The 5 Best Baby Bouncers

Why pick this one? Hundreds of Pampers Parents voted this vibrating baby bouncer as the best. It works as a traditional bouncer as well as in the battery-operated vibration mode.

As its name suggests, this bouncer has a bright and cheerful design that’s a good choice for your baby boy or girl. The buckle on the three-point harness works with a click to secure your baby in place.

This bouncer comes with a removable toy bar. The toys will keep your baby entertained as he spins the bear, elephant, and giraffe figures. The middle toy also has a mirror, which your little one might find engaging even if he tires of the toys.

At around five pounds, this bouncer is fairly lightweight and easy to move from room to room. Once assembled, this baby bouncer doesn’t fold down, so it may not be the best option if you plan to travel with it.

The seat pad is machine washable, and the frame can be wiped clean.

Highlights: Aside from having the traditional bouncing mechanism where your baby creates the bounce motion, this model also comes with a battery-operated vibration. So if your little one prefers a bit more motion, just turn it on.

Details:

Price*: about $26.39 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

• Pros: This baby bouncer is good value for money, small enough to be portable around the home, very colorful, and entertaining for the baby.

• Cons: Some Pampers Parents wished it didn’t sit so low on the floor. It would be good if the toys were dangling so they moved as the baby bounced.

Why pick this one? Coming in at second place is this Ingenuity SmartBounce bouncer. It can bounce with your baby’s natural leg and arm movements, or you can set it on vibration mode. It has two vibration speed options that the manufacturer claims mimic your natural rocking motion.

This bouncer includes a fair bit of cushioning compared to some of the others on this list. For example, it comes with a bolster cushion and head pillow that you can remove when your baby is bigger.

Two plush toys hang from the toy bar, and you can pivot the bar out of the way when you need to remove your little one from the bouncer.

Highlights: This bouncer can also play soothing sounds — you can pick from eight tunes, three nature sounds, or the white noise setting, depending on which your little one is in the mood for. Not all bouncers play audio, so if this is important to you then perhaps go with this model.

Details:

Price*: about $50.08 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

• Pros: It has a sleek and simple design, and the cushioning is nice and soft. There are lots of settings to choose from to help keep your baby entertained and stimulated for longer.

• Cons: Some Pampers Parents would have preferred it if the hanging toys were more secure, and if the vibration setting had a slower mode. Some also found the extra padding a little difficult to remove.

Why pick this one? If you prefer to have a baby bouncer that has more muted, pastel tones, then this modern-looking bouncer could be the perfect one for you.

Your baby will love the comfy feel and the gentle movement. This bouncer moves with your baby’s natural movements, but it also has a battery-operated vibration mode.

A nice feature with this Fisher-Price model is that you can control the volume of the music and nature sounds. With some bouncers, Pampers Parents complained that the sound was too loud, so being able to set the volume at the touch of a button could be a real plus.

This bouncer comes with cushion inserts so that your baby can fit snugly when he’s smaller. Then, when he’s bigger, the extra padding can be removed. All of the padding is machine washable..

The overhead bar comes with two hanging woodland-themed plush toys on it. However, your little one might tire of these after a while particularly as the colors aren’t too eye catching.

Highlights: The batteries run for a whopping 218 hours. If you do still run out of battery power at some point, you’ll need to grab some C batteries — it uses three of them.

Details:

Price*: about $56.73 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

• Pros: It’s soft and cozy, giving the baby a feeling of comfort. Some Pampers Parents also found the wide base to be very stable.

• Cons: Some Pampers Parents wished it came with a five-point harness instead of just the three-point harness.

Why pick this one? This contemporary design by Fisher-Price is the best choice when you look at price, as it is the most affordable baby bouncer on our list.

This bouncer moves with your little one’s natural movements, but also has a battery-operated vibrate function to help calm your baby. One downside could be that it doesn’t let you play music or sounds, but if audio isn’t a feature you prefer then this may not be much of a problem.

It has colorful toys on the toy bar, and the toy bar is removable so you can easily place your little one in the bouncer.

It has a three-point harness. The padding is machine washable.

Highlights: The toy bar features a rolling ball, a colorful monkey, and two spinners in the shape of a lion and a zebra. These jiggle and move as your baby moves, but also move when your little one touches them.

Details:

Price*: about $20.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

• Pros: Many Pampers Parents loved that this is a smallish bouncer that is affordable, lightweight, sturdy, and simple to use.

• Cons: It would be great if the toy bar could be adjusted so that it’s closer to or further away from the baby as needed.

Why pick this one? And last but certainly not least, if you’re looking for a super cute snuggle spot for your little one, consider the Fisher-Price Comfort Curve Bouncer.

The sweet raccoon- and deer-shaped hanging toys also feature clacker rings and a roller ball. These visually stimulating toys can help entertain and stimulate your baby.

The toy bar is removable, as is the padding, so you can machine-wash the fabric with ease.

Highlights: The bouncer will move as your baby kicks his legs, but there is also a battery-operated vibration setting that you can switch on and off at the touch of a button. Just remember to turn the vibration off when you’re finished so that you don’t accidentally drain the batteries.

Details:

Price*: about $23.99 on Amazon.com

Pampers Parents pros and cons:

• Pros: It’s simple to assemble, and it’s light enough to move from room to room with ease.

• Cons: The back angle isn’t adjustable, and it doesn’t come with extra cushioning or head support for when the baby is still very small. Some Pampers Parents wished it had more bounce.

Things to Consider When Buying a Baby Bouncer

Here are some features to look at when choosing the best baby bouncer for you and your little one:

• Safety. Before all else, check that the bouncer meets safety standards set by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and hasn’t been recalled. You should also ensure the bouncer doesn’t have any broken or loose parts before using it, and that the safety harness is in perfect condition. Buying a model that has slip-resistant feet and a sturdy and stable frame is a great idea. If you’re using a secondhand model, double check it still meets current standards, and doesn’t have broken parts or sharp edges. It’s a good idea to give it a thorough clean before using it, too.

• Comfort. Consider the fabric and shape of the bouncer as well as the thickness of the padding, as you want your little one to feel comfortable and snug. If possible, choose a bouncer made of a good quality, durable material so that it doesn’t wear thin.

• Size and portability. Some models are bigger than others. You might be happier with a bulkier version if you plan to leave your baby bouncer in the same spot on the floor, but if you plan to travel with it you might prefer a more lightweight model. A lighter model may even be preferable if you just plan to move it from room to room, as all that carrying can get tiring after a while.

• Extra features. Some bouncers come with hanging toys, while others make noises or vibrate. Some even have an adjustable seat angle. Consider whether you would like any of these extras, or if a more standard model suits you just fine.

• How easy it is to clean. It might help if the fabric is removable and machine washable should drool or crumbs get on it. Any plastic or metal parts should be easy to wipe down and keep clean, too.

• Design. The bouncer will be in sight in your living room or the nursery for several months, so choose one with an appealing color and design.

• How easy it is to assemble. Most bouncers should be fairly easy to put together, but you should consider this factor, too, especially if you plan to travel with it and will need to disassemble and assemble it on a regular basis.

• Short lifespan. You’ll only be using your bouncer for about half a year or so, so you may want to factor this in when considering the price you are willing to pay for it. A baby swing does much the same thing as a bouncer, so if you’re on a budget you may prefer to buy one or the other. If possible, you might like to test a store model to see which one your baby prefers. It could be that if your baby prefers a stronger motion, a swing could be the way to go.

Safety Guidelines for Using a Bouncer

To keep your baby safe while in the bouncer, follow these tips:

• Follow the manufacturer’s assembly and usage instructions carefully.

• Only place the bouncer on the floor — never on an elevated surface such as a bed, sofa, countertop, or in the crib. If the bouncer is placed on a soft surface or somewhere up high it could easily tip over or fall off.

• Make sure your baby is always secured in the bouncer with the harness so that she can’t accidentally slip out. The three- or five-point harness should fit snugly, and be on even if your baby has fallen asleep. Although most bouncers come with a three-point harness, a five-point harness is more secure.

• Never leave your baby unattended, and always keep an eye on her.

• Don’t let your baby spend prolonged time in the bouncer, as this can contribute to a flattened shape of the skull. There is no set time limit, but your baby’s healthcare provider may be able to give you some guidance on this.

• Don’t carry the bouncer with your baby still in it.

• Don't use the bouncer as a substitute for a crib. As part of their safe sleep recommendations, experts recommend your baby sleep only in her crib or bassinet, on her back, as this helps reduce the risk of SIDS. If your baby falls asleep in the bouncer, move her to her crib as soon as you can.

• If you have any additional questions or concerns, ask your baby’s pediatrician for personalized advice.

You might find you start to love your new bouncer just as much as your baby does. Your baby will love the feel of the motion, and you’ll love the precious minutes it gives you to do... whatever you want, while watching your little one safely and happily bouncing away. Enjoy!

Once you’ve finished browsing bouncers, you might check out these stationary activity centers, as your little one might like one of these as she grows older.

Recall Notice

Before buying a product, always check that it’s approved and hasn’t been recalled on sites like the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

*Prices are correct at the time of writing.

How We Got These Results

We surveyed thousands of parents in the Pampers Community and asked them to choose the products they love the most, and to share their views on specific products and product categories. Based on the survey responses, we have taken the top product picks and added our own research to create this article. The aim is to help you choose the right product for you and your family. We might receive commissions on purchases made from the links in this article, but the products featured are the Pampers Community’s top choices.