Holding your baby is great and all, but you simply can’t do it 24/7. You must put him down at some point to pee, dry your hair, chop some garlic, or update your Facebook status (helllllooo). This is one of those things you don’t really think about before the baby comes, but it’s soooo important. I recommend you have this from Day 1. We discuss various survival techniques in , our weekly newsletter. When it comes to these “baby containment devices” [snort], there are many options. There are pillows that sit on the floor, such as the DockATot (gag) or the Boppy Newborn Lounger. There are seats that sit directly on the floor, which is a traditional baby bouncer, or “off the floor” options, such as the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play. There are baby swings, which are swings that hang by a frame and plug-in to swing indefinitely. There are also items that combine two or more of these, so…. here goes. As a new mom, I thought a baby bouncer was a swing that you hang from a door frame while the baby bounces off the floor (YEAH, laugh all you want.
Actually, a bouncer is just a seat for an infant who can’t sit up. It looks something like that <— From 0-6 months, a place to stash your baby (a baby bouncer, Rock ‘n Play, etc.) is a must-have. And, by the way, most of them don’t actually bounce, but they do vibrate, make sounds, and have weird things to look at, so stock up on DD batteries. They get used up fast. Which one to choose? They are all pretty much the same, so don’t dedicate too many brain cells to this decision. That said, here are our favorites. Remember that bouncers are only used for about six months or so, so you might not want to spend a lot. Here are our favorite “every day” bouncers: $ — Bright Starts Rocker ~ $33 $$ — Fisher-Price Deluxe Bouncer ~ $65 $$$ — Skip Hop Uplift Bouncer ~ $150 If you have some more money to spend — or know someone will buy it from your registry (big grin), there are some higher-end bouncers out there that are well-liked — and great looking.
These are all in the $200 territory. Follow our board “3. Bouncers, Swings and Things” on Pinterest. This rocker by Bright Starts can sit still or rock, depending on your mood. Two-position recline with vibration and toy bar. Cheap, easy and well-liked. A tried and true crowd favorite — very snuggly with eight songs, nature sounds and vibrations. Also, an extra-cute bird thing to look at. Unlike other bouncers listed here, this one is height-adjustable, so you can pull it up to the dinner table — score!!! Comes with a removable toy bar, two songs and two sound affects (w/ volume control) and a vibration mode – all of which can be set to turn off after 20 min. *Napping is ok, but not recommended for overnight sleeping. Some people are willing to pay more for a baby gadget that complements their decor. These are for you — Say that 3 times fast. The beloved Balance is a staple in many households. This bouncer (of sorts) is a safe and beautiful spot for baby to chill in.
No batteries are needed for this sucker (yay!), because your baby learns how to make it rock using her own movements. There are four settings on this one: upright, fully reclined, partially reclined, and folded down. The fold-flat means it’s pretty easy to take along on trips and such. This delicious rocker is available in four color finishes that are ideal for rooms with contemporary décor. The Wave has a steady front-to-back rocking motion — with the option for a stationary position. It folds easily and compactly and can be stored in small areas – perfect if you live in an apartment or smaller home. Our favorite thing about the Stokke Steps bouncer is not the bouncer itself (which is fine, but not anything spectacular), but that it becomes part of a grow-with-me seating and feeding system. If you buy the Steps high chair [sold sep, which we love!], you can put the bouncer on the chair and bring it to the table for dinner in months 0-6. From there, it goes on to grow with your child.
If you love modern design, definitely check out Stokke [in general] and their bouncers and chairs. Bloom makes a few different loungers that are pretty rad. The “Go Organic Lounger,” for example, is a rocker, lounger, and fixed seat – all in one. Best part is, it folds up super slim, so you can take it on the go. The sleek Nuna Leaf seat is unique in that it can be used from infancy to preschool and beyond (up to 130 lbs!). Without batteries, cords, or any noise to speak of, this seat is perfect for your little one to nap/chill when it’s time to rest or wait for mom to GSD (get stuff done). The organic cotton insert is soft, and the motion of the Leaf continues for about two minutes unassisted with a mere push. If you have the money, you gone’ loves you a Leaf. * Last year, they introduced the “Wind,” which is a battery pack unit that will keep your Leaf swaying back and forth indefinitely (since rocking it with your foot can get a little tiresome, lol).
If your Leaf has a red sticker on the bottom, it’s compatible; My favorite baby containment device is the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play. (See the full review under “Newborn Sleeping Arrangements” here.) This is a great little seat/bed that gets baby off the ground, which is key if you don’t want your dog or cat to be up in your baby’s business all the time. It’s also MUCH easier on your back than bending over a bouncer that’s on the floor. I love the Rock ‘n Play so much that it made my Top 10 List of Essential Baby Items. Get at least one of these; you will not regret it.Feeding a baby when travelling Whether you’re heading on holidays or just for a day trip, a portable mealtime seat can help simplify feeding on the go. Balancing a wiggly baby or active toddler on your lap doesn’t always result in the easiest eating experience… for you or your child! There are four main types of travel-friendly feeding seats to choose from: Travel highchairs – a bit like the seat part of a highchair, minus the long legs.
They sit on top of a dining chair and are strapped on. They can be folded to a compact size for portability. Foldable booster seats – these attach to a dining chair and, unlike normal boosters, can be folded to reduce their size to something a little more travel-friendly. Clamp-on seats – a seat that attaches to the table’s edge, rather than the chair. Fabric seat harnesses – basically, these are like a fold-up piece of fabric that wraps around your baby and the chair. You can use them instead of a booster or highchair, but it won’t give your baby any height. Unsure which style would suit your need? Our buyer's guide to booster seats and travel highchairs is the place to start, plus we’ve rounded up 10 of the best options here, to help you find the perfect match for feeding a baby away from home… Tomy Freestyle 3-in-1 Booster Seat, £19.99Light and easy to clean, the Tomy Freestyle 3-in-1 Booster Seat can be folded into a bag shape. When it comes time to use, you just undo one zip and the seat pops out, ready to be attached to any chair with a back.
It also boasts a changing mat and has storage compartments for a bottle and nappies. Read the full Tomy Freestyle 3-in-1 Booster Seat review Buy the Tomy Freestyle on Amazon Compare deals from top retailers Mamas & Papas Baby Bud, £31.95The Baby Bud is a tabletop feeding and booster chair that has four clip-on feet that can be adjusted to three different height settings to fit to a variety of different chairs and tables. Featuring a safety harness, cushioned seat insert and removable tray, you can also buy an activity centre to place on top of the tray to keep baby occupied. For the full Baby Bud spec and to see why our MFM reviewer gave the seat four and a half stars out of five, click here Buy the Mamas & Papas Baby Bud on Amazon Concord Lima travel highchair, £49.95Streamlined and compact, the stylish Concord Lima is a travel highchair that easily connects to any chair. It feels secure once attached and is comfy for your child, too. The Lima comes with its own carry bag, cup holder in the tray and the covers are washable.
Read the full Concord Lima travel highchair review Buy the Concord Lima on Amazon Totseat seat harness, £24The Totseat falls into the fabric seat harness group. It’s light and compact because it’s made of fabric and can be folded down into a small pouch, thrown into your handbag/change bag/buggy basket and be forgotten about. It fits most types of chairs and is really straightforward to use, as well as being the only product of its type to be recognised by the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), the UK's leading child safety charity. Our MFM reviewer gave the seat four out of five stars for safety, style and value for money. Read the full Totseat seat harness review Buy the Totseat on Amazon Phil & Teds Wriggle Wrapper, £44.95Phil and Teds have pushed the boundaries yet again – the Wriggle Wrapper doesn’t neatly fit any category, but it does what it does very well! The Wriggle Wrapper can be strapped around a chair or your waist and used as a restraint when feeding your baby from 6 months to 2 years.
Or, with an extension strap, you can use it as a sort of safety harness to strap your little one to a single mattress and stop him from rolling around on a bed. It’s clever, compact and it impressed MFM’s reviewer no end! Read the full Phil and Teds Wriggle Wrapper review Buy the Phil & Teds Wriggle Wrapper on Amazon Polar Gear Go Anywhere Booster Seat, £17.99The Polar Gear Go Anywhere Booster Seat is lightweight and easy to wipe clean. It’s also easy to use, and folds away to a compact size – it’ll look more like you’re carrying a laptop than a booster for you toddler! It’s comfy for your child and best suited to older babies, from 12 months to about 4 years. Read the full Polar Gear Go Anywhere Booster Seat review Buy the Polar Gear Go Anywhere on Amazon Chicco Pocket Snack, £19.99An award-winning compact booster seat, the Chicco Pocket Snack is easy to assemble, comes with adjustable straps, so that it fits a variety of chairs and has a safety harness to keep baby wobble-free.
The Pocket Snack tray has three height positions and can come off completely, and it has a cute spoon and fork design on the seat unit. The booster seat is highly recommend by our MFM tester who gave it a whopping five out of five stars. Buy the Chicco Pocket Snack on Amazon Stokke Handysitt, £54The Stokke Handysitt can be used as a booster seat that hooks onto the back of adult chairs or, with the addition of the additional leg accessories, it can be used as freestanding children's chair. Unlike most travel chairs and booster seats the Handysitt is composed of birch wood, not plastic, which makes it a little more weighty, but also sturdier and more durable. Buy the Stokke Handysitt on Amazon Phil & Teds lobster, £60The Phil & Teds lobster directly clamps onto the table, so your baby is always at table height. It pops up and is attached and ready in seconds. It feels durable and keeps your little one safe with a 4-point harness and shoulder straps, but is lightweight and compact enough to fold down and carry in your handbag.