This is the bouncer I most wanted to get into myself; it looks so cosy and cocoon-like. If Jasper could talk, I’m fairly sure he’d agree - he never protests when I put him in it. It’s perfect for reflux because it puts the baby in a more upright position than the others I tested, but it can also be reclined for naps.

While they’re not the same thing, you’ll find that baby bouncers, swings, and jumpers often appear in the same category or aisle when you’re browsing online or visiting a store. But even though they can all serve a similar purpose, they’re different in how they function. It’s not necessary to spend a premium price to get a quality item with the features you need. We’ve highlighted a range of options from budget friendly to median to luxury pricing. But within each range, you should be able to find a bouncer that offers a safe place to keep your baby along with value added features like vibrations, sounds, and mobiles or toy bars. Safety regulationsMy son Jasper is now seven months old. When I was pregnant, it never occurred to me to buy a bouncy chair along with the other essentials I needed ( car seat, pram, high chair etc). But I must say the effect has been transformative. As soon as we first slipped then-two-month-old Jasper, who was fussing, into the Baby Bjorn, he settled down and eventually nodded off. At seven months it’s still the one he seems to be most comfortable in. The jersey cotton fabric is super soft but supportive and comes in a wide array of colours and patterns. I also like the simplicity of the front panel which secures him - no fiddly straps over his shoulders to wrestle with. Whether you’re a first-time parent or this isn’t your first time at the rodeo, you know that as much as you might enjoy holding your little bundle of joy, there are going to be times when you just can’t.

While there’s no limit to how frequently your baby can use a bouncer, there are guidelines for how long they should be in it at a time. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), you should limit bouncer sessions to one hour. This guideline is based on research that suggests when very young children are too sedentary, it can impact health outcomes later in life. Note that their recommendation isn’t just limited to jumpers, but also applies to strollers, and even toddlers and preschoolers watching television. Can babies sleep in a baby bouncer? Baby jumpers are one of the older pieces of baby gear that have maintained their popularity. The Graco Doorway Bumper Jumper features a simplified style that’s straightforward and easy to install in a doorway. In other cases, sometimes you just can’t compete with the soothing rhythm or vibration of a bouncer when your baby is fussy. A bouncer can help to keep your little ones safely entertained or calm a fussy baby. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. If your focus is on a supportive seat with gentle vibrations, the Fisher-Price Deluxe Bouncer is a smart choice. The built-in added padding provides cushioning for newborns. While you can rely on baby’s movements, you can also opt for powered vibration and soothing 20-minute melodies to help calm even the fussiest baby. An interactive mobile and a machine-washable removable seat pad round out the core features.I like to use them from birth,” Millie says. “Most brands have a weight limit, so how long the bouncer can be used would be dependent on when your baby reaches that weight. Once a baby starts to sit up (around six to eight months), I find that many no longer enjoy being reclined in the bouncer as they are ready to see the world from a different angle.

What really sets this one apart is its multi-functionality. It can be used as a manual bouncer for when they’re small (with the newborn inlay) then eventually, with the harness removed, a comfy chair for toddlers up to the age of three. If you have a newborn, you may also want to read our guides to the best sterilisers, the best baby carriers and the best reusable nappies. My son is particularly enthralled by the brightly-coloured toy bar and its hanging rattles - though they do dangle quite close to his face and he bashes himself by tugging on them pretty often. Thankfully this is removable.Lying in a bouncer is very tiresome for a small child and can be bad. for the development of the spine. Never place a child in a bouncer for more than 2 hours a day. We put six of the most popular baby bouncers and swings to the test with our son Jasper, now seven months old, from when he was newborn to now, in a variety of settings and when he was in a range of different moods. This included during and after feeding, when he was watching baby sensory videos and when he was just hanging out with me as I was doing chores. I judged them by their weight, how easy they were to manoeuvre, how fiddly the harnesses were and most importantly of all: how much Jasper seemed to like being in them. Extra options like vibrations, music, and even mobiles or toy bars are nice additional features that can turn your bouncer into an invaluable tool to keep your little one occupied and content. Often, these are standard features that most major brands include in their models. So, you don’t have to view these options as a splurge. Budget

I do sometimes use one for weaning, however. When a baby is ready to start tasting different fruit and veg but doesn’t have the core strength just yet to sit in a highchair, you can use your bouncer on the highest incline to support them whilst feeding smooth solids. How long can a baby sleep in a bouncer? This varies per child, but in general a child can be put in a bouncer from when he or she is a few weeks old up until 6-9 months old. This was my favourite aesthetically; a gorgeous unit that blends into the room like a piece of furniture and is designed to mimic a leaf swaying in the wind. Somewhat ironically it’s actually the heaviest, so while it feels sturdy it’s not particularly easy to move around the house or travel with you.

Even if you have plans to be the most hands-on parent that ever existed, the time is going to come when you need to put your baby down to free up your hands. And sometimes, simply putting them on the floor on a playmat isn’t going to cut it. We’re not saying that your toddler will let you strap them into a bouncer when they’re able to run around the house. But if you have your heart set on a bouncer that grows with your child, the BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft is designed to accommodate babies from newborns up to the age of 24 months.