Quick! You’re holding a happy newborn baby in your arms, but now you need to use the bathroom. Where do you put them down for a minute? Without them crying immediately?
If you’ve never been in this situation before (but have a little one on the way), it’s time to think about your options. The problem is the baby gear industry has created dozens of products to solve this one problem. Some gadgets swing, some rock, some bounce, some strap onto your body, and some play fourteen different Mozart concertos, but all claim to keep your baby happy and safe when they’re out of your arms. You can’t possibly need every gadget though, so which should you get before your baby arrives?
(If you’d like to read about ALL the baby products 6,000 moms did (and didn’t) recommend over my six months of research, you can read my essentials-only baby registry checklist article here!)
Clearly, I’ve already written a lot of articles on this topic, and I’ve specifically looked at whether you need a baby swing and whether you need a baby lounger, but today I wanted to tackle something new: the baby bouncer.
I was given a pre-loved baby bouncer when my first child was born, but not all of my kids have loved using it. I was curious about whether I was in the minority, and pretty much everyone else had babies that loved bouncers. So I did some surveys in mom groups and asked what THEY thought about baby bouncers to get a majority opinion. Here’s the low-down on what they thought. But first…
What do you mean by baby bouncer?
This is a common problem in the baby gear world. Companies might call their product one thing (like a ‘playard’) but in everyday conversation, everyone calls the same product something else (i.e. a ‘pack ‘n play).
When I’m talking about baby bouncers, I’m talking about devices like this:
Baby bouncers are the slightly off-the-ground reclined seat that a newborn can use. They often bounce and/or vibrate, sometimes have a kind of mobile or entertainment bar, and aren’t usually used often once the baby can roll over or crawl.
I’m NOT talking about jumperoos or saucers, which are entertainment centers made for a slightly older child who has neck control. Those often allow the child to swivel in a circle by touching the ground with their toes.
I’m also not talking about a door jumper, which is a soft structured seat attached to a spring that clamps to the top of your doorframe. The child can then propel themselves by pushing off the floor with their feet and bouncing up and down (and often around and around too).
And though they’re similar, I’m also not talking about baby rockers, which are nearly identical to baby bouncers except for their rocking (instead of bouncing) motions.
Ok! With that out of the way…
Do I need a baby bouncer?
According to the 175 moms surveyed, only 25% said baby bouncers were a necessity. The rest either said they were merely optional, or that parents shouldn’t even bother to buy them.
If you’ve been scrolling through sample baby registries recently, you might be surprised to hear most moms don’t think baby bouncers are necessary. Popular baby registries like Amazon, Babylist, and Walmart all push baby bouncers as one of the FIRST items you should add to a list. So why did moms say they were unnecessary?
Most moms focused on how DIFFERENT each child can be. Some babies just won’t be happy unless they’re in direct contact with mom or dad. Some would rather be rocked side to side than back and forth. And some will be happy pretty much anywhere, including on the ground with a blanket! And unfortunately, you won’t know what kind of kid you have until they try something out.
This is why if you do choose to get a baby bouncer, it’s best to assume your child will NOT like the bouncer. You can be pleasantly surprised if they do like it instead! Here are some ways to do that:
- Try and buy secondhand bouncers
- Borrow one from a friend for a “test run” before buying
- Make sure the store you buy from has a generous return policy
- Check Facebook groups like Buy Nothing
Another reason moms gave for calling baby bouncers unnecessary is how short a useful lifespan they have. Once babies are able to wiggle and move more independently, they tend to become less satisfied with these devices which require them to lie still in one place. In the following picture, you can see my son at a mere five months old, able to slip his arms out of the restraints and trying to roll out of his bouncer:
Alternatives to a baby bouncer
There are many, many tools out there to solve your “where can I put my baby down” problem. I’ve already done some surveys of veteran moms to find out which of these tools are the most popular and useful. Here’s some of what they said.
Baby carriers
Unlike a bouncer, a baby carrier keeps your baby physically close. This often soothes them due to the sound of your heartbeat and voice, closeness to your familiar smell, and rocking sensation from your movements. It also gives you two free hands to get most tasks done. In my previous post on whether you need a baby carrier, 88% of moms surveyed considered baby carriers absolutely essential for these reasons (plus some others). This has easily been the most popular item among all the moms I’ve ever surveyed.
High chairs
High chairs are an excellent alternative to a baby bouncer. Since you’re (probably) already buying one to help with mealtimes, it’s a convenient way to double-up the functionality and get more use out of one product.
Note, however, that it will need to be a style that offers a fully reclined position if you want to use it with a newborn. Plenty of high chairs focus on older children who already have neck control and wouldn’t be suitable for a smaller baby that needs more support to be safe.
You can read my previous article on whether you need a high chair here, if you’re interested!
Pack and play
Pack and plays (also called pack n plays, playards, and playpens) are the jack-of-all-trades of the baby gear world. They are a legit safe sleeping spot, a diaper changing station, a place to put your baby down in a pinch, and they can even function as a toddler holding pen (until your little one figures out climbing!)
One of the downsides of many baby bouncers is that you need to safely buckle your baby in each time. If you REALLY need to run to the bathroom or answer the door, quickly setting your baby down in a pack n play might be easier than snapping baby in a five-point harness.
You can read my article on whether you need a pack ‘n play here for more information on this alternative.
Baby swings
I’ve also polled hundreds of parents about their thoughts on whether you need a baby swing in my article on the topic. If your baby loves the movement of being in your arms, but you REALLY need both hands and no tag-along, a swing is a great choice. They do take up more space than most other baby products, but usually come with a number of settings and motion levels.
Best Baby Bouncer Options
If you still feel like getting a baby bouncer is going to be a good option for your family, a few of the moms in my survey did mention specific brands and products which they recommend. I’ve included them here below for you to check out.
Ingenuity SmartBounce Automatic Baby Bouncer Seat
This style of baby bouncer is extremely common, and you can find something like it in every baby and box store. They’re all on the lower end of the baby bouncer budget scale, but have plenty of additional features if you want to try bouncing, vibrating, entertainment, and soothing sounds to all try keeping your baby calm. Mom Lareesa commented that these bouncers are, and I quote, “totally necessary lol.”
You can check them out on Amazon here.
Graco Soothe ‘N Sway Swing with Portable Bouncer
Like the previous bouncer, this one by Graco also has the option of adding vibrations to help calm your baby down. But additionally, it is both a bouncer AND a swing.
Shalyee commented in my survey that this 2-in-1 swing and bouncer “was perfect so I didn’t have multiple things scattered across the house. The chair just came off and on!”
You can check them out on Amazon here.
Maxi-Cosi Kori 2-In-1
If you’re more interested in a more low-tech vibe, the Maxi-Cozi might be your style. There’s no vibrating element, no external stimulation from lights or sounds or entertainment bars, and plenty of natural materials.
Mom Marianna said in her comment, “Somewhere to put [baby] was sooo helpful. He was always sitting in it next to me if I had to get things done. This is the one we had.”
You can check it out on Amazon here.
There you have it! Hopefully, you have a better sense about whether a baby bouncer is the right fit for your growing family, now. If you’d like to read more articles about planning for and raising a family on a budget, feel free to subscribe to my newsletter in the box below!