Baby Bouncer vs Rocker vs Swing...?

[Indadhanu]

Well at first I thought we'd just get a rocker that can rock or be still, and be reclined or sitting up.

Some people (mainly my parents and PIL) say a bouncer like a Bouncinet thing is all you need.
Some other people say thay you absolutely shouldn't go without a rocker that vibrates and sings (and for the price of some of them I'm guessing they do housework as well?!?!?!?!?! ).
Others (SIL) say don't both with a bouncer or rocker, you'll abolsutely kick yourself if you don't have a swing, so you can go off and do housework etc. while they swing.

And now I'm confused. And I've asked shop assistants, but they seem to think the most expensive brand on the market is the only thing worth buying and for some reason (just CAN'T put my finger on it lol) I just don't think they're telling me the truth!

So BB ladies, I know you won't lead me astray! I have some questions:

What are your opinions on each of them?
Do/did any of you use them? How often, and how long did bub use it for?
What do you think is the most important thing when you buy one? Are there things I should look out for?
Anything else I don't know about?

[Pretty Butterfly]

You can get ones that are pretty much all in one!! Its like a mini high chair, that goes from reclined for new bubba, to sitting and swinging with mucis and toys, to sitting up properly so you can feed them in it... I know a mum who soley uses this and her DD is almost 2!!!

Good luck honey, hard choice!!!

[~Trish~]

A rocker and a bouncer are the same thing. Are your parents referring to the old-fashioned mesh bouncers? You can't get them anymore anyway and a second hand one won't meet the Australian standards if that helps!

I used a rocker for both of my boys and found it wonderful. You can take your bub everywhere with you around the house. It's also great for a change of 'scenery' when they get a bit bored on the floor. I think vibrating musical ones are a bit over-rated! Features I like - a sunhood if you think you'll use it outdoors, a toy bar that can be moved out of the way (babies get overstimulated with too many toys so it's handy if you can leave bub in the rocker, but move the toys away when they crack it!) and height adjustable.

I also have a swing which was fantastic when my DS was tiny, but now he is bigger (6 months) he doesn't want to stay in it unless I'm sitting next to him, otherwise he tries to get out of it. So if you get a swing you will probably think it's great, but it's not as versatile as a rocker.

Hope that kind of answers your questions!

[Chocaholic]

I had all three and they all came to me as presents. IMO:

Bouncers - fabulous for the first 6 months until bubs can roll over. You can bounce bubs when s/he is unsettled and it gives your arms a rest. Also lifts them up a little so they can see what is happening.

Rocker - sent Cooper off to sleep very easily but as soon as I picked him up to put him in his cot, he woke up. Pretty much the same as the bouncer though just more expensive. P.S. Cooper hated the songs/music and he screamed whenever they were on so I used it as an upmarket bouncer.

Swing - Cooper loathed the songs/music on the swing I had. I would also not leave him in the swing alone, I kept thinking that if he got his fingers near the frame and the swing was moving, it might jar his fingers. I was never afraid it would permanently injure him, just it might hurt him. Cooper grew out of it within about 8 months so I probably got an extra 2 months out of it but he didn't really want to be in it those months as he wanted to roll over and play with toys.

All up, I preferred the bouncer, the other two had to stay where they were set up. Besides I preferred to move Cooper around with me and he liked being on the floor in the different rooms around the house. New scenery I suppose.

Unless bubs is really unsettled and smooth motion calms them down, the rocker and swing I could do without.

Whatever you buy, make sure the cover can come off for washing (and ignore the handwashing covers as it is too hard, machine washable is easier and I think can be a better clean when you have the poop and vomit from hell) and everything is easy to clean (hosable is the best option LOL!).

[Lolli]

Are your parents referring to the old-fashioned mesh bouncers? You can't get them anymore anyway

Actually you cant still get these, I've got one I only bought about six months and it meets the Aus Standards. And DS loves it. We have a swing too, with a flip away toy bar that he's happy to sit in and swing away... it's great for those days when he just does not want to sleep!!
It's so confusin isn't it? But I'd definately go a swing... it is great for getting some housework done.

[nic]

Leasha, we've been trying to decide the same thing as well.
I had a chat with a friend the other day who told me her first bub liked the rocker, but the second one hated it and she had to go and buy a swing, which he loves.
Knowing my luck, whichever one I buy will be the wrong one LOL.

Nic

[tan32]

I got buy with a rocker for my two, its very portable and could use my foot to rock it while doing other things, i dont have one with all the mod cons though, i recently brought a take along swing of ebay for $30 i figured if bub doesnt like it at least i didnt fork out loads of money. and it folds down so we can take it with us.

My mum used a bouncer, the mesh type for my DD who loved the fact that when she kicked it would bounce. These are out on the market again, my near by baby store sells them brand new for around $40.

[Nicambhar]

I am going to hire one, not sure if I want the swing or the vibrating rocker thingy, but I am baulking at the price too when it will only be used for a short period of time and also the fact that my bub may not like it.

[Tanya]

I got given one that vibrated but always forgot to switch it off so the batteries were always flat!

Get what ever you can afford... they all do the same basic thing

[~Kim~]

I've got a Fisher Price bouncer (it doesn't rock it's on a frame) that has a toy bay and lights. Got it off ebay for $15 Darcy loved it. She used that until she was about crawling age....8 months from memory. She like the music ok - more when she was small. Now she loves it for her babies so it's still getting used lol.

I had a rocker that was a waste of money. The Bouncer sufficed, was portable too so that wasn't an issue.

I also had a cheap swing off ebay. Chewed through the batteries but worth every cent. She only used it until about 4 months though. She liked to be worn and it was great for a break.

[jgal]

I had a Maclaren rocker.

I wanted a swing but thought that it would only last 6 months and even less if the baby was big (which he was!).

Austin didn't like the rocker in those first few months - then I worked out it was the toy bar that bugged him and it became a new best friend. It is very portable, has handles and a sunhood (definitely need those!) so was fantastic to sit him in by the pool and let me have a few minutes to swim. I also used to set it up in the kitchen and rock it with my foot while I cooked dinner. And the vibrations sent him to sleep a couple of times. He wasn't good to move though so on the odd occasion he fell asleep I put a blanket over and left him there. The best thing about it was that it was easy to fold up and throw in the car, so I could put him in it for a nap at a friends house with a muslin wrap draped over the shade. It could sit reclined or fully up in locked position (no rocking) so when he got older it was a great feeding chair when I was out at people's houses, or I could sit him in it with a rusk while I was outside hanging washing. So the portability was fantastic.

What used to annoy me was that every time we used it the PIL's whinged at us and told us to go and get a bouncinette as every kid needs one. I'd roll my eyes and tell them this was the same thing only new and improved and they just wouldn't agree! Oldies eh?!

I think I'd still like a swing though as DS loved my friends one and actually still fit in it at 6 months old. The only problem is that it takes up so much space and I don't think they fold down as compact as the rocker does. Just like the high chair that now sits around taking up space until the next bubba is ready for it.

[luey]

We have a rocker and a swing, the swing has been loaned to us from friends, we have used it a few times but usually only for short periods. Bub has slept in the rocker quite a few times. The other night we left him in it and he slept for about 5 hours, just like he usually does in the cot. Our rocker is very 'basic', it is just a rocker, it doesn't vibrate or have a toy bar or sun hood. I figured a sun hood wasn't necessary for us though as by the time I need it outside in summer/warmer weather bub will be too big. I have put him in it uickly on a nice day when getting in the washing and I just put him in the shade. I preferred the rocker we bought, the colours went better in the lounge room (camel and chocolate colour), shame about everything else baby in there. I also thought htat if we needed a toy bar we could add it on. It was only $39 from Babyco. We were given a 'tummy time together' electric thing, I stand it up and put it over the rocker occassionally. Mainly we use the rocker for him to settle. We use it a lot when we are eating.

[*Belle*]

Hi Leasha

Rocker: I bought a rocker at first for Julia (also babyco black and green one low to the floor) and she hated it as it didnt really move and had to be rocked by me pushing it so if I was to do something she would be still. So no go on the rocker for us. only used it for few weeks.

Bouncer: I bought a fisher price bouncer - it was great! it had a vibration on it too which she liked and toys above which was great too. She lived in it! and after a few months bounced herself and laughed herself silly! So will be using that again.... used it for 8 months or so.

Swing: I'm going to buy a swing this time, I have seen other babies so happy in it and lots of entertaining for them but most importantly it settled them when they were newborn. We had issues settling Julia in the witching about 4pm - 8pm at night was hellish, only thing that worked was swinging her from side to side and also us sitting on the fitball and lightly bouncing up and down on on it while holding her and she went to sleep. There are sales on swings at Toys R Us, Target, Kmart and Babies Galore, the ones im looking at at the moment have been reduced to $120 or so or there is a real basic Graco one for about $80 but not much stuff on them for stimulation of toys and lights etc.

[Macca79]

I bought a $30 mesh bouncer from Baby Toy World brand new, William loves it. Cheap easy to use and doesn't need batteries.

[bigbird2girls]

If you want an honest opinion here is mine for you.

DD#1 - had a rocker maclaren and loved it we would place her in it in front of telly and rock it with our foot it also vibrated and played music as well which she loved everything about it. So go the Rocker but any rocker does the same thing weather it be the most expensive or the cheapest one. We mainly used the rocker during the day time and she slept in that as well during the day until she was older.We also had a rocking chair in the nursery to rock her at night time ready for bed and then transferred her to her cot when just about asleep or asleep.
Rocker Pro's n Con's
Pros - can take out with you, compact, can move around the house with you, easy to clean
Cons- i can't really think of any but it takes batteries for the vibrate and music which can become expensive.

DD#2 - was bought as a gift from my parents a baby papsan swing fisher price it cost $250.00 and to be honest with you gave me so much more time and i could actually get things done around the house! But in saying this i had my girls close they are only 15mths apart. I would though not pay this much for one at all and if anything i would see if your family could maybe get you one as a gift to you. My DD only used it for 4 mths and then would go in it every now and again and now at 10.5 mths doesn't use it at all. It can be used for a weight of up tio 11kg i think from memory. She also has the rocking chair which i use all the time for her night sleep and day sleeps now.
Swing Pros and Con's
Pros - Puts baby to sleep easily and quickly, easy to wash, gives you time to do things with BOTH HANDS. lol. Great for cranky bubs who are very very hard to get to sleep, great for 2nd time round mums who have other kids.
Cons- takes up alot of room, can not take out with you, battery operated which is costly, expensive to buy, only get real use out of it until bubba is mobile and wanting to crawl and be more active.

My best advise to you is to buy a rocking chair for the nursery and see how that goes first with putting baby to sleep at night time etc. And buy a cheaper rocker for the lazy day time that he/she can sleep in during the day. It worked well for my DD#1 and DD#2. The only reason why we got a swing is due to the age gap of only 15mths between them and it was bought as a gift from my parents and believe me it made my days 100% easier for me. If it is your second child and a small age gap i would go the swing option but also have a rocker to take out and about with you.

I hope that helps but is really personal opinion and remember every baby is different and likes different things.

Jen

[mako]

Hi

We have a rocker and DS loves it. It has a hood and a toy bar. Its not a vibrating one nor is it musical. Its great as its portable. I take DS out in the yard everyday and it keeps him amused while I hang the washing out etc.
We got this for FREE from Babyco as we'd spent a certain amount of money there and it was a special offer they had going. Not sure what the deals are now though. Otherwise it would have cost $100

We also have a Fisher Price Aquarium Swing. My sister bought this for us for my baby shower. I'm pretty sure it was $300 down to $150 at Toys R Us. DS loves this also. You can turn the seat so it swings either side to side or front to back. It has a few different sound choices including music.

DS is almost 7 months old and still uses these things everyday.

All the best with your choice.

[MantaRay]

Leasha, we just had a bouncer (borrowed even) for DS1 and started off with that for DS2. We ended up buying a swing as well for DS2 as he was really colicy and sometimes that was the only way to get him to settle - well actually carrying him in the sling would settle him too, but ONLY while I was walking. So if I needed to sit, or even stand still to do anything else, it was a problem.

If I was you, I would try a bouncer first and only get something else if and when you need it. But if you do decide to buy a swing, check out the bb classifieds

[morgan78]

We had a bouncer for DS and it was great, easy to move around the house & outside and DS loved being in it. Bought a swing of Ebay for DD and she would play in it but never slept in it. So i reckon bouncers are the way to go. If you are interested in a swing you are more than welcome to have ours you would just need to pick it up - no cost - its a Fisher Price with 5 speed settings & plays music, has a mirror & a couple of rattlely toys. PM me if you are interested.