While they’re not the same thing, you’ll find that baby bouncers, swings, and jumpers often appear in the same category or aisle when you’re browsing online or visiting a store. But even though they can all serve a similar purpose, they’re different in how they function. This was my favourite aesthetically; a gorgeous unit that blends into the room like a piece of furniture and is designed to mimic a leaf swaying in the wind. Somewhat ironically it’s actually the heaviest, so while it feels sturdy it’s not particularly easy to move around the house or travel with you. If you have a newborn, you may also want to read our guides to the best sterilisers, the best baby carriers and the best reusable nappies. Here's how to keep both you and your baby healthy while breastfeeding. We've rounded up what to eat, what to avoid, and how to squeeze in nutrients. READ MORE

Operated by a digital touch display with a built-in speaker, it plays a selection of eight sounds including white noise and classical music pieces. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled, so you can send through your own playlists from your phone. We used the pre-loaded sounds at first but the speaker quality, while good enough for me, didn’t quite measure up to his father’s very strict standards. It’s not necessary to spend a premium price to get a quality item with the features you need. We’ve highlighted a range of options from budget friendly to median to luxury pricing. But within each range, you should be able to find a bouncer that offers a safe place to keep your baby along with value added features like vibrations, sounds, and mobiles or toy bars. Safety regulations The classic jumper design becomes portable with this freestanding update from Jolly Jumper. The Jolly Jumper features the traditional jumper seat and a fold-flat stand with four legs for added stability. Thanks to the sturdy construction, you can assemble this stand indoors or outside.We put six of the most popular baby bouncers and swings to the test with our son Jasper, now seven months old, from when he was newborn to now, in a variety of settings and when he was in a range of different moods. This included during and after feeding, when he was watching baby sensory videos and when he was just hanging out with me as I was doing chores. I judged them by their weight, how easy they were to manoeuvre, how fiddly the harnesses were and most importantly of all: how much Jasper seemed to like being in them.

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. If your focus is on a supportive seat with gentle vibrations, the Fisher-Price Deluxe Bouncer is a smart choice. The built-in added padding provides cushioning for newborns. While you can rely on baby’s movements, you can also opt for powered vibration and soothing 20-minute melodies to help calm even the fussiest baby. An interactive mobile and a machine-washable removable seat pad round out the core features.My son is particularly enthralled by the brightly-coloured toy bar and its hanging rattles - though they do dangle quite close to his face and he bashes himself by tugging on them pretty often. Thankfully this is removable. This is the bouncer I most wanted to get into myself; it looks so cosy and cocoon-like. If Jasper could talk, I’m fairly sure he’d agree - he never protests when I put him in it. It’s perfect for reflux because it puts the baby in a more upright position than the others I tested, but it can also be reclined for naps.