BabyBjörn Babysitter Balance

The BabyBjorn is really comfy and my DD has been happy chilling out in it since she was a few weeks old (as opposed to cries of outrage in friends' inferior bouncing chairs). It seems that this is because it's just a soft, fabric shell, sort of hammocky, that moulds to support the baby's back, head and shoulders - and there are three positions, from almost flat to quite upright, that help you to make your LO perfectly comfortable. I also love that it collapses totally flat in two seconds, so it can be put behind the sofa when not in use (great in our tiny London flat). DD has been oddly taken with the bright wooden toy bar that you can buy to go with it, and learning to spin the shapes was good for early motor skills, so that's worth the extra money.

All that said, it really doesn't bounce on its own, as they say it does! you still need to rock the baby. So if you have a cranky wee one who needs lots of movement / vibration to settle - this is not the bouncer for you. And given that, I think it's a lot for what it is (we paid about £90 online, plus £20 odd for the toy bar). On balance though, I would buy again, not least because I've seen a friend's 18 month old chilling out in hers watching TV, so we'll get a lot more use out of it!

This is the review I've posted on Amazon:

We purchased one of these for our baby back in June 2012 and it has been amazing. So pleased with it, until yesterday. Our 8 month old loves it, sitting in it rocking and bouncing, but yesterday he was bouncing when the strap broken and he was thrown out of the unit. The stitching has gone on the strap where it joins the main unit, so I'm not sure if this is a one-off or a design fault. Amazon are sending a replacement and I've contacted BabyBjorn to alert them to this issue. I'll update this once I get a response.

In the meantime, if you have one of these, check the stitching on the strap to make sure it isn't worn. Doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened.

First off, I do think this is a very expensive baby seat! However, it is also a very lovely one, and if like me you generally loathe the hideous design of 99% of baby equipment, you might think the added expense is worth it. I certainly do! Especially if you plan to use it for more than one child...

Not only is it a good-looking and sleek seat (I have the purple one), it is also particularly good from the baby's point of view. It's soft and very easy to bounce even if you're only a little squirt.

My boy is just coming up to 3 months and although he hasn't learnt to deliberately bounce it (yet), even a small, excited little kick, sends him bouncing so it won't be long before he puts 2 and 2 together.

I bought the toy bar too (I think it really ought to come with it as standard, for the price) and that is a very good addition to a great product.

First off, I do think this is a very expensive baby seat! However, it is also a very lovely one, and if like me you generally loathe the hideous design of 99% of baby equipment, you might think the added expense is worth it. I certainly do! Especially if you plan to use it for more than one child...

Not only is it a good-looking and sleek seat (I have the purple one), it is also particularly good from the baby's point of view. It's soft and very easy to bounce even if you're only a little squirt.

My boy is just coming up to 3 months and although he hasn't learnt to deliberately bounce it (yet), even a small, excited little kick, sends him bouncing so it won't be long before he puts 2 and 2 together.

I bought the toy bar too (I think it really ought to come with it as standard, for the price) and that is a very good addition to a great product.

Its...okay. I still like the look of it, sleek and modern. The height adjustment catch is a bit funny, not terrible, but not 'smooth'. Sadly my baby refused to be put down ANYWHERE-not the bouncers fault, but shes slowly coming round to it (6mnths) however, she doesnt bounce in it like those babies in the ad on youtube. So i cant help thinking a bog standard chair would have been just fine for her. I suppose the best is to wait till you've got your baby, know what they like and then try them in it before you buy. She did like the toy bar though (as simple and expensive as it is) -was the only thing that could persuade her to sit in the chair

This was one of the best bits of baby kit we bought. My son loved it from a few weeks old and it was a great safe place for him to keep an eye on the world. It's quite light, so easy to for me bring in the bathroom with me while I shower and he always slept really well in too once he was a bit older. My son has just turned two, but still loves this chair, with the baby seat support removed, and has just taken himself off for a little afternoon nap in it. It washes really well, and I bought the towel insert for it, which was very useful for when we shared a bath, as I could pop in him there while I dressed and he would be warm and snug, and as its got a waterproof section there were no worries about little accidents. Just a great piece of kit that after two years is still going strong and used daily.

My ds doesn't like sitting in much but he's never objected much to this and prefers it more as he gets older (now nearly six months). A useful place to put him if I need to leave the room briefly and I like that it doesn't need batteries to move. The toybar really is expensive for what it is and although it looks well made it is just a bar at the end of the day. They can't chew it much or do more than flip the bits around. Plus I find it doesn't fit too snugly on the sides of the bouncer and a determined little bruiser can dislodge it so it's out of reach and hanging off.

Very useful, seems to be comfy and nice and bouncy

Buys me much needed time! DS likes to bounce and it gives me time and spare hands to play with DD

I like this as it seems to be much more upright than many other bouncy chairs and my DS has sat in it happily for longer (both at a time and in terms of age) then other babies seem to use thiers. With the three settings we used it in a more reclined position when he was teeny tiny and less strong but he certainly likes being more upright now. Also love how easy it is to fold and that it folds completly flat - so handy for either taking away or just trying to keep the place a bit tidier and less babyfied in the evenings!

This is a great bouncer. My baby boy has been in it from the day an hour we brought him home from the hospital. Its very comfortable for him and the 3 positions are great with great support. We take it everywhere with us as its so lightweight and compact. It is expensive but I would not hesitate in recommending it to anyone. However without the wooden toy my son would get fed up so I would recommend buying both. This is my only criticism as I believe for the price of the bouncer this should come with it.

Although very expensive this bouncer is absolutely brilliant. It packs up flat which means you can take it anywhere, is pretty lightweight and is much easier to rock than the others out there. The best thing is that any move from my 7 week old son creates a bounce so he'll soon cotton on that he can bounce himself! We initially bought a Chicco relax and play which is good but having seen a friend's Baby Bjorn Balance in action I was sold. The only area where the Chicco is better is that it has straps for me to carry the chair with my son in it around the house but seeing as he is already 12lbs I'm not going to be able to do that for much longer anyway!

The best item we've got so far, our son loves it, we take it everywhere, on holiday, camping, visitng friends, restuarants. He loves kicking in it and bouncing. He's only 3 months and can get a huge momentum out of it and no matter how hard he bounces it stays solid with no fear of toppling. Also when he's tired i can very easily bounce him to sleep with my foot while eating or working at the computer. Friends' toddlers have had a go too with great enjoyment, but was very warey of one 2 year old standing in it while bouncing. Downside is it's very pricy.

Wanted a comfortable chair to put our 8 week old baby in. This one although expensive is recommended up to 2yrs which is unusual as many only last up to 6 months. It seems comfortable, sturdy, easy to wash, and simple to slip the baby into. You can adjust it to 3 different angles - pretty flat for sleep, and more upright if awake and playful. Sometimes simple designs are the best and this is great.

We bought this when our son grew out of his Chicco relax (3.5 months but he is v. long) as have found a baby seat is imperative. Whilst the chair is expensive (paid