Baby Bjorn Bouncer - what's all the rave about?

[PurplePansy05]

As per the title!

I've seen countless posts on MN saying how good it is.

But it's massively expensive, doesn't have the handle to carry it, it seems really big in comparison to many other bouncers, I gather it's meant to last longer but I can't see a 2yo being strapped in it easily anyway?!

Finally, I actually don't really like the design of it, tbh. For the little time a baby should spend in a bouncer following all the scientific/medical advice, I don't see the point in buying something so expensive either.

Am I missing something? Please throw it at me if so as I'm about to buy a bouncer. And actually there's a BB I found second hand so that's an option if everyone tells me why it's supposedly so great.

Any other recommendations also welcome, particularly reclining bouncers as I'd rather my son stay flat as much as possible when he's born.

TIA 😊 xx

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MNHQ

Genuine question OP, why do you hope he won’t sleep in the bouncer you choose?

Most of this thread is positive; but hasn’t convinced you...my impression is you had already made your mind up before you started it.

@PurplePansy05

Ok, my son won't be sleeping in a bouncer anyway, at least that's not what I'm hoping for.

He might or might not have reflux, if he does then a more upright bouncer will help, won't it?

And in fact an actual bouncing bouncer seems to be what babies like.

I found really similar bouncers to BB for £50 with fab reviews, up to 9kg so less than BB, but I really don't see the point later.

Sorry to sound dismissive, I appreciate your thoughts, but really nothing stands out for me about BB. xx

Then don't buy one. There's no law that says you have to buy a bouncer at all, let alone a BB one. That said, I'm guessing you're pregnant with your first. I don't think anyone actively wants their child to sleep in a bouncer but when they refuse to nap in a carry cot / Moses basket and wake up anywhere else that isn't your arms thus rendering you incapable of doing anything useful with your time (or sleeping yourself), you'll take any chance of freedom!

Because I'm concerned of SIDS. I had 3 MCs before this pregnancy, so this isn't my first child, but it is hopefully my first living child. So whilst I know that practicalities may vary, I'd go to great lengths to ensure he sleeps in accordance with the guidelines as much as possible.

I haven't made up my mind because I haven't bought anything and still can't decide wgat the right thing is. What's clear in my mind is that BB is overpriced and it doesn't appear to be massively better than other much cheaper products - which is exactly what I thought when I first posted. I still would consider a second hand one but most people have advised not to pay the full price for it, like I thought. xx

@PurplePansy05

Because I'm concerned of SIDS. I had 3 MCs before this pregnancy, so this isn't my first child, but it is hopefully my first living child. So whilst I know that practicalities may vary, I'd go to great lengths to ensure he sleeps in accordance with the guidelines as much as possible.

I haven't made up my mind because I haven't bought anything and still can't decide wgat the right thing is. What's clear in my mind is that BB is overpriced and it doesn't appear to be massively better than other much cheaper products - which is exactly what I thought when I first posted. I still would consider a second hand one but most people have advised not to pay the full price for it, like I thought. xx

Your point about SIDS is exactly my point - DS would only nap on me or in the bouncer. The bouncer was the safer option out of the two from a SIDS perspective for me because of the risk of me falling asleep with him on me.

I suppose sleep preferences depends on the baby, I can't predict how he's going to be yet so I might buy something that I'll use for very brief periods of time when necessary and then see how we go and what's best for him, be it because of reflux or sleep. This seems to make sense to me. xx

We had one. It was amazing, used it for two children and then sold it for £60. My eldest used it as an armchair to read books in up until they were about 3.

They really hold their value it didn't really look any different when it was sold, to the day I bought it.

If I were to have my time again I would have bought one second hand myself.

We got a Bababing one when dd2 was born, it was a third of the price and dd3 also enjoyed it. I can't find the same product but this was 5 years ago now. It worked the same as the BB one but I felt it supported baby better
My sil asked for a BB one, £120 later she still got a cheap copy off eBay for £12! and ended up using the cheaper one more

It was the only place other than on me being carried around that DD would spend longer than 10 minutes. Don't ask me why but she loved it - wouldn't tolerate any other bouncers. Worth every penny.

•Washable / reversible cotton covers
•Attractive (you might as well have something that looks nice as it is a big item that's going to be visible in your home)
•Easily available at a fraction if the price second hand
•Holds its value; bought mine second hand and resold on eBay for more (auction) two babies later
•I'm Swedish (as is BB) and Swedish babies bounced in these 40 years ago and the design literally hasn't changed, so it's clearly doing something right

We were given the use of 2 second hand bouncers for DD. The Chicco one we had was ok, but its bouncing motion wasn't very "smooth" and it was bulky so we didn't move it around much. Cover hard to remove so difficult to clean when it needed washing (every day).

The Baby Bjorn was great as v smooth bounce, and folds down flat so really easy to take with you in the car to friends'/family's houses (in normal times). We took it to restaurants, camping, everywhere.

You can buy them on Facebook Marketplace for about £40.

And Baby Bjorn cover slips off the frame very easily so it's very easy to wash and get back on quickly.

It’s ok now saying baby will only ever nap on a flat surface, but you know what, life happens.

When it’s 6pm and they have napped 3 short 20mins only already in day on you or in pram or crib and they are screaming their head off, and you need to make dinner and eat, being able to put them in bouncer that they then fall asleep in 20 mins whilst you eat in peace is a small lifesaver. It’s not a sids risk when they are right there 1m from you.

Again, falling asleep in car seat. Ours does remove from car. But I can tell you that if I have drive home 20 mins and baby just fell asleep after screaming that long, too right I then open car doors and sit in car with him for 20 mins peace whilst he has a short nap, I don’t wake him to then put in cot flat as he will wake in 0.0001 seconds

Also, most bouncers cannot be use when baby can sit up or pull themselves up due to tipping hazard. Mine could do this at 3 months so chair would have had to stop being used.

I think they only ones that are certified as non tipping and for older are the babybjorn and the Nuna leaf. Both due to design of base

I had a baby bjorn one with number one. I hated it, hated the way it looked, she always looked slumped in it and hardly used it. She went in her swing and slept in there.

No 2 had a second hand charity shop bright and cheerful bouncer which she loved and a mamas and papas one at my parents. Both much more used than the baby bjorn.

Spend the money on some sort of swing that does the rocking, vibrating and music playing so you can get stuff done/shower/nap in peace.

You have the right idea OP, very expensive for something your LO may not like.

I found I had to try a few different bouncers before I found one DD liked.

My friend got us one you bounce yourself with your foot. DD hated that one.

I went into a local toy shop where they had a few working ones on display. I tried her in a few until I found one she would tolerate which was the Joie Serena that swings and rocks. Then I picked one up second hand online.

You’re better off getting stuff second hand and selling on if they don’t like them I reckon.

It’s ok now saying baby will only ever nap on a flat surface, but you know what, life happens.

I'm not sure what this comment is about, I said I'll see how things go?

Obviously no one does things religiously in practice but all the advice I'm reading is that babies should not sleep in bouncers at all and that it's best to perservere with flat surface (cot/crib/Moses basket). It's also not recommended for reflux as some said since the best position is entirely upright, ie held - half upright can actually extend it.

So there's no need for this, I am being realistic about life, but also will do my best to follow the right advice instead of doing things that are convenient for me and I don't think that's in any way wrong.

I think the SIDS point is not about a parent supervision in respect of bouncers, but about baby's positioning, much like it is in respect of car seats.

It's also not recommended for reflux as some said since the best position is entirely upright, ie held - half upright can actually extend it.

I will say this very gently: you are talking here to people with real world experience of the things you have read about, such as reflux. You will find that in practice that you will fry to know your own baby and how to manage any medical conditions they have, their preferences, and how you can best look after your own physical and mental health while caring for your baby.

But please do remember that you are talking to people who do have that experience about the ‘best’ approaches - when they will have discovered through painful (for themselves and their babies) time and experience what is actually best in their circumstances. The books aren’t always right for your baby, and doctors are often quite clueless too.

I get that you only want the best for yourself and your baby, and that’s right. But you are being quite dismissive of others’ experiences here - to the point of telling them that they were doing managing their babies’ reflux wrong. I don’t think that’s your intent.

On an unrelated note, some evidence indicates that supervision seems to be at least as much an issue as positioning when it comes to SIDS risk for daytime sleep.

There’s lots of things in child rearing that aren’t 100% the best or ideal

But you know, most people do their best at that moment in time.

@JassyRadlett I am not telling anyone anything. I am saying what I read and I am saying I will see how we get on. Advice has changed over the years, the latest is from 2019-2020 so with no disrespect to the posters, things are changing all the time and it is difficult to keep up. I don't dismiss their approaches which worked for their children and for them. Equally however, please do not dismiss mine in respect of my own child. Exactly as you said, I am trying to do my best too and am doubly protective because of my history which anyone in my shoes would understand.

Oh man, I remember being like OP (although I was only like it internally thankfully). All "well I'll follow ALL the guidelines because the SIDS guidelines are the most important thing even if it means my sleep being disturbed". How I had to eat my words when DD came along in all her screamy, red-faced, CMPA silent reflux glory and would only sleep on me while I bounced up and down on a yoga ball!

would I buy one new? absolutely not but I borrowed one from a friend and it was hands down the best baby item we had. She LOVED it and it saved my sanity. She didn't nap in it, but that's not why I had it, we had a sleepyhead for naps (this was when they were recommended as safe for sleeping) and her bed for nighttime.

I think it's like many baby items - one person's holy grail is another's mortal enemy. every baby and every parent is different and different items work for different families. but I liked that it was simple, could fold flat and was completely washable. She was always happy when she was in it.

OK, thanks for all your support.

OP you seem quite angry about this? Don’t buy it if you don’t want to!

Advice has changed over the years, the latest is from 2019-2020 so with no disrespect to the posters, things are changing all the time and it is difficult to keep up. I don't dismiss their approaches which worked for their children and for them.

And yet in your previous sentence you did, quite patronisingly.

I wish you all the best with your baby.