Sometimes you’ll discover an ingenious product and think, “Damn – my first kid missed out!” And that’s exactly how I feel about the BABYBJÖRN Babysitter Balance.
With an ergonomic design and molded seat, a calm, natural rocking motion and the ability to help refine your child’s motor skills and balance, it is undeniably in a class all its own. But what makes it even better is that my little guy LOVES bouncing away. He is truly content to stay in his Babysitter Balance for as long as I need to have my hands free (and even longer sometimes), and it’s the only bouncer he hasn’t fallen out of (believe me, he tries to get out of everything).
Now I’ll admit it – the very first thing that attracted me to this product was its looks. With clean lines, a modern design and sophisticated colour schemes (no bright green dinosaurs in sight) the bouncer suits our tastes perfectly. Set up took exactly 1 minute – simply unfolding the bouncer and selecting a position – as opposed to traditional bouncers, which require tools and patience. And the bouncer folds flat for transportation and storage, making it our preferred babysitter when we’re on the go.
I love the bouncer’s three positions: play, rest and sleep. We started Reid on “sleep” mode, but the curious little guy would constantly lean forward to get in on the action around him. So we quickly adjusted him to “rest” mode, and this is actually his perfect position for the moment (“play” is an upright position which is slightly too severe for his tastes). Did I mention that you can adjust the position without disturbing baby? Just another one of its design features you’ll love. As for Reid, he bounces, bounces and bounces away, and as the maximum weight capacity is a whopping 29 lbs in play mode, he has a LOT more fun to look forward to! A bonus: no batteries needed!
The Babysitter Balance rocks back and forth with the child’s own movements. Reid has adopted a bit of a foot-slapping technique; he likes to smack his foot down as he picks up speed. This is in no way required to make the bouncer move – just a quirky little habit of my baby.
With a little help from the theme song of The Young & The Restless, here’s the bouncer in action (set in the rest position):
You can see that as soon as the rocking motion slows to a stop, he begins to wind back up again. He normally keeps this up until I remove him!
The Babysitter Balance was developed in close collaboration with pediatricians, and is the result of over 45 years of product development and experience. It boasts proper back and head support and a molded seat which distributes baby’s weight evenly. Now a few moms have asked me about the safety features – in the absence of a three-point harness, some parents may be nervous about their child’s ability to stay firmly secured in the seat. However, the safety harness is aligned correctly and designed to safely hold children within the weight capacities – and should be removed when the child is old enough to climb in/out on his own. Here’s a quick video showing Reid trying to break out of the bouncer – and proof of the fact that he’s not going anywhere (set in the play position/>
The Babysitter Balance cance comes in six (6) hot colours with reversible fabric. The bouncer is also available in the Balance Air, an airy and pleasant version, and the Balance Organic, made from soft, organic cotton. You can find it at most retailers of baby goods and it is worth every penny. It is 100% Lena-Approved!
Click here for more information on the BABYBJÖRN Babysitter Balance.
Very coincidental timing for your post, Lena! I stumbled across this just last night while surfing the net for fashionable nursing clothing (I have a few showers and a wedding and it's almost impossible to find something other than a wrap dress/top)…anyway, that aside, I too thought my baby missed out on such a cool bouncer. But seeing as he's way under the 29lb limit, I may reconsider :)Hope you and the family feel better soon!LizaDee
Very coincidental timing for your post, Lena! I stumbled across this just last night while surfing the net for fashionable nursing clothing (I have a few showers and a wedding and it's almost impossible to find something other than a wrap dress/top)…anyway, that aside, I too thought my baby missed out on such a cool bouncer. But seeing as he's way under the 29lb limit, I may reconsider :)Hope you and the family feel better soon!LizaDee
@LizaDee – first, I hear ya on fashionable nursing clothing. Simply impossible to find non-wrap tops.Second, this bouncer is one of the BEST products I've had the pleasure of reviewing. And I love that it will be in use for a while – Ryder is just over 30 pounds and he's almost three! I think a reconsideration is definitely in order :)
@LizaDee – first, I hear ya on fashionable nursing clothing. Simply impossible to find non-wrap tops.Second, this bouncer is one of the BEST products I've had the pleasure of reviewing. And I love that it will be in use for a while – Ryder is just over 30 pounds and he's almost three! I think a reconsideration is definitely in order :)
I agree with you. THere are so many products on the market that I think… wow my first really missed out on getting to try this! I think this product looks wonderful, especially for those very active babies who are never happy sitting still like my 3 month old!!
I agree with you. THere are so many products on the market that I think… wow my first really missed out on getting to try this! I think this product looks wonderful, especially for those very active babies who are never happy sitting still like my 3 month old!!
Wow, I would have loved to have this even with my now 7 month old when she was younger. A great baby shower gift idea – thanks Lena!
Wow, I would have loved to have this even with my now 7 month old when she was younger. A great baby shower gift idea – thanks Lena!
@NancyPower – I think your adorable little guy would LOVE this!@Sara – NP! It'll be a hit at any baby shower, I promise!
@NancyPower – I think your adorable little guy would LOVE this!@Sara – NP! It'll be a hit at any baby shower, I promise!
So cute! So, he's a Soaps fan, huh?
So cute! So, he's a Soaps fan, huh?
it's almost like he recognizes the theme from his days in the womb! hehe…adorable! and we get to 'hear' Lena for the first time!
it's almost like he recognizes the theme from his days in the womb! hehe…adorable! and we get to 'hear' Lena for the first time!
Adorable! I can't believe how Reid is almost standing in that thing and not falling out! My boys will be big Y&R fans too…I'm addicted! LOL
Adorable! I can't believe how Reid is almost standing in that thing and not falling out! My boys will be big Y&R fans too…I'm addicted! LOL
OMG these videos are amazing!! Reid a Youtube sensation perhaps? How cute is that, he loves Y&R!!! Ryder is the next Justin Bieber (only better).
OMG these videos are amazing!! Reid a Youtube sensation perhaps? How cute is that, he loves Y&R!!! Ryder is the next Justin Bieber (only better).
@she – of course he is! He has no choice at the moment, ha ha ha!@the brother – oh yes, he heard that theme song many times in utero!@Shauna – it's an awesome bouncer. And I'm happy to see you're also raising a generation of Y&R buffs, ha ha!@Kailin – oh boy, the next Bieber I'm not sure… but they both love being in the spotlight :)
@she – of course he is! He has no choice at the moment, ha ha ha!@the brother – oh yes, he heard that theme song many times in utero!@Shauna – it's an awesome bouncer. And I'm happy to see you're also raising a generation of Y&R buffs, ha ha!@Kailin – oh boy, the next Bieber I'm not sure… but they both love being in the spotlight :)
I love love love this bouncer. Thanks so much for introducing it to me, I'm pregnant with DD #3 and now I know what to put on my wishlist from family. You son is so cute!
I love love love this bouncer. Thanks so much for introducing it to me, I'm pregnant with DD #3 and now I know what to put on my wishlist from family. You son is so cute!
OMG this product is amazing! Will have to keep in in mind for mamas to be!
OMG this product is amazing! Will have to keep in in mind for mamas to be!
@Kendra – thank you! I'm sure DD #3 will love the bouncer.@DeeDee – it's great!
@Kendra – thank you! I'm sure DD #3 will love the bouncer.@DeeDee – it's great!