On test
Swings & Bouncers
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Meet our Panel
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- Sonya & Matthew, 4 months
- Anna & Isobel, 3 months
- Ali & Freddie, 6 months
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- Andrea & Ben, 3 months
- Rachael & Nola, 7 months
- Debbie & Benjamin, 4 months
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This month's panel met at Baby Signing classes in South Oxfordshire. They
have been testing the swings/bouncers for over three months - using their
weekly classes to try each model and exchange thoughts on the best/worst
aspects. Here they give their honest opinions on the features and benefits
of each model on test.
 Le
Petit Chien Baby Rocker Chair 10/10
Compact, portable rocker chair with sounds, vibration movement and
toy bar.
Price: £39.99
www.babiesrus.co.uk
T: 0800 138 7777
'Give us an adult version of this chair!'
 A comfortable, versatile
chair that offers 'exceptional value for money', our panel loved the quality
of the fabric and the extra support it offered a newborn. 'The cradle-
like shape cups a newborn perfectly whilst the wide seat will provide
longevity for bigger babies'. The two speed vibration is soothing and
it's very easy to put together with a fold mechanism that allows it to
be stored away whilst not in use.
 The music (there
is a choice of lullabies or nature sounds) can get a bit irritating, but
there is an off button to restore peace and quiet! It will last until
your baby reaches 6 months old and like the Cosatto bouncer, loses its
appeal once your baby starts to sit unaided.
 Cosatto
Jolly Jelly Snoozi Bouncer 8/10
Soft, bouncy chair from birth to around 6 months.
Price: £19.99
www.cosatto.com
T: 0870 050 5900
'Best for price and excellent for newborns'
Lightweight
and easy to assemble, this bouncer is sturdy and well built with lots
of attractive features. Our panel felt the toys were 'colourful and stimulating
for younger babies' and liked the fact that 'the toy bar could be removed
to create more space for feeding/sleeping'. The fabric is 'notably soft'
and our panel felt that 'any child would be happy in this chair - from
the moment they are born until they are able to sit unaided'. It offers
great value for money so if you're on a budget but don't want to compromise
on quality, this is a great option.
It's
best for babies from 0-6 months as its use dwindles once they start to
sit up. One panel member also found that it 'a few additional features
would have preserved baby's interest for longer'.
 Graco
Playtime Swing 7/10
Versatile swing with 6 speeds, music, reclining seat
and tray
Price: £99.99
http://www.graco.co.uk
T: 0870 90 90 501
'Good for longevity but takes time to assemble'
This is
a versatile swing that will support your baby from birth to around 11kgs.
The six different swinging speeds are useful for a growing toddler and
our panel found 'the high back, gentle music and reclining seat are great
for sleepy babies or those who like to relax and watch the world go by'.
It also has the benefit of built in music, a toy bar and play tray which
the panel found 'very useful for feeding'. Our mums felt it was particularly
suited to older toddlers and liked the fact that it would last beyond
their first year - much longer than most of the other models on test.
It takes
time (and patience!) to put together and doesn't feel too sturdy. Our
panel also found it difficult to put smaller babies in, though they agreed
that it 'does get easier with practice.'
 Hauck
Sit n Play Baby Rocker 6.5/10
An adjustable rocking chair with removable playing hoop
and seat recline.
Price: £52.99
www.hauckuk.com
T: 0870 840 6727
'Equipped with some good features, but disappointing
overall'
Easily assembled and
highly portable, it is has a soft overlay that's comfortable for babies
and a removable playing hoop that can be useful for feeding times. The
panel felt that there was a 'good mix of features' including an adjustable
safety belt, vibrating motion, songs, lights and a washable 100% cotton
seat cover.
The quality isn't
great and our panel felt it wasn't favourably compared to some of the
other models on test. It also failed to hold their babies interest for
very long.
 Maclaren
Baby Rocker Chair with Toy Bar 8.5/10
Multi-position rocker chair with soothing vibrations
and an interactive toy bar.
Price: £60
www.maclarenbaby.co.uk
T: 01327 841310
'A good quality chair that will appeal to babies
of all ages'
An easily
constructible, multi-position rocker chair that's great for both newborns
and older babies who are trying to sit up. The colours and fabrics are
good quality and your child sits quite high making it a good option for
feeds. Our panel found it 'easy to use with a light, compact fold that
allows you store it away in seconds'. They also found it 'one of the safest
and most robust seats on test that provides maximum comfort and enjoyment
for your baby'.
The straps
on the five point safety harness are quite stiff to move and the waist
strap has to be fed through the crotch strap every time the child is put
in/taken out of the seat - 'not exactly a fault but a tad time-consuming!'
 Mamas
& Papas Perfect Height Swing 6/10
Two position height adjustable swing with reclining seat
Price: £100
www.mamasandpapas.co.uk
T: 0870 830 7700
'We wanted to love this. So disappointing!'
This swing
will accommodate your child from newborn - 11kgs making it good for longevity.
The variable speeds are useful for sleepy babies and there is an additional
head support cushion which can be removed for easy washing. Our panel
felt that the best feature was the 'lockable seat and removable snack
tray which were both ideal for feeding times'.
The mums
found the swing 'difficult to transport with a bulky, awkward frame'.
They also disliked the music and felt that the toys 'weren't imaginative
or colourful enough to stimulate a child for very long'. Usually big M&P
fans, our mums felt 'disappointed and surprised at the quality and overall
design'
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