Ingenuity Rocker Batteries
Umbelina Baublitz
Anyone have it and had a chance to use it? I put batteries in it today to make sure it worked, but the bounce seems really weak. The whole Ingenuity line is really new. When I put the bouncer on my registry, it only had great reviews. I just looked again now and people have complained that the bounce is weak. I wish I had a baby to put in it to see if it works with a little weight in it! Worst case, I guess I will just keep the box until baby arrives.
I got the ingenuity bouncer and looked at the reviews and it says that the bouncer will not bounce unless something is in it. The more weight that is on the bouncer the more it will bounce. Which makes sense because when your baby is smaller you want less bounce. The bigger the baby gets you might want more bounce.
Swings work the same way. When you start up an empty swing it doesn't go very hard, but when you have a baby in it the bigger the baby is the faster it will go because it uses their weight. I remember crying when we took our little lamb swing out of the box with my son because I was so afraid it wasn't going to swing well enough for him. Then my MIL explained that concept and I saw it first hand when my son came so I was happy. =]
Hm, maybe my mother in law was right then. She keeps mentioning bouncers that "you put the baby in and the more worked up the baby gets, the more it bounces, and then the baby soothes himself." I had no idea what she was talking about because I thought the battery/motor were doing all the work.
Hm, maybe my mother in law was right then. She keeps mentioning bouncers that \"you put the baby in and the more worked up the baby gets, the more it bounces, and then the baby soothes himself.\" I had no idea what she was talking about because I thought the battery/motor were doing all the work.
Families with older children or pets may find a bouncer or rocker to be a safer place to set an infant down, compared with the floor or a playmat. Some families give babies their first taste of solid foods in a bouncer.
Soothes or occupies a baby: This criterion is largely subjective, so in this respect we relied on reporting and owner reviews over our own testing experiences. At a minimum, battery-powered bouncers and rockers should function well and not break down after only a few uses. Low-tech, manual models should be designed so that even young babies can get them going on their own.
Is sturdy and safe: The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association partners with CPSC-accredited labs on its certification program. Baby-gear manufacturers voluntarily submit their products for annual safety evaluations. Products earn JPMA certification by adhering to standards from ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials), as well as federal and state laws, and some retail requirements. When it comes to bouncers, the ASTM standard calls for a wide, slip-resistant base; a strong, durable frame; and, at minimum, a three-point safety harness. Bouncers should not slide around while in use, and they should have good structural integrity, among other requirements. We considered JPMA certification a plus but not a requirement. We looked for these qualities in all the bouncers we considered.
Has a machine-washable cover or fabric: The material should also be easy to spot-clean or wash by hand. Most seat covers cannot tolerate tumble drying. Some manufacturers, such as BabyBjrn, which makes our top pick, sell extra covers for an additional cost.
Is easy to store and transport: Many people move their bouncer or rocker from room to room. Owning a lightweight and compact baby seat may be especially important for those who live in small spaces, want to travel with the bouncer, or plan to store it for use with another child.
Is a good value: Most caregivers find bouncers and rockers to be useful for a few months at most. Some features, such as quality material and design, automatic rocking, and included toy bars, infant inserts, or carrying cases, can improve your chances of reselling a bouncer or rocker. The ability to convert it into a toddler seat extends the age and weight ranges beyond the typical 6-month and 25-pound limits, which can also add value.
With each bouncer or rocker we considered, we first took notes on setup and assembly. We then examined the sturdiness of the bases and frames, noting whether they moved or appeared unsturdy during bouncing. We assessed the thickness and supportiveness of the seats, as well as any baby-entertainment features. We also evaluated how easy the bouncers were to store, transport, and clean.
Every baby (and caregiver) has different preferences. We balanced the information we collected during testing with our own babies with a careful analysis of owner reviews and feedback from other parents and caregivers.
It offers multiple positions. The BabyBjrn bouncer produces short, springy bounces in its most upright position, as well as longer, buoyant bounces in its two reclining positions. Newborns and younger babies weighing up to 15.5 pounds should use the most reclined position. Older babies who have head and neck strength and weigh up to 20 pounds can use the middle and most upright positions.
The seat cover is easy to clean. We put the BabyBjrn bouncer together in 30 seconds, simply by sliding its cover over the metal frame and securing two elastic loops at the base of the frame. To clean the bouncer, you just slide the seat cover back over the frame and toss it in the washing machine on warm, though you must air dry it afterward. Spot-cleaning the seat cover with warm water works reasonably well to remove spit-up and small amounts of solid food. The bouncer comes in 10 colors; a few of them feature mesh material for an additional cost.
Its lightweight, portable design stows easily. Of all the models we tested, the BabyBjrn Bouncer Balance Soft was the easiest to adjust to its various angles of recline, including folding flat for storage or transport. To adjust it, you use one hand to lift a positioning lever located on the frame base and move it into the position you desire as you lift the backrest with your other hand. Converting this bouncer into a toddler seat (video) is also simple.
It retains its value. Caregivers are quick to praise the BabyBjrn bouncer on parenting forums and other sites. Some say that the bouncer was the sole device that helped soothe their fussy baby; others credit it with helping their constipated child to poop. This positivity could be why it often appears on resale sites and in consignment stores. BabyBjrn offers a platform where you can trade in a used bouncer for cash or credit, depending on its condition.
BabyBjrn also sells the Bouncer Bliss, which is about the same price. The design of the two bouncers is the same; the only differences between them are the frame color and the material of the seat cover. We slightly prefer the material of the Bouncer Balance Soft, which features an easy-to-care for woven cover and a soft jersey seat. Extra seat covers for both models range from $85 to $100.
This bouncer costs more than most. That said, it can last you longer than other models because you can convert it to a child seat by switching the seat cover from the infant side to the toddler side. Jessica used this bouncer with both her now 3-year-old and 1-year-old, and Wirecutter editors have also reported using it for multiple children.
It costs a fraction of our top pick. Many baby items may be useful for only two or three months. The Bright Starts bouncer is a notably affordable option that works as well as similar bouncers that cost more.
Jumpers and swings are alternative options for keeping your child safely contained while you get things done. Like bouncers, swings are generally designed for use with young infants, whereas jumpers are generally considered appropriate for slightly older babies who already have neck control. For more information about when to use swings, read our guide to baby swings.
We also liked the Graco Bumper Jumper, the best of the doorway models we looked at in 2017. Its rubbery bumper surrounds the seat and cushions little bouncers (and their fingers) during occasional bangs into the doorframe, and its single, large spring lets babies jump higher than they can with the stationary jumpers we tested.
Just as with bouncers, the National Health and Safety Performance Standards recommend (PDF) using jumpers for a maximum of 15 minutes at a time, twice a day at most, so infants can stay on track developmentally.
We were excited to try the JPMA-certified Baby Trend Smart Steps EZ Bouncer, which features a simple metal frame that resembles our budget pick from Bright Starts. However, although this bouncer claims to accommodate infants from 6 to 20 pounds, Jessica found that her 17-pound baby was much too large to fit in it. This model does come with a toy bar, and it offers slightly more battery-powered options than our budget pick does. But some buyers report that its songs are not soothing. It takes three C batteries and offers only one angle of recline.
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