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Take a break and go hands-free, with little chairs and rockers from Joie, Stokke and more
Once you bring your lovely new baby home from the hospital, you’ll soon find you are having to do a fair amount of things one-handed. When you need two hands free or you simply need a minute to relax, investing in one of the best baby bouncers could make all the difference.
Also known as rockers, they provide a safe and secure environment for your little one to rest, be soothed or even entertained while you get a few things done. There’s a variety of options out there – some can be motion powered with batteries, or provide natural bouncing via the baby’s own expended energy.
That said, not all of them will suit every baby depending on what kind of motion they prefer. Do you want something that plays music, or one that is super silent to soothe your baby? Some parents will want to find something space-saving, as we all know those tiny babies come with a lot of stuff.
Finally, there’s the question of price. You can grab a real bargain or pay top dollar for all the bells and whistles. Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice.
Keep scrolling for our pick of the best baby bouncers that will keep your little one safe and soothed.
We tested all bouncers and rockers with a five-month-old baby who was not yet sitting independently. We tried each bouncer both when our baby was happy to play, and also when they were sleepier and wanting to rest. All bouncers were marked on their features, comfort, value, safety and longevity. We looked at several price ranges and a good spread of battery-operated and natural bouncers, rockers and transition seats.
Suitable from birth to up to 9kg, this rocker is a minimalistic, stylish choice. It weighs barely anything, so, we were able to cart it around the house as needed. Our baby seemed to enjoy how deep the seat was, but preferred it when more sleepy than awake. There are three recline positions to choose from that we clicked into place with one touch, and we found the padded inlay one of the softest we tried. This is another baby seat that folds away, so you can reclaim some space.
This bouncer is one of the best on the market in terms of value. We loved its soft bounce and elephant-themed style, with cute toys for our baby to reach up to. It’s very light, and we were able to take it from room to room. In terms of safety, we liked that the buckle clip is covered by the harness, meaning it’s hidden from curious baby fingers.
It did require some assembly, so, you’ll need a PZ screwdriver on hand, but it wasn’t too onerous. This bouncer is suitable from birth to up to around 9kg, so, you’ll perhaps need to size up – but this is a good value bouncer for those first few months.
This is a really interesting-looking piece of kit. Meant to mimic the feeling of being cradled in mother’s arms, this bouncer is softly cushioned and has several different seating positions to suit each child. For newborns, the cushioned insert ensures they don’t feel lost inside the chair, while a detachable arm allows for hanging toys to be looked at and played with. We hung Lamaze toys from the arm and our baby was able to get a good grip.
The seat isn’t that deep, and we were slightly concerned our baby would slide off it in the most upright position, but the five-point harness is sturdy and the chair is angled enough so that no slipping occurs. As an aside, it looks great, too. The design is sleek and the soft grey complemented our living room.
This bouncer is also part of the Stokke Steps system, which means it can be clipped onto the brand’s high chair. However, it’s a pretty good investment for just the bouncer itself, if you’re planning to use it for the the first six months after birth.
Most new parents will know of this bouncer and perhaps covet it. Known in some parenting circles as “the babysitter”, the BabyBjörn bliss bouncer is designed to respond to our baby’s movements, creating soft or more vigorous natural bouncing, depending on how much the baby kicks. It’s at the higher end of the market for baby bouncers, but we found it was the most aesthetically pleasing, coming in a range of colourways. It was also super easy to fold and put away, or take with us to family occasions.
Our baby seemed to enjoy the soft material, which appeared to envelop her beautifully, and she looked very relaxed while we raced around putting the house back together after tummy time. This bouncer doesn’t come with a toy arm, which is a shame, considering the price. However, if you’re looking for a portable, comfortable, beautiful bouncer that responds easily to movement, and doesn’t require batteries, this is a great choice.
Arriving in one piece, this bouncer has three seating positions, a three-point harness and a removable toy arm that comes with a couple of toys attached. We really liked the toy arm – it was quite high up but we were able to attach much more to it ourselves than other bouncers and our baby enjoyed the variety.
We used this bouncer a lot and were able to simply unclip it and slide it behind the sofa when not in use. It has a similar shape to the BabyBjörn bliss but is a good, cheaper competitive product for natural bouncing. Though, we would say it doesn’t quite have the range of motion as the bliss. Still, our baby really enjoyed it and definitely preferred how upright she could sit. A great natural bouncer for those babies who like to be seeing and doing.
This rocker promises to emulate the feeling of being rocked in your arms, with only a small push to create a gentle side-to-side motion. With no batteries, cords or noise, this is one for those who prefer quiet and gentle soothing. It also has a great weight limit: from birth up to a huge 60kg, so is a good investment for longevity.
However, it’s certainly not a bouncer you’ll be lugging from room to room. As it weighs more than 8kg, you’ll want to pick a spot and stick to it. That said, the base and seat itself look really slick, making this is a nice addition to any room. It takes a manual push to set the rocker swinging gently side to side, and it will keep going for up to two minutes.
It’s up at the higher end of the price bracket for a rocker, but you can also make the rocker static with a quick switch and have the chair carry your little one through to childhood. The toy bar, which is included, is a nice touch, and the toys are really lovely to look at, as well as being well within reach of little exploring hands.
This rocker and bouncer comes in several different designs and colourways. The three-position reclining seat rocks or bounces with a simple push or when baby moves, giving you choice when it comes to soothing baby, depending on their preference.
Realistically, though, this one is best suited to babies who are soothed by noise. With five classical lullabies and five nature sounds paired with vibration and a visual toy bar above our baby’s head, it was possible to entertain her for a while as well as finding a little peace and quiet. Suitable up to 15kg, this bouncer comes with a three-point harness, to keep baby safe. We found the body support really soft and comfortable – plush but removable and washable, which is ideal.
With four different relaxing melodies and a gentle vibrate motion, we loved this bouncer for when we wanted to calm down our baby before bed with some quiet playtime. The melodies aren’t in any way annoying (you’ll not be needing to take any batteries out) and there are some rattle toys attached to the removable toy bar, too. We especially liked the “head hugging” cloud pillow, which we thought added some extra comfort.
This bouncer is suitable from birth up until the age of about six months, so it’s not one for longevity, but, at this price, we feel it’s a great bouncer to soothe and entertain a very young baby by stimulating their senses.
While baby bouncers offer a place for little ones to rest, relax and be entertained, they shouldn’t be used as a place for your baby to settle in for long periods of time. According to the NHS guide on how to keep your baby or toddler active, “it’s best to use them for no more than 20 minutes at a time.” Furthermore, they aren’t a suitable place for your baby to sleep, according to infant charity The Lullaby Trust, as they aren’t firm or flat, as a baby mattress should be.
Your little one should usually be able to go in a bouncer from birth (with a newborn insert) up to around six months of age, depending on your baby’s development. Some bouncers are designed to grow with your child and will adapt into a chair suitable for children aged up to two or three years.
A bouncer can be very useful. Some babies might not get on with them, but they offer a safe and comfortable spot to place your little one when you need your hands free to tackle chores or just grab something to eat.
Both imitate a rocking movement, but bouncers are set in motion by the baby’s own movements, meaning it rocks gently and naturally. Comparably, many swings require batteries or a power outlet and often have several speed settings.
You’ll want a soft seat in a flexible frame with a buckle harness to keep baby secure. Measure your space before you commit, as they can take up a bit of room. Also, think about portability if you’ll want to take it away with you or on day trips.
We loved the Maxi-Cosi kori rocker, thanks to it’s stylish, lightweight design, three recline positions and soft inlay. For a gentle rocking motion and a really quality product, you also can’t go wrong with the Nuna leaf grow, especially with that 60kg weight limit. Finally, for a simple, natural bouncer with space-saving capabilities, the BabyBjörn bliss bouncer comes in as one of the best.
Want more recommendations? We’ve rounded up the best play mats and the best baby monitors for your little ones