OT: Looking for a great travel bouncer

[ryan840]

Hi. We are pregnant with our second child right now, and we loved our Fisher Price Kick and Play bouncer, but it was a pain to take out of the house. Do you all have a travel bouncer that you and your baby love? We need something that is easy to pack (takes up little room) and is entertaining/comforting to baby. We had a used Take Along Swing (Fisher Price again) for our son and I don't know if it was just because it was used, but it didn't work well for us. It didn't swing very well, and it was just too big/akward for him (and he was a BIG baby!) Thanks for your help!

 

[TriMom]

For travel, I recomend the Johnny Jumper. It's the seat on a spring that atttaches to a doorway. It is so small it fits in a suitcase. Our DS loved his when he was a baby.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Good to "see" you again! Here are three that look really nice and fold very small and have carrying bags with them. Hope one of them works for you!


http://www.gracobaby.com/products/subcategory.asp?N=45+500&act=A20


Andrea

 

[ryan840]

Hi MATTERHORN, thanks for the link! I should have expected to find you doing my research for me I actually saw those at the store and was hoping to hear some reviews about them, they seem great, especially for a newborn. Just wondering how long they entertain an older infant (maybe 4-7 months old).

TriMom- Thanks for the suggestion, but right now I'm looking for something to use from birth. Sounds great for when he/she is older though!

 

[ryan840]

Doesn't anyone else have any comments or suggestions for me? Pretty please? I've seen what's out there and really need some feedback on them. Thanks!

 

[Colinsmom]

I'd just throw out that what worked before may not work again, and vice versa. Your next baby may hate the bouncer (mine did) and love the travel swing! You just never know!

 

[ryan840]

You're totally right about the babies being different, but the swing itself just didn't work like it should (or if it did, I would have expected better). That's why I'm looking for feedback and ideas from those with firsthand experience. (Rereading that, I realize it sounds snappy but I in no way intended for it to, I just don't know how to reword it).

 

[MomofM&M]

Sorry, don't have much advice on the bouncer. My oldest daughter is three and we had the Take-a-long swing that we used at my mom's when we'd visit her. The motor was very weak and when my daughter was over 15 pounds, would barely move. So looking at the picture of your very cute son, since you had a used model and he looks about 2 and a halfish, sorry if I'm wrong, you probably have the same generation swing as I did. With my second daughter who is 6 mo and weighs about 15 pounds now, we got the latest Take-a-long and it works great. They must have figured out the motor problem. I don't know if this helps your search but that's been my experience. I like it cause it folds so compactly. I have enough baby gear cluttering the house.

 

[ryan840]

Thanks, that's the kind of stuff I need to hear. My son just turned two, but the swing was purchased for my aunt's nephew who is going to be three in October, so you were pretty close. I am glad to hear that they (appear to) have fixed the problem. Any more feedback on this would be great, and on bouncers too. Thanks again, and keep the feedback coming please!!!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Sorry I don't have any first hand info, we also only got the new take along swing and chose the baby papasan for the bouncer this time (couldn't resist!), although we also have the kick n play. I figure one really comfy snuggly one for a newborn, then the kick and play for more activity. We have so much baby stuff it's rediculous, it will be one huge garage sale in about 2 years! I love looking at all the new baby stuff, if only I had endless money!!!

I hope you find something you like, and I was also glad to hear about the take along swing since we did not have one last time and I was nervous. Glad the new ones are better!

I saw the thread had gotten long on the baby boat! What did you decide to do?


Andrea

 

[ryan840]

Sorry I don't have any first hand info, we also only got the new take along swing and chose the baby papasan for the bouncer this time (couldn't resist!), although we also have the kick n play. I figure one really comfy snuggly one for a newborn, then the kick and play for more activity. We have so much baby stuff it's rediculous, it will be one huge garage sale in about 2 years! I love looking at all the new baby stuff, if only I had endless money!!!

I hope you find something you like, and I was also glad to hear about the take along swing since we did not have one last time and I was nervous. Glad the new ones are better!

I saw the thread had gotten long on the baby boat! What did you decide to do?


Andrea

Don't be sorry for not having first hand info, I appreciate everyones help. I think everything I say is coming off snotty or mean, and I don't mean for it to be at all. I wanted the baby papasan sooo bad when I bought it for my friends shower, and I swore up and down that I would get one for this baby, when all of the sudden I remembered trying to take our son anywhere and having to lug bunches of stuff that just didn't fit in our car. Garage sales solved many of those issues, but we still need a bouncer/seat/swing/whatever to use from birth to around 7 months I'd guess,. so we want it to be able toentertain the baby a bit more. We go up north a lot and try to have a speare of everything up there so we don't have to drag it allup, but for the bouncer we figured we can bring it everywhere we go instead of leaving one up there. I'm rambling, I do that a lot lately, sorry! No decisions yet on the baby boat yet, but I will probably go with a small boat and a makeshift canopy. I'm going to keep looking for something, hopefully I'll find it.

 

[MATTERHORN]

No I didn't think you were being mean at all, as a matter of fact, I usually have the same problems on many boards I go to. I feel like I come off harsh not meaning to, you know? I know how hard it is to pick baby stuff without any real reviews from people you know/trust. And that is a drawback to the papasan, it will really only work for months 1-3 or so, then it seems a little boring for most babies. But it was just too snuggly for me to pass up as our girls slept in the bouncy a lot as babies, otherwise they wouldn't sleep. They HAD to be swaddled, and needed that confinement they didn't get in a crib.

Now watch this little guy be completely different, right? On another note, as I will only be using this bouncy from about Nov - February, and if we are definitely done (which I am almost positive now that we are!) let me know if you want me to send it on over to you. Then you can still get something and have the papasan! We are coming to Michigan next May, but by then it will be too late for you to enjoy it with a newborn! Talk to you soon!

Andrea