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Original poster

baby bouncers

28 replies

icklekid · 23/03/2014 06:29

Morning all, was intrigued by another thread looking for advice on essentials for baby on a budget that a bouncer came up a few times. I had presumed this was more a nice to have/luxury. Have since looked into it and can't believe the range in features/cost! Anything from £15-£150+ So I could use some advice...

Found thus basic model with good reviews
www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_163946_10001

This one that vibrates..,
www.mothercare.com/Fisher-Price%C2%AE-Rainforest-Friends-Bouncer/593504,default,pd.html#q=bouncer

This one that vibrates and plays lullabies
m.mamasandpapas.com/products.php?category=rockers-bouncers+swings/shop-by/baby+bouncers#product-4702G4600

I'm not sure I can justify spending more than that unless someone can persuade me that one is worth it! What is baby doesn't like it?!
Thanks in advance.,.

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Huffpot · 23/03/2014 06:33

For first born we had one that vibrated and played lullabies and never used those functions. We used the same one for DC2 but with DC1 constantly turning it on till it fell apart! With DC3 it won't be as fancy! Although with 2 very boisterous boys we are considering a baby beanbag option for reducing risk of breakage or catapulted new born...Grin

JanePlanet · 23/03/2014 06:34

Get a basic bouncer and save your money for a jumperoo. They're worth their weight in gold.

Madratlady · 23/03/2014 06:50

We got a basic one, we have to bounce it ourselves if ds is being fussy. I would recommend a vibrating one having tried out a friend's vibrating one. Get on ebay though, don't spend fortune.

whereisshe · 23/03/2014 06:54

We got a baby bjorn one. It's expensive but it's very safe (some of them can tip over) and it doesn't risk hip dysplasia (the shape of some of them is bad for baby hips). DD LOVES it. They retain their value quite well secondhand on eBay too.

McBaby · 23/03/2014 06:56

My DD hated her bouncer so it was barely used.

ChunkyPickle · 23/03/2014 07:01

We got a second hand babybjorn - it's rather like a slightly fancy version of the very cheap bent wire ones. I definitely think they're essential.

DS1 had a fisher-price thing with vibrate - which did nothing for him.

All that matters for me is that it's a safe, easy place to put the baby, which I can bounce to calm them down/put them to sleep - I think the fancy self-wafting ones are more hassle than they're worth (and have lots of padded bits that need more washing than my simple fabric covered one)

Also some kind of jumper - we've got a jolly jumper on a frame because none of our doorways are suitable and it's awesome. Both my kids have absolutely loved it.

justsodamntired · 23/03/2014 07:03

Get the mothercare one. The vibrations are very useful for when your baby is a bit constipated. Plus they like colourful things.

I wouldn't spend more than that as they're not in them too much.

I agree about saving your pennies for a jumperoo later!

Mumof3xx · 23/03/2014 07:03

We had a swing and a bouncer with dc1

He much prefered the swing

So we didn't bother with a bouncer for dc2 or 3

Swings from about £40 with music

littleducks · 23/03/2014 07:04

We got a slightly older version of the mama's and Pappas bramble bear one. It was very tasteful in beige and cream, matched with our living room decor.

After our pfb was born we realised this meant dull and had to hang other bright and gaudy toys from the arch. tbf it has lasted three babies, but I have barely used the vibrate function.

I often see second hand ones in charity shops and at car boot sales floor around £4. maybe you could check out an NCT sale?

Artandco · 23/03/2014 07:14

It depends how much you want or need to put then down. Personally I would say you can go without.
Most apart from the babybjorn one only last until 6 months ish as dangerous once they can roll/ sit. Most people don't use the first few weeks so its really only about 3/4 months max usage

We had a sheepskin rug in living room they laid on plus Moses basket so x2 places to leave them. The sheepskin rug is still used now by my boys beds so has a much longer life ( brought over 4 years ago). We also put them on that with a towel over at bath time or if we needed to shower could easier lay it on bathroom floor as very light and portable

Awakeagain · 23/03/2014 07:20

Like a pp said eBay
I would suggest a nearly new sale - I love them and you can see how clean something is before getting it and people sell things at a really reasonable price
When I first went it took me a
While to get over buying second hand but now I love coming home with my haul an checking out why nice got and realising I've spent peanuts on it!

We had a bouncer from a friend and a swinging chair
We used the swinging chair the most but I think because it was downstairs (we have a 3 story house so we doubled up in some bits so didn't have to carry up and down 2 flights of stairs)

AlwaysDancing1234 · 23/03/2014 07:28

We got a nice little basic Mothercare one for about £12 when DS was tiny and he loved it. A relative had a very expensive high tech one for her baby, my DS had a go in it and hated it, as did her baby! If you have any friends/family who have one that you can test out I would recommend that before you fork out lots of money in case your baby hates it!

Artandco · 23/03/2014 09:40

Also depends on how much space you have. We could have brought all the gadgets but with everything would have no room to move as small flat

qazxc · 23/03/2014 09:48

We're going for one like the second one on your list. DN has a simlar model and loves the vibration and toy bar.
Have a scout around for a second hand one online, this way you only pay about a third of the price (and can sell it on without losing to much money).

Figster · 23/03/2014 09:52

We had one DS hated it it was barely used his swing on the other hand he loved and his jumperoo.

What I did was buy it all cheap off eBay then sold it again when he was too big for them. Will do that again next time as from new they are completely over priced and I don't want to have to store long term.

britnay · 23/03/2014 11:20

We have the baby bjorn one. It is brilliant, as they will quickly learn to rock themselves in it, therefore no worry about running out of batteries!

Our son still naps in it most days, and he is 2yrs+. Also handy for strapping him in the kitchen for a few minutes whilst cooking etc :)

Well worth the money :)

nannynome · 23/03/2014 11:29

We got a second hand one of these which has been fantastic for him napping in lying flat and he loves the music and toys on it. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0073DNYSW

wispaxmas · 23/03/2014 11:31

I know it's not an essential, but with both my brother and sister raving about it, we have bought a mamaroo. No annoying midi melodies as you can hook up your own MP3 player to it, and rather than vibrating it actually moves like you would to rock baby, mimics a car ride motion, etc. my nieces and nephews have all loved them, they've taken their naps in them, been in them while dinner is made or showers are taken, etc.

But then, they're ridiculously expensive. I wouldn't have bought one at full price, but saved a bundle when I used a voucher code on amazon when it was already cheaper there in the first place. My sister got hers as a gift, and my borer spends ridiculous aunts of money on gadgets, so bought his full price.

PenguinsEatSpinach · 23/03/2014 11:43

We are about to have no. 3. Both my previous two have hated bouncers. We had a medium sort - more padded than your basic one but didn't vibrate or anything. It was useful to have somewhere to put the baby that was safe until they could sit up, but that was about it. They both utterly hated with a passion anything that rocked, vibrated or played music when we tried them in them at friends' houses, etc.

They also hated swings, jumperoos and bumbos!

alita7 · 23/03/2014 11:48

Try eBay if budgets are a problem?

alita7 · 23/03/2014 11:48

Try eBay if budgets are a problem?

uvavu · 23/03/2014 11:50

I have the basic one you linked to first. This is the one we have in the lounge, use most and DS likes. It's cheap, light and doesn't take up much room. I've got an toy arch that I sometimes attach to it so DS has something to swipe at.

We also have a mamas and papas poncy one like the one in your 3rd link which I bought for £25 from an NCT sale. It vibrates and plays lullabies and has flashing lights too.

DS doesn't like the extra features, especially the music - it's quite loud. It's also a lot bigger, bulkier and heavier than the kiddicare one so takes up loads of space and is hard to lift and move about (I like to move it around so DS can see me).

This one lives in my bedroom and we just use it occasionally as a chair without the features. It isn't worth the £25 we paid for it IMO, never mind the £125 it retails for...

RedandChecker · 23/03/2014 11:52

We bought a bouncer that vibrated and DS hated it. We then went and bought one that looked like a bouncer so small and easy to put away but it was a swinging one also. It was great he loved it and was a life saver he was happy as Larry in it. It was 60 quid (5 years ago) a bright stars one - check gumtree!

uvavu · 23/03/2014 11:56

this is the poncy one we have that DS hates.

Shroomboom · 23/03/2014 12:27

We have two basic ones, one upstairs and one downstairs. They are used every single day! Definitely get one but I'm not sure about the all singing all dancing ones - dd is content with simple vibrations on one and dangly toys on the other as was ds before her Smile