To Baby bounce, or not to baby bounce.. that is the question?

[PandaBear]

My DD is 9 months old and is starting to get bored of the toys she has got. She shows no signs of crawling, but loves being on her feet. We were wondering whether a baby door bouncer would be good for keeping her amused, but are also concerned that it may hinder her in getting mobile?

Does anyone have any experience of this? Any advice gratefully accepted.

[zebra]

DS loved his bouncer but stopped using it when he could stand by himself, anyway (7.5 months). He walked at 9 months (family tendancy). I don't think the bouncer slowed his mobility down one bit...

Bouncers are always getting recalled for safety reasons, though; actually, ours was. Babies had broken legs & fractured heads using it. I don't think I would get one again.

[Janeway]

ds loved his bouncer - he learned to twirl round and round then pick up his feeet and spin back - he also first learned to kick a ball in his bouncer. He's just started walking (just before his 1st birthday) and is now trying to kick the ball standing, but mainly ends up on his bum unless he remembers to grab a handhold first.

We used the bouncer from about 6months and stopped at 9/10 months because he had started trying to walk out of it - a friend had to stop using theirs at about the same time as their ds was too heavy for it...

[sylvev]

My children walked at different rates 10 months and 18 months! Both enjoyed the bouncer but mainly as a way of swinging and dangling, there was never much bouncing going on!

[Lollypop]

DD loved her bouncer, unfotunatly it caused a big hole in our wall when the plaster above the door broke up. It was an old house.

[LIZS]

Both mine used the door bouncer (Tippitoes) and dd was walking before 1, both extremely mobile. I think the latest version also converts into a walking support aid (if you arms are strong enough) so prolonging its usage.

Our ds especially liked to "dance" along in his and it meant I could hoover more easily and have a cup of tea if nothing else.

LizS

[PandaBear]

Thanks all for the advice - sounds like it's a good idea. Slug - thank you ever so much for the offer, I actually live in Berkshire.

[slug]

Oooh the dingly dangly machine. The sluglet LOVED it. Cue much excited arm waving and huffing whenever it was brought out. Do you live in SE London? I have 2 (one for grandparent's house) and now that she's moving under her own steam, you can have one of my spares if you like.

[elliott]

DS also loved his, but at a much younger age - 3-6 months. I found that once he could sit unaided he was happy to sit and explore toys, so I didn't use it much after that. It is recommended not to use them for stints of more than 20 minutes. Also, I do know one baby who used it A LOT who was very slow to bear weight on her legs - HV said it might be related to the bouncer but clearly a sample of one isn't very conclusive!
Sorry that's probably not much help.

[Marina]

Another vote for door bouncers, but do borrow one first to check that dd likes the idea. We used one for ds for about seven months and he loved it. Agree stints of 15 mins max is best. He also liked being "swung" in it gently.

[GillW]

Ds loved his - but as others have said only for about 15 minutes at a time. We also had an exersaucer type thing (a bit like a walker that doesn't go anywhere) which let him be upright. Can't say that either hindered his development, despite using them from about 4 months (when he was already bearing his own weight and would stand alone as long as he had something to lean on) until he started crawling, and almost simultaneously cruising, at 7 months. Like leander's ds he was an early crawler/walker. I'd say do it, but be prepared to cut back on it once she starts to get mobile under her own steam.

[bells2]

We used them for both of ours between the ages of around 6 - 12 months and they absolutely loved them.

[SoupDragon]

My DSs loved theirs. It had a big plastic ring round it to stop them hitting the door frame.

[ScummyMummy]

Go for it. She won't stay in there for more than 20 mins or so max at a time, I wouldn't have thought, so she'll have plenty of time to practice moving about under her own steam as well. And they look SOOOOOOOOOOOO cute in door bouncers! (May be worth borrowing one though- this stage doesn't last that long.)

[leander]

I used a door bouncer for my ds and he loved it.He was walking at 10 1/2 mths so it definately didn,t hinder him.