only 5 lbs), so moving it around the house is a piece of cake. Washing the cover is also easy peasy – just toss it in the wash. With the affordable price tag, this also makes a great option for grandma’s house and an excellent baby shower gift!
Despite being a smaller bouncer and really affordable, it still has enough extras to keep your baby content when they’re starting to feel cranky. It uses battery power for the vibrations so buy rechargeable batteries.
An Important Safety Warning When Use Baby Bouncer
With all baby products, you want to make sure you are using them in the recommended way.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should use bouncers on the floor, never on a countertop or soft surface like the bed. The restraints provided in the bouncer should always be used and your baby should never be left unattended when in there. Even if you are aware of the weight restrictions on your baby bouncer, you should stop using these (unless you have one of the infants to toddler models below) when your baby can sit up, because once they can sit up they can fall out of the bouncer or tip it over.
The AAP safe sleep guidelines say that if a baby falls asleep in the bouncer or baby swing, they should be moved to their crib or bassinet for.
Lastly, once you purchase your product you should register the item with your email so you will be alerted if there are any recalls.
A few things that you should consider when choosing the best baby bouncer
When it comes to choosing a baby bouncer, there are so many elements to take into consideration. Whether you prefer a basic bouncer or activity bouncer, which features matter the most?
1. Comfort and Ergonomics
Given that you want a bouncer to give your baby a comfortable and relaxing place to be entertained or maybe even fed, you might calculate that your baby sits in the bouncer for an hour or two at a time. So, it is crucial that your baby’s posture is well positioned and supported in the right places, including the butt, back, and head.
2. Positioning & Portability
The best baby bouncers will serve several purposes. It can be great for playing, but also for spoon feeding or finishing a bottle. Some of the nicer bouncers have multiple seating positions, adjusting from high and upright (like for feeding), to moderately upright (like for play), to lying flat down. Though the adjustable ones tend to be more expensive, they are much more versatile and you will find yourself using the bouncer for different activities; you’ll get your money’s worth.
3. Soft & Washable Cover
Even the cutest and best behaved babies make messes. They spit-up, spill, crush little crumbs in every crevice, and occasionally blow out of even the best diapers. In any event, every once in a while you will need to launder the cover, so you’ll want it to remove easily and be machine friendly. You also want it to be made with soft and high quality fabric and very well pre-shrunk so you’ll be able to fit it back onto the bouncer after a good scrub and spin in the dryer. All of the best baby bouncers we recommend below provide an easily removable cover that is soft and durable and is not only machine washable but will not shrink if you follow the instructions.
4. Price
The price of the model should also be kept in mind as your baby is not going to use the bouncer for more than a year as babies grow really fast. The design and features of the bouncer should justify the cost.
5. Other features like lights, toys, and sounds
Choose the sounds and lights in the bouncer carefully as excessive sounds and lights can damage the sense organs of the baby with continuous use. Loud sounds can also annoy the other members of the house. Choose soothing lullabies or hymns that will calm the baby. A toy bar is also a feature in some models which can keep the baby entertained. Mix and match some entertaining yet learning toys which can improve the motor skills of the baby and improve hand and eye coordination.
As your baby continues to explore its limits, you can watch reassured from the sidelines.
Letting babies grow and mature is one of the hardest aspects of parenthood. However, watching the fun they have along the way is well worth it. You can also give your baby a great teething toy while they are lying in the bouncer.
Thank you for staying with us and reading this whole article. We would love to read your comments about our picks.
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