BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft Review

If you found your way to this review of the Babybjorn Bouncer, you’re probably looking for answers to one (or more) of the following questions:

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• How does it compare to previous Babybjorn bouncers (like the Babysitter) and other, cheaper bouncers?
• What’s the difference between the two versions – the Balance Soft and Bliss?
• Why exactly does this thing cost so much (and is it worth it)?

If that sounds like you, this is the place to be.

By the end of this review, you’ll have all the answers you need to make an informed decision

So, let us dive in head-first.

At-a-glance features of the Babybjorn Bouncer

• Doubles as a baby bouncer and a toddler chair
• Adjusts to three recline positions and folds flat
• Natural rocking is “fueled” by the baby’s movements
• Ergonomic design for optimal back and head support
• Anti-slip rubber on all contact points of the base
• No-clip fasteners – safer than clip-on buckles
• Machine-washable cover

Specifications of the Babybjorn Bouncer – Balance Soft and Bliss

Specs / Version	BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft	BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss
Dimensions (L x W x H, in inches)	31 x 15.5 x 22	31 x 15.5 x 22 (+/- 10%)
Weight (lbs)	5	5-7 (2.8 for mesh)
Min and max weight allowed	up to 20 lbs as bouncer – up to 29 lbs as chair	up to 20 lbs as bouncer – up to 29 lbs as chair
Height positions – angles	3	3

Main benefits of the Babybjorn Bouncer

It’s stable and safe

Safety and stability-wise, two aspects stand out:

1. The steady, natural bounce
2. Stability of the adjustable base

The base of the Baby Bjorn is grippy, unlike cheaper bouncers that tend to side all over, especially on hardwood floors. Anti-slip rubber covers all contact points between the bouncers and the floor.

Make a mental note of this if you plan to use it on wooden or tile floors. Even if you don’t choose the Baby Bjorn, make sure the bottom isn’t slippery – it can be a massive pain in the rear.

The adjustment mechanism is simple yet sturdy and locks in place. The lowest setting is best for newborns and babies up to 15 pounds. As the baby grows and their neck muscles get stronger, you can increase the angle.

The pivot point is at the very front of the base, which means it bounces easily, and the movement feels natural. Once you get it going, the bounce is steady and rhythmical.

This might sound like a cliche, but here goes – I know off bouncers that seriously underperform in this area – they either stop too quickly or bounce too aggressively.

Baby Bjorn gets that balance just right.

The fasteners have no buckle but a button-like clip that slides in – it’s easier to fasten, and there’s no chance of pinching your baby in the process.

The inner groves are for newborns and smaller babies, and the outer allows you to adjust the tightness as your baby grows.

Finally, there are no electrics involved, and the bouncers are (as Babybjorn puts it) baby-powered. The one downside here is that newborn babies don’t have enough “power” to keep it going, but that’s not unique to Babybjorn; it goes for all bouncers of this type.

If that’s a deal-breaker, you should probably look into something more robust, like a baby swing. You can see some good ones analyzed by following the links below.

Mamaroo swing review | Mamaroo vs graco swing

Versatile – doubles as a bouncer and a baby chair

From newborn to 20-lbs of weight, this Babybjorn performs well as a bouncer. Once your baby is over 20 lbs, you can convert it into a toddler chair. To do that, you simply turn the fabric around and pull it on.

You can use it as a baby seat for up to 29 lbs of weight.

That puts the hefty price into perspective because you get more out of the Babybjorn than your typical Bouncer – most babies will enjoy it for up to two years.

Easier to clean than most baby bouncers

The simple design with no vibration unit makes it much easier to clean.

There’s no clipping and unclipping the padding around the batteries, which is the peskiest part of cleaning a bouncer with a vibration unit. With Baby Bjorn, you just undo the fasteners at the back of the Bouncer (located at the base) and pull it off.

It takes but seconds.

The whole seat cover is one-piece and machine-washable.

I’m doing the math right now, and I’d say that it takes a total of about 10 minutes of your time to clean it – that includes taking it off, putting it in and out of the washer/dryer, and back onto the frame.

Easy to use

The design is user-centric, and you’ll notice it from the get-go. The moment you unbox the thing, it springs open, and it’s ready to go – there’s no assembly required and no complicated manual to go through*.

Using it is intuitive, and you hit the ground running – from the setup to the two-year mark.

When you need to store it or transport it, the whole unit folds flat.

*It does come with a detailed manual, but most parents won’t need it.

Comfortable

To pull off the bouncer-to-chair conversion, Babybjorn added some extra heft to the padding, making both the Balance Soft and Cotton Bliss snugglier than most bouncers.

The ergonomics of the seat check all the comfort boxes and emphasize cradling the baby’s head in a way that eliminates the risk of a flathead syndrome.

In plain terms – the mesh and the cotton are stretchy in all the right spots, so they don’t push on the back of the baby’s head.

It goes without saying that you should still follow the safety guidelines of using a baby bouncer and not keep the baby in one position for too long. Change it up and split their time between the Bouncer, the cradle, tummy time, and your arms.

Light and portable

Coming in at only 5 pounds, BabyBjorn Bouncer Balance Soft is as portable as a baby bouncer gets – both for moving it room-to-room and taking it on a trip.

Some versions of the Bouncer Bliss have thicker padding and are two pounds heavier. The two extra pounds make no significant difference portability-wise because the frame is identical – a 31 x 15.5 footprint and 22 inches of height.

You might see the dimensions listed above or below that because the heft of the padding can add a fraction of an inch. You also might see the height listed as 5 inches or lower – don’t be confused by that, it’s the folded-down height.

Choosing mesh over cotton brings the weight down to an impressive 2.3 pounds.

Finally – they all fold flat, which is great for storage.

Related reads on swing safety: how long can a newborn be in swing | when to stop using a baby swing | can baby swing cause brain damage | can baby sleep in a swing

What I like about the Babybjorn bouncers

I like the intelligent pairing of simple design and portability, which isn’t new for Babybjorn bouncers because you could say the same thing for the predecessor – the Babysitter.

Compared to the Babysitter, the Balance Soft and the Bliss have upped the comfort and materials game.

The seat is wider and comfier, the materials are softer, and the pallet of fabrics and colors is more versatile.

My favorite fabric-color combo version of the Balance Soft is cotton with a petal-shaped quilt in Anthracite.

For the Bliss, I’d go with 3D Jersey in light grey, which is the softest fabric you can get in the Babybjorn range. Caveat emptor, the 3D jersey is considered premium and costs more. 

Does what a bouncer should do

This industry classic knows what a bouncer should do and stays in its lane – no batteries, no vibration, no fuss – just natural rocking.

• It “knows” that you need it to be light and portable. It weighs only 5-7 pounds, and it’s not bulky, which means you can easily move it from room to room to keep your baby in sight.
• It “knows” that you might need to take it on a trip or store it, and it folds completely flat.
• It knows that accidents will happen. The whole seat cover comes off, and it’s machine washable.

Those are the objective PROs.

On a personal note, I’ve always liked the streamlined approach to design that Babybjorn takes. It made for some svelte baby products over the years.

Babybjorn Bouncer Balance Soft vs. Bliss

Babybjorn Bouncer Balance Soft and Bliss are almost identical, at least by specs like size, weight, capacity, and age.

There are nuanced differences that come down to the fabric.

The cotton version of the Balance Soft is slightly less padded, while the mesh version comes in more colors.

The regular price of the Bliss is a peg higher, but when discounted, I have seen the two hitting the same price tag.

Other than that, there are no substantial differences.

Mesh or Cotton – What’s the difference?

Choosing between mesh and cotton Babybjorn bouncer comes down to a few key factors:

• Warmth – mesh is more breathable but not as warm.
• Softness – cotton is padded and plushier, which doesn’t mean the mesh is rough.
• Cleaning – both mesh and cotton are machine-washable, but the mesh will dry faster.

Which Babybjorn bouncer is best?

Balance Soft and Bliss are the two best Babybjorn bouncers. They are a significant upgrade compared to the previous models, like the Babysitter, primarily in comfort and materials.

Babybjorn toy bar (and potential alternatives)

The Babybjorn toy bar is purchased separately.

The bar’s frame is padded, comes in all the same materials, and carries the same premium feel as the bouncers.

The two most popular versions of the bar are “soft friends” with three fuzzy characters and “googly eyes,” which features a cute pair of lively eyes and flowers.

Attaching the bar could not be simpler – there’s a clip-on on the side that pops onto the frame.

Like the bouncers, the toy bar costs more than a non-brand bar.

Baby Bjorn bouncer toy bar alternative

While I do like the original toy bar because it pairs so well with the Bouncer, the price tag can be a bit much, especially after paying for a premium bouncer.

There are alternative toy bars that fit both the Balance Soft and Bliss because the attachment clamps are universal. An example of a nice alternative is the Sunny Stroll Arch by Tiny Love, which you can see below.

If I’m being honest, none of the alternatives I found are as nice as the original toy bars, so they kind of mess with the premium vibe. Still, when every dollar counts, they’re worth knowing about.

How does the Babybjorn bouncer compare to the competition?

The Babybjorn bouncer is without a doubt the best premium bouncer out there. Other options like the Fisher Price still work but are simply not “premium”.

If you want to compare the Babybjorn bouncer to anything, you need to go into the baby swing category.

One of my favorite baby swings is the 4Moms Mamaroo swing. I put together a nice comparison between the Babybjorn and the Mamaroo to get you started. 

Verdict – is the Babybjorn Bouncer worth the price tag?

So, is this bouncer worth the money? I’d say yes…and then some. 

Based on the reviews of the Babybjorn Bouncer I’ve seen, the vast majority of parents agree.

Ultimately, the decision to get a Babybjorn will come down to whether you’re Ok with spending that much on a bouncer when you can get a lower-tier one for half the money.

If you do, I believe you won’t look back or ever feel you didn’t get your money’s worth.

Finally, the resale value of these is great. A used Babybjorn bouncer typically goes for about 60% of the original price, which is superb for something you’ve used for two years.

Whichever way you look at it, the value is there.