What’s it like in day-to-day use?
The BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss proves that, when it comes to baby products, you don’t have to sacrifice substance for style.
Weighing just 2kg, the frame can easily be moved from room to room, and it’s slim enough to fit through doorways and be carried up and down stairs.
Our tester, Luci, loved that she could get on with making dinner or playing with her older son with reassurance that her daughter was always close by. She often took the Bliss round to her neighbour’s house and could easily carry it with one hand. It also folds down flat for travel and is small enough to be stored behind a sofa when not in use or if you want to stow it away while your child is occupied in their playpen.
The bouncer has three recline options to choose from – play, rest and sleep – with the lowest setting best for younger babies. You can switch between them gently by using the positioner at the base of the seat without disturbing a sleepy baby.
The play position allows a baby to sit upright and watch what's going on around them. The rest mode is a more reclined position and is handy for when your baby is looking a little weary but not quite ready to drift off to sleep.
If you've managed to convince your baby that it's naptime, the sleep mode will allow them to lie comfortably. If they start to stir, their movement will start the bouncer and (hopefully) rock them back to sleep.
Because the Bouncer Bliss has been specially designed to respond to a baby’s movements, all you have to do at the newborn stage is give the bouncer a gentle nudge with your hand or foot and it will start the bouncing motion.
As they get stronger, they can start the motion themselves by kicking their legs or waving their arms – this happened for our tester’s baby at the fourth-month mark. This can help improve their balance and motor skills, and teach them how to self-soothe – very handy for nap times.
Safe sleeping advice states that babies should, however, not sleep in a bouncer for long periods of time.
Like the Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker, once your child reaches 9kg or they can sit up on their own, the seat transforms into a toddler chair for them to relax in. Our tester did feel that it may recline too far back for an older child to use, even at the highest setting, so she couldn’t see herself using it long-term.
The big downside to this bouncer is that it doesn’t come with a toy bar or any sensory toys for babies – you have to pay extra for this so you may find older babies need more stimulation. When the bouncer already has a fairly hefty price tag, the additional cost could also be a turn-off for some parents.
How easy is it to clean?
The cover easily slides on and off the frame and can be machine washed at 40 degrees. BabyBjörn recommends using an eco-friendly, mild and bleach-free detergent and not to tumble dry or iron the fabric.
Formula and baby sick both wiped off easily during testing. Our tester also spilled some tomato pasta sauce on the cover and it came out clean, while keeping its shape and colour, after machine washing.
You can purchase additional seat covers on the BabyBjörn website if you need a spare set.
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