Product Spotlight: Swings, Bouncers, Activity Centers

meggyme · October 2018

Oh My! Tell me about what you're thinking about to set your baby down and keep them entertained.

mamakate1616 · October 2018

I am really interested in the mamaroo thing but it’s so expensive and big I’m not sure we’ll get one.

Last time we had:
a simple $20-ish bouncey seat that served its purpose for a few months (keep baby in place so mama can do something)
+ETA: considering the baby bjorn version this time because it looks bigger/like it will last longer. Any recommendations for this one?

a swing with a very large footprint that we used for a long time and loved, but we will probably get a smaller space saving version now that we are in a smaller house

a jumper that was just amazing to watch her in. So many giggles and baby jiggles!!

And my favorite by far (aside from the swing that bought us extra sleep): a bright starts 3in1 activity center “zippity zoo around we go”. Check it out!

meggyme · October 2018

@mamakate1616 we got the mamaroo 50% off as a display model, but if we hadn't found such a great deal, I never would have spent the money on it. They don't take up that much floor space compared to other bouncers/swings but they do need to be near a plug (obviously) They're tall but not necessarily long. My DD1 liked it, but I've heard of kids not liking them. It just happened that the one we got was unboxed so we got to test drive it before we bought it. Maybe you can find a gently used one online or at a consignment shop.

Besides the mamaroo, we had a couple items we borrowed. One was a simple bouncer with vibrating seat. It was fine for the first 2 months we had it and it was nice to fit our little A-frame entertainment center over it. (here. Ikea also sells a similar one. https://www.amazon.com/Haba-Color-Fun-Play-Gym/dp/B009SL20C8/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1540302622&sr=8-8&keywords=baby+toy+bar) That won't work with the mamaroo because it's so tall. We also were gifted an activity center/jumper thing, the table with the whole in the middle for baby to play in with lots of noises and toys. We donated it to a charity rather than store it though, so we'll need one again.

I'll probably look second hand for that, but if we end up buying one, I'm looking at the Skip Hop one that turns into a table when they get older. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J94K9OY/ref=twister_B07DRX3JHR?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

mayoduck · October 2018

I hear so many mixed opinions on swings and bouncers because of how some kids love them and some are completely uninterested, which makes me hesitant to get one because of how expensive they are! Friends of ours are giving us their daughter's swing (this one:

https://www.target.com/p/ingenuity-in-lighten-cradling-swing-rocker-twinkle-twinkle-teddy-bear/-/A-75456485) since she's grown out of it. So that's the one we're going with because we get it for free.

The only swing/bouncer/activity center we have on our registry right now is the kick n play piano gym activity center, which came recommended by several of my parent friends. https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Kick-Play-Piano-Gym/dp/B00F2MQDU2

dtspmama · October 2018

We have a Rockaroo that both girls loved, but I have heard they're a love it or hate it for most babies (hope this baby is also in the love category). We have a door bouncer that DD1 was always too small for and DD2 was too strong to use (she would bounce herself into the walls which, while comical, wasn't exactly safe). And then we had a random activity mat that both girls used with varying levels of interest until they could sit up. I always wanted one of those huge activity gym things, but we didn't ever have the room in our current house!

chocolatelemons · October 2018

DS didn’t like his swing (simple fisher price one), but ended up loving his bouncy seat that was far less expensive.

The Rock and Play was a life saver. For tummy time, we had this (it was fine, but I would recommend something a bit more interactive for when baby is older):

Someone gave us a doorway jumper which I swore I wouldn’t use, but DS was super active and energetic and loved it for a few months.

We used this for activity centers because it converts into a table and we got more use out of it.

lelkcot · October 2018

DS was definitely a fan of the swing - and it saved us a few nights when he was sick! We got one at a big kids consignment sale for $25, and wore it out! Thankful my sister is handing down a swing for this little one.
We had a bouncer/activity chair that DS also loved, which I got at that same big consignment sale for $30.

Also, the rock and play got a ton of use in our house. Perfect for naps, or setting baby down so you can eat/potty/shower.

Kenneylynn3 · October 2018

I was looking at a swing/bouncer combo. Any input from stm+?

applesandbananas23 · October 2018

@mamakate1616 I am a FTM so I don't know from experience, but I read on someone's 'must have' list that the baby Bjorn bouncer was amazing. Based on this, I registered for it, so I guess we will see!

meggyme · October 2018

@Kenneylynn3 they do make them, but they are large! If you're unsure and only want to get one or maybe don't have the room for both, I'd suggest waiting until baby is here and trying them out in a store, or buying one/trying it/returning it if it doesn't work for your baby. That way you know they'll like it.

mamaoftwomonkeys · October 2018

@Kenneylynn3 I had a combination Swing/bouncer for my daughter. I found I only used the swing portion For about a month or two... Most of the time I was just using it as a seat for her to sit in. Like @meggyme said, It was really large and I don’t know if I would’ve purchased it if I had to do it all over

mamakate1616 · October 2018

@Kenneylynn3 to echo @meggyme and @mamaoftwomonkeys, that is the style we had and yes it was super large, but we used it for probably 18 months (of course much less often during the last 6 months). We took it to my SIL a little while ago and she could still fit in it and swing at 2 1/2!

kapowfal · October 2018

We had a swing, bouncer, jumperoo, and activity center. The one we used the most was the jumperoo. DD loves to jump! The bouncer was the second most especially when DD wanted to start facing out more. The swing was next, followed by the activity center. This sounds silly, but we were scared to put her in the swing for a while because she was so small. The activity mats - one for tummy time, one for back - she didn't like very much unless someone was on the floor with her. Space is definitely a big constraint, and the smaller items were definitely moved from room to room as needed.

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