The Buzz on Bouncers
Author: Heather Slee
Most babies love bouncers. So do most moms! Here's why: Bouncers can be a gift from Heaven if you have a baby who won't sleep in his crib yet. The small, cozy contour of a bouncer keeps your baby feeling secure and snug, and if you get one with vibrations, it can soothe your little one to sleep. And, of course, you can bounce the baby, and that can either thrill them or lull them into dream land. I highly recommend purchasing a bouncer for your baby.
Bouncers are fairly simple contraptions. They generally consist of a metal frame that's shaped so that it stays securely in place while the baby bounces, or while you bounce the baby. The seat is a soft cushion that is shaped perfectly for babies zero to five or six months. Most have easy-to-remove cushions that you can throw in the washer. That is the simplest of bouncers. Of course, you'll find that there are many other features that come with bouncers today.
One bouncer option that I love is vibration. You can turn it on or off, in case you feel your baby is getting tired of the buzz. But many times you'll find that the gentle vibration of the bouncer can soothe a fussy baby and even help them get to sleep.
Another great feature is a detachable toy bar. Many bouncers come with a toy bar attached, so you can stimulate your baby's eyes and mind with colorful shapes and textures. When they're very tiny, the toy bar is close enough for them to see (newborns can only see about a foot in front of them), and as they get older, they can bat at the toys. When they're even older, they can pull and tug on them. If you opt for the toy bar, make sure that it is detachable, though, because you'll find that sometimes you'll want the baby to nap and the toys may be too much stimulation.
Music is another option that Baby will like. Baby's love music! And this may seem trivial, but along with your other baby devices, make sure you semi-like the music that plays. Trust me-it will be playing a lot.
Those are the basics. You'll find higher-end models that have many more features that you may like (folding down for travel, heartbeat sounds, rocking plus bouncing, etc.), but what I feel are the essentials are what I have discussed. Bouncers vary in price, starting from as low as $20 to around $160. Consumer Reports recommends that you purchase either a bouncer or a swing, but I find having both to be great-Baby likes to switch it up. However, if you are on a tight budget or short on space, I would definitely opt for the bouncer. Have fun shopping!
