Chances are that for the first six months of your baby’s life, his constant needs will transform everyday tasks such as washing up, laundry, eating, having a shower or sitting down for five minutes into momentous achievements. But place him in a bouncy chair – a baby seat that sits with its base on the floor and the chair suspended above to allow a soothing bouncing motion – and you have yourself a temporary babysitter. Nudge it with your foot to create movement, or attach some toys within bashing distance to keep him entertained while you catch up on emails, or your favourite Scandi drama*.
Bouncers can be invaluable for fretful babies who have trouble going down for a nap – just put some quiet music on, dim the lights and gently tap with your foot. Need a shower? Take the seat into the bathroom so your baby can see that you haven’t left him. Hello again, life.
*Never leave your baby unsupervised in the bouncer. See our safety notes below.
How to buy the best baby bouncer for you
Why buy a baby bouncer chair?
It’s a good question. You could also buy a swing, or an old-fashioned door bouncer – a harness that attaches to a door frame so the baby can boing up and down. But bear in mind that swings can take up a lot of room and usually require batteries or a mains supply to work. Door bouncers are fiddly to reposition and aren’t as versatile – for example, your baby can’t sleep in one. So it’s worth thinking about what you’re going to use your chair for before you commit to buying. Or go all out and buy one that combines a number of different functions.
What are the key features to look out for?
- The seat needs to support your baby without tipping over, so look for a wide base with a strong, durable frame.
- Bouncers can be very useful when travelling, so check whether it folds up easily.
- How does it recline? Basic models with metal frames simply require you to bend them, more expensive chairs have click-in settings. Which would you prefer?
- Check how easy the cover is to remove and whether or not it’s machine-washable. You will be grateful for this later.
- How many points does the safety harness have? The minimum you need is three – one between the legs and one on either side to keep your baby secure – but an extra two straps on the shoulders can give you peace of mind, especially when your baby starts practising The Plank and turns himself diagonally.
- The important thing is the bounce, but consider other features, such as vibrating or musical functions, too. Most bouncers come with an option of adding toys for the baby to reach out and grab.
What do I need to know to use a baby bouncer safely?
- However tempting, do NOT leave the baby in the bouncer on a table, as a good leg thrash could propel him off. The bed’s just as dodgy – if he tips over, he could suffocate in the duvet. If you don’t like leaving him on the floor, consider a bouncer with a bit of height.
- Look for the BS EN14036:2003 safety mark on the bouncer to ensure it complies with up-to-date safety standards.
- Never leave your baby unsupervised while in the chair. You’d be amazed what position he can get himself into by himself.
- Check the maximum weight the chair can support and don’t exceed it. Also check the distance from the floor so your baby doesn’t bang his bottom every time he bounces in it.
The best baby bouncers to buy
1. Fisher Price Woodsy Friends Comfy Time: Best bouncer under £50
Price when reviewed:£44
If you’re looking for a cheap but sturdy chair that will last up to six months, the latest version of this staple from Fisher Price offers comfort, convenience and an ‘earthy’ colour scheme for under £50. With a musical owl that dangles by the baby’s hands, and a vibration setting to help soothe him to sleep, this all-singing all-dancing chair proves that you can have all the bells and whistles without spending a fortune. It has a reassuringly wide base, ‘sticky’ feet (it doesn’t move across the floor) and offers sturdiness in the form of a metal frame – so if you want to adjust it, you’ll be using force. But that doesn’t stop it being one of the most popular hand-me-down baby bouncers out there, and its new deep seat and head cushion makes it easily as comfortable as some of the higher-end brands.
Key features – Washable seatpad; three-point harness; Maximum weight: 9kg, six months; Dimensions: 44 x 45x 9cm
2. Babybjörn Bouncer Balance Soft: Best overall baby bouncer
Price when reviewed:£120
Want something simple that will last? Look no further. Babybjörn’s bouncer chairs are ergonomically designed for infants from birth to two years – and are so comfortable you’ll have trouble keeping them out of it beyond that. Supportive, strong and snugly, the Balance Soft bouncer is highly responsive: every little kick creates a rocking movement and helps your baby self-soothe. It has four positions – play, rest, sleep and compact – and folds flat enough to slip down the side of the sofa when not in use or on the boot shelf of your hatchback. The soft padded seat is made from jersey fabric and comes in a range of neutral colours, but if you have a summer baby, you may opt for a Bouncer Bliss (£144.99), which is a stylish update of the 1972 original and comes in a cool, child-friendly mesh (if you have the Balance Soft, you can also buy the mesh fabric seat separately for £55). There is also the option to buy a travel bag (£18) and a set of tasteful wooden toys (from £26.99) that clip on to the front.
Key features – Machine washable fabric; three-point harness; Maximum weight/age: 13kg, 24 months; Dimensions: 61 x 39 x 92cm
3. Joie Serina 2 in 1 baby swing: Best rocker-swing
Price when reviewed: from £150
£150 might seem like a lot to fork out for on a chair, but if you can afford it, this might just be the investment that sees you through the first few months. Its base is sturdy and secure – it has to be, as the chair swings the baby either from side to side or forwards and backwards at a choice of six different speeds. It has a night light with four different strengths, five lullabies and five nature soundtracks to soothe your infant, and two hanging toys for your baby to reach for. Its height off the floor means less of a back strain for you, and – and this is a major selling point – the seat can be unclicked, picked up by the bar, carried round the house and used on its own as a rocker when you need to change rooms. Given the large base unit, which doesn’t fold up, this is a product for someone with a good-sized living room, but if space is not an issue, this is worth considering.
Key features – Machine washable fabric; five-point harness; A/C power adapter or battery-powered; Maximum weight: 13kg; Dimensions: 91.5 x 73 x 81cm
4. Tiny Love 3-in-1 Rocker Napper: Best for Daytime Naps
Price when reviewed:£100
If your baby has trouble nodding off, a bouncer can be invaluable – but for a sleep that’s longer than two hours, babies need to lie flat. The Tiny Love 3-in-1 Rocker Napper solves this problem by converting to a Moses basket with the flick of a switch at the side, which gives you another option for settling him at bedtime. It gently vibrates, has nine different soundtracks and comes with a detachable musical toy that dangles over the seat. It has three reclining positions – flat, middle and upright, designed to coincide with the baby’s age and development.
Key features – Machine-washable fabric; three-point safety harness; battery-powered; Maximum weight/age: 18kg, three years; Dimensions: 47.5 x 74.9 x 77cm
5. Nuna Leaf rocking chair: Best for contemporary style
Price when reviewed:£160
The Nuna Leaf is a beautiful-looking and reassuringly sturdy piece of modern design that sways smoothly (ie, like a ‘leaf in a breeze’) to calm infants from newborn to toddler. Its muted colours mean it fits in well with most interior schemes. While cheaper models offer a range of extra features such as music and toys, designed to stimulate babies at playtime, the cosy-looking Leaf is designed purely for calming purposes. With no batteries, you can’t leave it on its own – the rock only lasts for two minutes – but most bouncy chairs require a foot nudge to send a child to sleep, so this is no loss. At £160, it’s at the higher end of the market, but its build quality and stylish design speak for itself. When babies become toddlers, it doubles up as an infant seat, having a maximum user weight beyond most of its peers – and an aesthetic that’s unlikely to age. Add-ons include a toy bar (£20) and insect net (£20).
Buy the Nuna Leaf rocking chair from Kiddicare now
Key features – Wipe-down fabric; three-point safety harness; Maximum weight: 60kg; Dimensions: 73 x 71 x 46cm