14 best baby bouncers to buy this summer

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Soothe your little one while giving your arms a rest with our pick of the best baby bouncers

When your newborn arrives, alongside carrying around the all-important baby changing bag and pram organiser, it's normal to feel like you should be holding your little one close to you 24/7. But trust us, it doesn't matter how many hours you spent at prenatal Pilates working on your triceps, at some point you're going to have to pop your baby down.

Quite apart from the need to shower/eat/wee, a day is a long time to spend with a tiny human strapped to your chest and everyone deserves a break. Step in baby bouncers: the answer to your tiny tot-jiggling needs.

To help you choose the best baby bouncer for your family we've outlined the benefits below, with tips on how to use it safely, plus our pick of the best baby bouncers currently on the market.

Keen to pick up a great bouncer in a hurry? If so, check out the quick links below. Keep scrolling for the full list...

Before we get into it, you might want to know more about if a baby bouncer is for you. If it helps, know that, from soothing fussy tots to spacial awareness development, bouncers come with a host of benefits for both your baby and yourself. Here's some of them.

A baby bouncer is a small seat that you can strap your baby into, but unlike static chairs it is designed to move, which can help to pacify your little one when your arms need a break. 'That bouncing motion is really soothing; babies love that rhythmic movement,' says Lucy Shrimpton, Sleep Consultant and Founder of The Sleep Nanny.

It can also be a great tool to help your baby develop spacial awareness and benefit from a different point of view. 'Bouncers sit in an almost 45 degree angle, so your baby is not fully upright but they’re not laying down either, so they can get to see you and look around,' explains Lucy. 'Babies spend a lot of time on their backs, so it’s nice to let them sit up for a while.'

When your new baby arrives it's OK to let the chores slide! But after a while normality will need to resume. Popping your little one into a bouncer for 20 mins won't have any impact on your parent-baby bond, but it will help you function. 'It's the perfect place to put your baby if you’re busy multi-tasking and you need them to be safe and secure and where you can see them,' says Lucy.

Once your little one starts eating solid foods you will need to invest in a baby high chair. But in the interim a bouncer provides the perfect safe spot for chewing on a carrot stick or two.

Do you have a fussy baby who just won't settle? 'If they're suffering from reflux, a bouncer can help with wind,' says Lucy. 'When they’ve had their milk rather than laying down – sitting in a bouncer for a little bit can help with digestion as they’re in a more upright position.'

A baby bouncer is essential for parents who have more than one child. 'At bath time, you’re trying to juggle everything – washing and drying your baby while your toddler’s splashing around. A bouncer can be handy as you know that they’re safe but they can still be a part of what’s going on,' says Lucy.

Bouncers are generally best for newborns and babies up to about six months old or until they can sit up on their own. They are safe to use, but stick to the following guidelines.

Not sure which bouncer to buy? Our list has been compiled with the help of our in-house testers, the best reviews online and recommendations from our mum panel to help you choose the best baby bouncer for your family.

Remember that Sex and The City episode when Miranda discovers the magical powers of a vibrating bouncer? The rumours are all true! This cradle from the Mama's & Papa's Dream Upon a Cloud range comes with a gentle vibrating motion, plus four melodies to jiggle your fractious little one into submission long enough for you to put the kettle on. Our mum gave the super-cute detachable toy bar and extra rattles the thumbs up too.

Pop the matching pom pom cloud cushion into your shopping trolley for an extra 10 mins of relaxation time!

Affectionately know in our house as 'The Babysitter', this premium bouncer from family-owned Swedish institution BabyBjörn is easily the best product we bought for our fidgety little one. It's incredibly basic in design, but don't be put off by its simplicity. The baby-powered natural rocking motion is surprisingly reactive to little kicks, so it helped our baby learn how to self-soothe.

This bouncer is incredibly sturdy, well made and looks chic, plus when it's not in use it folds down flat so can be slipped under the sofa. And best of all, it's available in a range of colours and fabrics including leopard print.

This stylish but simple chair from UK brand BabaBing is battery free and powered by your baby's own momentum, so it gets bouncier the heavier they become! The non-slip base provides extra safety on shiny floors and the elephant toy bar is a great distraction for baby's developing eyesight.

Our mums praised this one for the removable fabric sling, which comes in handy for inevitable spit-ups and milk spills.

If you have a fractious baby in the house who prefers to be jiggled constantly, you will appreciate this contemporary bouncer that swings, rocks and vibrates too!

It also comes with 10 classical melodies and nature sounds to soothe your little one. Snap it up now and enjoy some precious me-time.

The future is here, and it's bluetooth enabled! That's right folks, it's the 21st century and now you can plug your baby into the mainframe and let them nap happily to the jazzy sounds of the music of your choice, while being gently rocked to sleep.

We love this smart baby swing that comes with a touchscreen display to play your favourite relaxing tunes.

This stylish rocker comes with three-position support, machine washable fabric and a newborn inlay for the early days. In comparison to the sea of noisy and colourful plastic baby merch on the market it's rather chic and will look great in your Scandi-inspired home.

We love the matching highchair too.

The mum who tested this has two under two, so she deserves a medal! And credits this rocker with saving her bacon when she has her hands full with the toddler and needs to soothe her newborn. It comes with a mains powered rhythmic side-to-side movement that lasts for over two minutes, leaving you just enough time to put the kettle on.

It is quite heavy so it's not travel-friendly, but it comes with a maximum weight limit that far exceeds its rivals, so you'll definitely get your money's worth for length of use.

This baby swing differs from bouncers because it moves back and forth rather than up and down. But some babies prefer the swinging motion, plus the built-in timer makes it really easy for you to get your chores done while your little one relaxes.

It also comes with Bluetooth to smartphone connection, built-in music and a USB port so you can choose your own soundtrack to swing your baby to. We love this Bababing changing bag too!

If you're looking for something cheap and cheerful to keep your tiny one entertained while you get the chores done, this colourful bouncer from Chad Valley will be just the ticket. It's really bright and comes with three toys on the bar to play with. And it also features the vibrating functionality that many tots seem to love.

This gorgeous night-themed bouncer has a music book insert with four different lullabies for nap time. It also has two motion settings including a classic bounce or a vibrate option, ideal if you have a fussy little one!

The clever movements have been designed to mimic mama’s heartbeat to help your bub relax and drift off, and the head hugger pillow gives teeny babies additional support.

If your aesthetic is neutral, then you’ll adore this nature-inspired bouncer. The three-in-one design can be reclined and moved into high bounce positions, and the magnetic tool bar makes getting your little one in and out super easy.

If you plan to move the bouncer around, then this blush option comes in a lightweight design, so it’s ideal for travelling and popping over to see the grandparents.

This Argos exclusive Graco baby bouncer is one for the bubbas who are wild at heart. Adorned with cute wildlife, this baby bouncer uses your little person’s movements to naturally sway in a soothing motion.

It comes complete with two vibration settings and a bar with two soft toys, meaning it's practically guaranteed to be a roaring success with your little one.

The Ergobaby three-in-one Evolve baby bouncer is ideal for all stages of development from newborn to toddler. Its ergonomic newborn insert means that teeny babies get optimum comfort from their head down to their hips. The bouncer then evolves with your little one thanks to three height options that have been carefully designed to cater for each age. Features include self-rocking for infants and a lightweight and portable design that’s been developed with guidance from a paediatric orthopaedist. Oh, and did we mention it’s available in three muted tones?

British born brand Joie’s two-in-one baby swing has a lift-off swing seat that can also be used as a portable rocker. The dual-motion seat swings your baby back and forth or side to side, depending on their preference.

For the bubs that love a little white noise, it also comes with five lullabies and five nature sounds so they can snooze to their heart’s content.

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