We conducted comprehensive hands-on testing to find the best baby bouncer seats on the market. We tested 12 different bouncers with 8 different babies, and gathered other parents' input. We pulled all the data together and found some excellent baby bouncers. We considered comfort and ergonomics, adjustable positioning, portability, fabric quality and softness, ease of cleaning, and safety and reliability. If you want more details on any of these factors, scroll down to the bottom of this page. Otherwise, here are the best bouncer seats we found!
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- Table of Contents [show/hide]
- Top 5 Baby Bouncers Comparison Table
- 1. Best Bouncer Seat Overall: BabyBjorn
- 2. Fisher Price Deluxe
- 3. Fisher Price Comfort Curve
- 4. Bright Starts Pinwheel
- 5. Summer Baby Bouncer Rocker
- 6. 4Moms Mamaroo Motion
- Discontinued: Tiny Love
- Factors to Consider
- Comfort & Ergonomics
- Adjustability & Positioning
- Soft & Washable Cover
#1. BabyBjorn Balance
#2. Fisher Price Deluxe
#3. Fisher Price Comfort Curve
#5. Summer Bouncer Rocker
Here are the Best Baby Bouncers of 2020!
1. Baby Bjorn Balance Soft Baby Bouncer.
This is the best, simplest, and most versatile baby bouncer on the market. The BabyBjorn Bouncer Balance Soft is available in basic cotton, which is truly soft and durable, a more breathable mesh (for you Florida folks!), and an organic cotton version. Two of the moms we interviewed had the BabyBjorn, and absolutely raved about it. One had the mesh, and one the basic cotton version. They both loved how soft the fabric was, how it adjusted between sitting upright and lying completely flat, and how it didn't include all the music, vibrations, and other distractions. They also commented on several other positive aspects: sleek and stylish design, easy for baby to bounce by kicking, no assembly out of the box, machine washable cover (but hang dry), and durability and reliability. Neither had any issues with stains, rips, or other problems. One also mentioned that the legs on the unit go directly behind the bouncer; this is different from most cheaper bouncers that have legs that also stick out on the front/sides and prove an annoying tripping hazard (especially for visitors!). This is a truly trip-free design, which is a big plus. The ergonomics of this unit are really great, they position the baby with some leg flexion and with nice head padding. It also folds completely flat, which is great for traveling or storage. When we tried it out ourselves, we quickly fell in love with it. When they call it the Balance Soft, they aren't kidding - it's super soft, and it's well-balanced and there doesn't feel like any risk of tipping over or other issues. There are some cons, however, that you should consider. First, it is the second most expensive bouncer on our list, which can be a limiting factor for many people. Second, instead of buckle clips on the harness, this bouncer uses buttons which can be a pain when you're trying to quickly get a baby in or out. Finally, the unit can be used from 8-lbs to up to a 29-lb baby, but this is a bit misleading. When your baby reaches 19-lbs, BabyBjorn recommends flipping over the seat cover so that it is used as a bouncer seat without the restraint part. But if you have a really large baby that is over 19-lbs but not ready to sit without a restraint, this might not work very well for you. The real problem, as it turns out, is that babies over 19-lbs can't really fit their legs into the restraint straps. Overall, however, this is a fantastic bouncer and we believe it is the best on the market, if you can afford it. Also consider the Baby Bjorn Babysitter Balance Bouncer, which is a bit more money but has a few simple added features that might be worth the cost.
2. Fisher Price Deluxe Bouncer.
This is one of two Fisher Price bouncers on this list. Not surprising given they are the original baby bouncer manufacturer and they have several different bouncer models on the market at any given time. This is what they call their deluxe bouncer. Relative to the comfort curve (below), this has some extra features. In addition to a generally plusher and more conforming seat (plus a newborn insert), it also includes a cute (non-motorized) mobile, super soft fabric, music, nature sounds, and vibrations. We really appreciated the adjustable volume for the music and nature sounds, and the fact that it only stays on for up to 20 minutes and therefore doesn't risk burning out the batteries when accidentally left on. We also thought the legs and feet were very stable, and provided a reasonable bounce level that wasn't too much for baby. It supports up to 25 pounds, and runs on three D size batteries, which we think is a bit much. The batteries do last for a long time even with frequent use, but when you need to replace them you'll wonder if it's worth the money! The Deluxe Bouncer comes in several color and pattern varieties, but the features are the same. Overall, this is a fantastic bouncer that's available for a very reasonable price.
3. Fisher Price Comfort Curve Baby Bouncer.
The Fisher Price line of baby bouncers are the original and have been around for over a decade now. It's a classic frame style with iconic colors and toy bar over the center. At the basic level, it is quite similar to the Tiny Love. The overall frame is a similar shape, but with a more modern sleek plastic design rather than the flimsy-looking metal. The colors are similar, and it has the basic soothing vibration option if you pop in a single D size battery. It also has the removable and washable cover, decent seating position, and an easy to use 3-point adjustable buckle restraint. The differences are in the toy bars, recline feature, and the toys themselves. The Fisher Price does not recline, has a push-in/pull-out toy bar that is always in the way, and the toys are relatively simple without sounds/lights or motion sensing. Six moms in our focus group had experience with the Fisher Price bouncers. The cons were mostly related to removing and putting the toy bar back on every time they used the bouncer. It is possible to slide the baby in and out from the top, but it requires a bit of a struggle. That said, it's one of the cheaper options on our list, and has very high reliability. All of the moms said the vibration was still working - one had a Fisher-Price bouncer for 7 years and it was still going strong! If you're on a budget and looking for a good bouncer that will last you, but does not have any of the advanced features (padding, adjustments, etc), then the Fisher Price is a great option.
4. Bright Starts Pinwheel Baby Bouncer Seat.
The Bright Starts Pinwheel baby bouncer seat is compact, comfortable, adorable, entertaining and only about 20 bucks! It's very similar in design to the original Fisher Price bouncer seats, with its curved metal legs, removable toy bar, machine washable seat pad, and vibration motor (have a C battery handy). It's basic, simple to use, and looks pretty cute regardless of your interior decor; in fact, it's a really good color pattern for girls or boys - so if you're looking for a registry gift that's gender neutral, this could be a good bet. The toys on the bar spin around and were a lot of fun for our test kiddos to swat at. The fabric is pretty decent quality for the price - it's nowhere near as soft and nice as the BabyBjorn, but it's durable and padded in all the right places. And it's pretty easy to pull off and wash in the machine. The harness is also easy to deal with - buckling and unbuckling is a breeze. When your baby kicks, it bounces a bit - not too much or too little, it's really just right. So why isn't it higher on our list? Well, for our 2 month old test baby, the incline was way too steep for a baby without solid neck and head control. We'd suggest using this was babies from about 3 months and up. The heavier your baby is, the more it will recline a bit under the weight of your baby, so that helps a bit. This was our primary issue with this bouncer, and we wish it either started with a more reclined seating position, or had adjustable recline. The manufacturer says it's good from 0+ months, but we're skeptical. The upper weight limit is 25 pounds, and you'll realize that the seat will sag considerably with a baby that heavy! Overall, there was a lot to like about this bouncer seat, especially at a price point around $20, but you might need to wait until your baby is a few months old to start using it. Interested? You can check out the Bright Starts Pinwheel Bouncer Seat here.
5. Summer 2-in-1 Baby Bouncer Rocker Seat.
This is one our favorite baby bouncers because it doubles as a rocker by folding up a couple little legs on the bottom, two on the front and two on the back. When those little legs are folded up and the position is reclined a bit, your baby can create a natural front-back rocking motion, which is a nice touch. Additional features we appreciated were the fact that you can fold it flat for storage, the toys and cover are removable and machine washable, it comes with a comfortable padded insert, and it has vibrations (C batteries are actually included!). Out of the box, you simply unfold it and pop on the toy bar and toys, and you're off to the races. Getting baby in and out is easy thanks to the removable toy bar, and it supports babies from birth up to 20 pounds, which is a bit lower than most other bouncer seats. We liked how easy it was to adjust the recline, how easily the toy bar pops off, and how easy it was to remove the padded insert for washing. The rocking movement was subtle and relaxing, and we liked how lightweight (about 5 pounds) and portable it was. So this bouncer got a lot of points in our testing, and we were happy to have tried it! There are a few cons worth mentioning, especially given the $60 price point. First, there were some minor annoyances: one of the little legs also had a tendency to fall down on its own and stop the rocking motion, and the padded insert doesn't attach at many places so it has a tendency to slide down or fall forward. One of our bigger concerns was with the toy bar that doesn't secure into place, so some of our babies were able to pull it right off. This seemed like a bit of a safety hazard. We also thought it wasn't very suitable for newborns given the minimal head or neck support. Given that the price is towards the top of the range, we expected a bit more out of this new bouncer. Interested? You can check out the Summer Baby Bouncer Rocker Seat here.
6. 4Moms MamaRoo Motion Baby Bouncer.
The MamaRoo bouncer (well, not really a bouncer at all) is a new addition to the bouncer market as of 2012, and it is a really impressive option. Expensive, yes, but also feature-rich and unique. The MamaRoo is both capable and stylish, and adds a whole new realm of motion to bouncers. It has 5 unique motions that simulate a baby's favorite and most relaxing activities: car ride, tree swing, rock-a-bye, ocean floating, and kangaroo bounce. There is built in music, including nature sounds and white noise, and you can also play MP3s if you attach your iPod. It has a highly adjustable seat recline, a machine washable seat, a nicely padded cover with good ergonomic support, and a sleek and unique style. This is an awesome option if you don't really need a bouncer, per se, but rather want something a bit fancier with more features. With all of its great features and style, there are of course some drawbacks. First, it does not take batteries so you need to position it in a place close to a wall outlet. Second, because of all the moving parts, some people complain of some odd clicking noises and reliability issues; this is rare but worth mentioning (note that they have a 1-year warranty, and if you buy from Amazon you can use their free return policy). If you're looking for something fancy and different, this is the option for you; odds are you'll love it and think it was worth every penny!
Discontinued: Tiny Love Take Along Baby Bouncer.
This was an awesome baby bouncer with great bang for the buck, while it lasted! Anyone who has used a bouncer for their baby knows that they can be really awkward and cumbersome to store, move, and travel with. The travel part is basically impossible for most baby bouncers on the market. Along came Tiny Love and made one of the best baby bouncers on the market, not only for its simple features and reliability, but also for its portability. We like the simplicity of this baby bouncer. It has flexible fabric and netting that makes it light and airy, and keeps sweat from developing against your baby's back. The colors are modern and simple, and the 3-point harness does its job. One of our more active babies sat up and leaned forward and there was no indication that the bouncer would tip forward or have any other issues. There's nothing fancy here: no dangling toys, music, or motion. But it's perfect for parents who take pride in simplicity, and also the ability to transport it, store it, and otherwise quickly move it. It weighs under 5 pounds and folds up to a size that could probably fit in a normal size briefcase. We were able to easily fit it into a carry-on bag, and were really happy about how little space it took up in our closet. It's lightweight but also sturdy and well-constructed. The fabric is high quality, as are the buckles and rubber feet to keep it from sliding around hardwood or tile floors (or on one of our best foam play mats!). Folding it up was easy, though we did find that you need two hands to do it, because you have to push a button and then twist a lever. Though it has no motion built in (like the 4Moms!), we like how it responds to baby's movement, keeping them kicking and stimulated. We also like how the bouncer seat is relatively upright, so baby is not laying back so far that they can't really watch what's going on. This is great when baby is watching mom or dad do their work. Cons? Well, it's simple by design, so those looking for recline settings, music, vibrations, and dangling toys, check out #3 below for a possibly better option. Also only supports up to 20 pounds. Overall, for those interested in finding a baby bouncer seat that won't set you back too much money and is also great for travel and easy to store, this is a great option.
Here are more details on a few things that you should consider when picking a great baby bouncer:
Bouncers that can lie flat also tend to be more portable, making it easier to squeeze into your trunk, into a box when moving, or under the couch when cleaning up. When I first packed my car to travel with a 6-month old, we came to the realization that somehow our SUV wasn't big enough for all our baby stuff. A folding bouncer would have helped tremendously! More traditional models that have been on the market for decades, like the Fisher Price baby bouncer, are good cheap basic bouncers but they are really terrible for portability. The Baby Bjorn Balance Bouncer folds completely flat, as pictured to the left, which is a really great feature.
Soft & Washable Cover. Even the cutest and best behaved babies make messes. They spit-up, spill, crush little crumbs in every crevice, and occasionally blow out of even the best diapers, including cloth diapers. In any event, every once in a while you will need to launder the cover, so you'll want it to remove easily and be machine friendly. You also want it to be made with soft and high quality fabric and very well pre-shrunk so you'll be able to fit it back onto the bouncer after a good scrub and spin in the dryer. All of the best baby bouncers we recommend provide an easily removable cover that is soft and durable and is not only machine washable but will not shrink if you follow the instructions.
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