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The best baby bouncers of 2023 for newborns and infants, plus Black Friday offers
From Baby Bjorn to Nuna, our tiny tester tried out the best baby bouncers, rockers and swings of 2023 (and cried less than most journalists)
Finding the best baby bouncer to suit your little one could actually change your life as a new mother - and I say that as one of them. Designed to soothe your child with rhythmic motions, a baby rocker or bouncer provides a safe place to put them down when you need your hands back.
My 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.
Of course, I had questions to ask before buying one. What’s the difference between a bouncer, rocker and swing? How long do they last? Does the Baby Bjorn bouncer live up to the hype? I turned to Baby Care Expert Millie Poppins. “Bouncers are useful from birth as they provide a safe (still supervised) place to put your baby,” she explains. “The rhythmic bouncing can help to settle a baby as they feel comforted by the motion. The upright position is also great for wind, reflux and general burping after feeding rather than putting your baby down flat.”
You can find Millie’s advice on the dos and don’ts of baby bouncers, the right age to use them and other frequently asked questions at the bottom of this article, beneath my full reviews of the best bouncers on the market. But if it’s a Black Friday deal you’re after, you’re in luck. Here is my pick of the best Black Friday deals on baby bouncers:
Best Black Friday deals on baby bouncers, on offer now:
- Bright Starts Safari Blast 2-in1 Rocker - Currently £24.73, Amazon (£4 discount)
- Mamas and Papas Tempo 3-in-1 bouncer - Currently £89, Mamas & Papas (£10 discount)
What should you look for when buying a baby bouncer?
A good rocker will have adjustable heights, be lightweight and easily stored and transported. Millie also recommends buying a bouncer with a removable cover, so that any leaking nappy explosions can be dealt with swiftly.
There are three main types, Millie explains: “A bouncer is usually manual. When an adult pushes it, or when a baby wriggles, it moves gently in response and begins to bounce. A rocker or a swing chair is usually electronically automated and has adjustable settings for creating movement.”
Our son Jasper suffered from reflux for many months. For that reason we were definitely looking for something to help keep him upright after feeds with washable fabric (given all the spit ups). We also travel quite a bit, so wanted something light that we could take around with us, along with our travel cot. Finally, since it’s quite an investment (most of the best known models retail for around £200), we were keen on a bouncer that could be repurposed as a toddler’s seat as Jasper grows.
How we tested the best baby bouncers
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.
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.
Best baby bouncers
1. Baby Bjorn Bouncer Bliss
Best overall, 9/10
We like: lightweight, ergonomic, with perfect bounce - a classic that lives up to the hype
We don’t like: there’s no vibrate or automatic mode
- Suitable for newborn to two years (15kg)
- Three point harness type
- Machine washable fabric at 40C
- Extra features include a toy bar, sold separately, and a travel case
This Baby Bjorn model has achieved cult status among bouncers but upon first glance I had my reservations - it looks pretty basic for the price. This, as I soon found out, is one of the aspects that makes it such a winner. It’s a well-designed, high-quality, ergonomic piece of kit that rocks gently when your baby waves its arms or legs and doesn’t need gimmicky extras.
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.
Our expert Millie named it as her favourite, too. “I have tried and tested many brands but I find the Baby Bjorn bouncer to be the most flexible and rythmic to bounce,” she says. Another plus for us was how lightweight it is, making it easy to move around the house or even travel with. For storage purposes it packs down nearly flat, not that you’ll have to for a while. When your baby outgrows the bouncer (at around six months) and has learned to walk and sit unaided, you can turn the fabric seat around and use it as a children’s chair.
Jasper also loves the toy bar (sold separately) and aesthetically so do I. There are various designs to choose from but we went with the ‘Googly Eye’ option (£44), which amuses him to no end, is easy to take on and off and we wouldn’t be without. The only thing this bouncer is lacking, in my opinion, is a vibrate function, which our baby loved on a different model.
2. Bright Starts Safari Blast 2-in1 Rocker
Currently £24.73, Amazon (£4 Black Friday discount)
Best value baby bouncer, 9/10
We like: the soothing vibrate function
We don’t like: it’s garish-looking and the toy bar sits too low
- Suitable for newborn to toddler (18kg)
- Five point harness type
- Machine washable fabric
- Extra features include a toy bar and a vibrate mode
It’s by far the gaudiest we tested, so of course Jasper loves it. This cheap and cheerful model is a 2-in-1 bouncer and rocker that will take your baby from newborn, strapped in and reclined, to toddler with harness removed and the unit set to stationary, using the kickstand at the back.
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.
Its best feature, though, is the vibrate function for which you’ll need a C battery, not included, that still soothes Jasper even at seven months old. Sometimes if he looks like he’s about to kick off, or after meals when I want to keep him still, I’ll place him in here for a relaxing, buzzing swing. (Why the more expensive models don’t have a vibrate function is beyond me.)
The fabric, being somewhat plasticky, is more wipeable than the others, so it’s easier to keep clean. And it’s relatively small and light, so it takes up less space. A very decent budget option.
3. Munchkin Bluetooth Baby Swing Chair & Seat
Best baby swing, 9/10
We like: the automatic swing motion, lightweight frame and space-age design
We don’t like: its power cable limits where you place it
- Suitable for babies weighing between 2.5 and 9kg
- Five point harness point
- Machine washable fabric body pad and headrest
- Extra features include Bluetooth and a remote control
We loved this futuristic-looking swing; the only one we tested which is machine-operated. Its greatest strength is its automatic action; a side-to-side sway, designed to mimic a parent’s natural rocking, with five levels of motion. We used this every day when Jasper was a few months old and generally had it on the fastest setting.
Operated by a digital touch display with a built-in speaker, it plays a selection of eight sounds including white noise and classical music pieces. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled, so you can send through your own playlists from your phone. We used the pre-loaded sounds at first but the speaker quality, while good enough for me, didn’t quite measure up to his father’s very strict standards.
This swing also has a remote. Personally I was never out of arm’s reach from Jasper when he was in it, so didn’t require it. The downside to it being electronic is that you have to plug it into a socket, which limits where you can put it.
It is, however, extremely light (at only 4kg) and folds down flat enough to store in small places, in our case under the sofa. We just wish it lasted longer: the Munchkin shouldn’t be used after your baby can sit up, and by five months Jasper was already looking precarious in it.
4. Mamas and Papas Tempo 3-in-1 bouncer
Currently £89, Mamas and Papas (£10 Black Friday discount)
Best bouncer for newborns, 9/10
We like: great value, lightweight with easy-to-adjust head hugger insert
We don’t like: only lasts until your baby is six months old
- Suitable for newborn to about six months (9kg)
- Three point harness type
- Machine washable fabric
- Extra features include a magnetic toy bar and a handy pocket in back
I have come to rely on Mamas and Papas as a brand with rock solid quality and this bouncer is no exception. It’s fantastic value for money, too, being the second cheapest we tried. The Tempo has three settings; a reclined position for newborns with a gentle rocking motion and two higher stances which allow for more bounce.
It’s available in three neutral colours (sand, ivy and blush) with a pocket in the back to store small items out of the baby’s reach and a toy bar that attaches and pops off magnetically. We were also a fan of the adjustable ‘head hugger’ insert which sticks to the back independently without any straps, so is easy to move up and down or remove; and the ‘nip-proof’ harness clips.
As a unit, it’s small, light and simple to manoeuvre, but alas, it’s only suitable for babies up to about six months (9kg) so we were sad that Jasper grew out of it. Unlike some of the others, it couldn’t be repurposed as a child’s seat. Overall though, this is a very good dupe for the Baby Bjorn if you are on a tighter budget.
5. Cybex Lemo Bouncer
Best bouncer for reflux, 9/10
We like: supremely comfortable, multi-functional, sleek in appearance
We don’t like: not the most compact model
- Suitable for newborn to toddler (15kg)
- Five point harness type
- Machine washable fabric at 30C
- It can be mounted to waist-height when purchased with the Lemo 4-in-1
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.
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.
When purchased as a set with the Lemo 4-in-1, the seat can also be easily mounted to a stand that puts your baby at adult’s waist height - great if you’ve had a c-section or have back problems. I also prefer having him high up and closer to me when I’m pottering around in the kitchen, instead of down on the floor.
When they’ve outgrown the bouncer, you can reassemble the 4-in-1 kit again to form a high chair, and after that a child’s seat and then an adult’s seat. It was also the only bouncer that came with its parts wrapped in paper instead of plastic - another nice touch.
6. Nuna Leaf Grow
Best baby rocker, 9/10
We like: its elegant appearance and semi-automatic motion
We don’t like: base too heavy for portability; toy bar easy to pull off
- Suitable for newborn to toddler (60kg)
- Three point harness type
- Machine washable fabric
- Extra features include an adjustable toy bar
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.
This swing takes your baby from newborn, with a soft insert and three-point harness; to toddler, with these removed, to be used as a seat. With no batteries or cords, the Nuna Leaf’s gentle side-to-side motion lasts for several minutes before you have to give it a nudge again, unlike most other non-motorised swings on the market which require near-constant pushing.
We love the sumptuous fabric and the design details; three recline positions, a motion lock and a breathable mesh back. Available in two muted shades (brown or pale blue and grey), it comes with a beautiful adjustable toy bar that snaps on and off. By six months, however, Jasper could easily yank this off completely and chuck it to the floor. It has inadvertently become one of his favourite toys to play with independently.
Baby bouncer FAQ
What is the best baby bouncer for a newborn?
“I am a die hard Baby Bjorn fan,” Millie Poppins says. “There is a reason they are so popular. I find the design the most intuitive. It’s easy to wash the cover, lightweight and simple to fold flat with a variety of height settings. It also provides a really lovely rhythmic bounce and an older baby who is squirming will be able to set it in motion themselves.”
When should a baby start and finish using a bouncer?
“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.
“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?
“It is always safest for your baby to sleep on a firm, flat, waterproof mattress clear of loose blankets and pillows,” Millie says. “A bouncer can be used in the day for supervised naps but is not recommended for long stretches of sleep and definitely not for overnight sleeping.”
Is a bouncer better than a swing?
“Both need to be supervised,” Millie says, “but a bouncer may still need to be pushed by a carer whilst a swing can often do this electronically. However, the automatic swings can be much more expensive and take up a lot of space and are not easily moved between rooms. I love a bouncer, because you can move it into the kitchen when preparing dinner and then move it into the bathroom so you can grab a quick shower whilst having a clear view of your baby.”
What should you avoid doing with a bouncer?
“Never leave your baby unattended in a bouncer, whether they are awake or asleep,” Millie says. “The bouncer should always be at floor level on a flat surface and should never be used on a bed, sofa, table or countertop. You should always strap the baby in with the harness required and never have loose blankets above their armpit level especially either side of their face or behind their head.