I’m sure you’ve been there. You’re busy making dinner, and you need two hands to take the heavy bottomed pot out of the oven. You had baby in a sling, but after tripping over the toddler and scalding yourself on the hot steam coming from the pot on the stove, you realise you just need to be able to cook your dinner, without a baby strapped to you, and a toddler underfoot. (You could of course put the toddler to work and back carry the baby, but that’s not the point right now!)
You just need to be able to put the baby down. But she’s way too squirmy to lay down safely on the kitchen counter. So what do you do? Well, we got a bouncy chair.
With Ameli, we had a slimline, narrow and simple bouncy chair. That was fine till she reached three months and would throw herself out of it, ending up face down with the bouncy chair strapped to her back. I wanted to avoid that this time, so went for a larger, sturdier option.
It has useful features, like the fact that it ‘flattens’ (not entirely but to about a quarter of its size) at the push of a button. It has a battery operated music and vibrations box that requires no wires around the chair, and has the options of music, vibration and both.
Initially Aviya quite seemed to like the vibration, and while it was going, she would sleep really soundly. I’m not sure what’s changed, but now it wakes her up, so if she’s sleeping and I need her in a secure place – like if Ameli and I are going to be baking – then I pop her in the bouncy chair, put the music on and let her have a nap.
The music plays around 20 minutes of nursery rhymes before starting again, and as compared to many other examples of musical toys, I don’t find this offensive in any way. In fact, it blends into the background and sometimes I forget to switch it off and it just provides the background to our day anyway, with baby awake or asleep, and in it or not!
We have been shortlisted in the MADS awards as best pregnancy blog and best new baby blog. I would be so grateful if you would take 1 minute and vote or us to winin those categories.
The Soothe and Go Bouncy Seat doesn’t have a toy arch, but instead has a canopy which can be moved above the baby or behind the seat and out the way. This is really useful for outdoor use as you can position it so that baby is protected from the sun – really useful for the summer. And since the bouncy chair folds up and could go on the floor of the car behind the seat you could take it with you for a picnic or camping.
The canopy has two ‘hidden compartments’ wherein hide a fish and a bird which can hang from the canopy or hide within. Aviya is too small yet to show much interest in them, but Ameli loves rattling for her little sister, which is decidedly sweet.
All in all, it’s a lovely bouncy chair, which fulfils its purpose, isn’t over the top and doesn’t over stimulate. Its fabric design is peaceful and playful and while you shouldn’t leave your baby in it for long stretches of time, it’s definitely useful for those times when you need your hands free.
Competition
Fisher-Price have a Soothe and Go Bouncy Chair to offer one reader today. To enter the competition, leave a comment below telling me your favourite feature of this chair.
This competition finishes at 23:59 on 28 May and the winner will be randomly drawn. Winners will be announced here and on the Diary of a First Child Facebook Page. Please check these to find out who won.
Also, we have been shortlisted in the MADS awards as best pregnancy blog and best new baby blog. I would be so grateful if you would take 1 minute and vote or us to win in those categories.
Please read the competition rules.
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