1. Sometimes swinging just isn't enough excitement for a baby. When
this happens, you need a bouncer, which is just as functional for
general use as a swing.
2. Different bouncers have different actions, so your baby may
prefer one over another. Always check the return policy at the stores
where you buy your bouncer and see if you can try a variety of bouncers
at friends' houses before making a decision.
3.Baby bouncers, and swings
too, are for use during the first 6 months of a baby's life (or from 18
to about 30 pounds). With this in mind, a simple model may serve just
as well as some of the higher-priced ones.
4. Safety
should be the primary concern, but there are plenty of safe options at
very affordable prices. So you don't have to go overboard unless that's
what you really want.
5. Even though much of a bouncer's motion is up and down (rather than forward and backward
with a swing), it's important to have a wide base for security. The
base should be about two to three times as wide as the seat.
6. Pressing down on a bouncer from different angles shouldn't cause
it to tip. That is, weight should transfer directly to the floor
beneath the bouncer, over the center of gravity.
7. Bouncers and swings often come with a kind of mobile or toy bar that is within baby's reach. Make sure they won't come off with a little force.
8. The toy bar should also be firmly fixed in place without jarring
loose or breaking. Most products are built to last, but it's possible
that some don't hold up as well as others.
9. As mentioned, few people buy both a swing and a bouncer. Note
that baby swings provide a bit more motion than a typical bouncer,
which is often just powered by the baby's own motion.
10. Check for non-skid feet on all legs of your bouncer. Even if
you'll be putting the bouncer on carpet, you'll want that non-skid
protection, just in case.
