Recommendations needed: best baby bouncer/rocker

[supergolden88]

Last time around (4.5 years ago!) we got a Fischer Price basic rocker handed down to us and my daughter used it for quite a while. It had vibration/songs and a toy arch. It did not recline however so I am not sure it is suitable for a newborn. My daughter did sleep on it but mostly she sat and rocked in it and chewed the toys to bits.

I had a look online and I am amazed at the range of bouncers on the market. I would like one that is suitable from birth I think. Would love some recommendations as even the ones I like the look of (Chicco, Cossato) get very mixed reviews on the various websites.

[Fuschia]

We have a linkadoos seat that reclines well. It's not a swing though, just a seat/rocker

http://www.boots.com/en/Fisher-Price-Link-A-Doos-Infant-to-Toddler-Rocker_24903/?CAWELAID=334488811&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines-_-Google%20Base-_---_-Fisher%20Price%20LinkADoos%20Infant%20to%20Toddler%20Rocker

Tenner from ebay it was

[Moos]

I had a Chico one from John Lewis which was supposed to rock with the baby but didn't at all, nor did it bounce. Expensive waste of money. I believe the very simple bouncer kind are much better. Oh well..

[Fuschia]

One you can rock with your foot, is good (esp if you have twins!)

[canadianlisa]

We had a very expensive one from Mamas and Papas (beige colour) which did lots of things- swung, had a light show, you could plug your MP3 player in. It was a gift. Anyways it was useless- I had two other friends who had the same one whose babies hated it as much as ours did.

In the end I bought the cheapest wire frame one the forum which was great, really portable and kept her happy. I also liked the baby bjorn babysitter which is really pricey but nice and you can get them second hand.

[nylonmeals]

if you can find a baby bjorn on ebay (or here) grab it! they're great, really well designed and babies love them. at least all the ones that we know do

[Bumpkin]

Agree with canadianlisa, by far the best i found was the cheapest wire one from Mothercare / Boots for arond ?15. Can put in from around 2 / 3 weeks and small babies are more than entertained by looking out at the world around them, they totally don't need to be vibrated / rocked / have toys hanging in their face all the time. Baby B loved bouncing in his for many months.

[candp]

We were given this one from Fisher Price (http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=132001&e=detail&selcat=bgb&pid=53161). It was without a doubt the best thing we got for Baby Candp and well worth the ?40 my sister paid for it.

When she was smaller (used from birth) we took the toy bar off and she used to fall asleep in it. Now she loves to rock it and grab the toys months later. It's less easy on the eye than the Baby Bjorn one but I wouldn't swap it for any other.

[ryedalema]

We're selling our Fisher Price musical electric rocker chair thing if you are interested. It has a mobile thing, five speeds, three tunes and is suitable from birth until they can sit up for themselves.

Our daughter loved it - the only thing that would get her to sleep for a while.

Sorry - I know it's blatant advertising (I've a thread in the classifieds) but let me know if you want to look at it.

[supergolden88]

Thanks for the offer but I dont want a swinging one - my daughter hated hers (we got one after she outgrew the rocker) and I think just the very basic rockers seem to get the most recommendations