When you're expecting a baby, you may begin to look at your home with very different eyes. Having a baby at home who can crawl into the kitchen and open cabinets full of toxic chemicals might seem like a lifetime away, but any parent will tell you it's not. Babies become mobile practically overnight, and it's easier to prepare now than when you're sleep-deprived later.
Preparing your home to become a safe environment will save you time and reassure you once your little one arrives. Don't just rearrange randomly, but rather have plans for what baby items will be purchased and where they'll be placed. For instance, if you'll be setting up a nursery in your bedroom, create more space there than in other rooms. Not all items may need to be discarded. Some may only need to be safely stored until they're needed.
A baby bouncer is an essential baby item, so today we take a closer look at the safety in bouncers.
What you should look out for when it comes to the safety of a baby bouncer
A baby bouncer is a practical solution that provides so many possibilities. You can place your baby in a safe place when you need to have your hands free. A bouncer lasts a long time and grows with your baby, allowing your little one to regulate themselves by bouncing the rocker gently with their body weight.
You can move a bouncer easily from room to room. Bouncers tend to fold flat to transport it easily when visiting friends and family.
But is it safe? Or rather: What does a baby bouncer have to be able to do to be safe and what do you have to look out for when you put your child in it?
First of all, it is important to know: Through national, European and internationally established regulations and design rules, certain standards have been developed that are revised and updated at least every five years.
Through these safety requirements, parents can be sure that many baby products meet certain standards and minimum requirements so that your little one does not come to any harm.
Baby bouncers are subject to DIN EN 12790:2009 or EN BS EN 14036:2003.
In addition, there are certain voluntary and independent quality seals that vigorously tests a product before it comes to market.
In Germany, there is the Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (Healthy Back Campaign), which awards the "Tested & Recommended" seal of approval for back-healthy products. Our Ergobaby Evolve 3-in-1 baby bouncer holds this certification and is currently the only bouncer on the market to have this award.
Here are some points to consider when identifying a safe baby bouncer.
#1 - Ergonomics that grow with your baby
The ergonomics in a baby bouncer should be similar to those in a good baby carrier.
When sat in a bouncer, your baby should be well-supported through their spine. Their legs should sit in a squat-splay position. This is the optimal position for your baby called the M position. For newborns, you should also focus on supporting their head. Small babies can only turn their heads to the side to 45 degrees. With a slight hyperextension of the cervical spine, the back of their head should have enough room to turn.
A newborn insert should have enough padding to cocoon baby head and to support against flat head syndrome. There should be less tension in the fabric of the bouncer seat so your child is not forced into a tilted position of the head.
Now you may wonder what this has to do with safety? Quite simply, the baby's chin is often pressed down on their chest and this can restrict breathing.
#2 - Good stability
A baby bouncer should have a large stable base with rubber feet. Always use a baby bouncer on a solid, flat surface so that the bouncer. Never place a baby bouncer on elevated surfaces, tables or kitchen table tops.
#3 - Additional safety mechanisms
To prevent siblings from being able to change the recline levels, baby bouncers should have additional safety mechanisms. Ergobaby Evolve Bouncer has a pedal lock on the foot pedal, and a safety lever on the side of the frame for folding. This prevents siblings from getting into mischief.
#4 - Back-friendly
Pregnancy, birth and postpartum can be stressful. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of baby equipment but rather focus on their own physical recovery and bonding as a new family.
Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. has awarded our ergonomic baby bouncer its back-healthy seal of approval. Evolve bouncer is easy on your back and pelvic floor. To change the position of the Evolve bouncer, simply adjust with one hand and your foot.
#5 - Child's play hygiene
A clean environment guarantees a happy, healthy environment for your baby. Machine washable and easy-care fabrics are a must have. The fabric covers on our Evolve bouncer can easily removed and machine washing at 30 degrees.
Top tip: you can buy additional seat covers for the Ergobaby Evolve bouncer here.
#6 - Optimal climate
Not too hot in summer, not too cold in winter - oh, there's so much to think about. So that you don't have to rack your brains over such issues, we have used three different materials for our baby bouncer: cosy fine knit, breathable mesh and cooling cotton. These offer support and regulate baby's temperature, because as you know, your baby should be neither too hot nor too cold. So always check and keep an eye on your baby. In combination with a different number of layers of clothing, you can make your baby comfortable, depending on the ambient temperature.
Here are our most important safety tips for using a baby bouncer
- Never leave your child unattended in a baby bouncer.
- Do not use a bouncer as a bed. Do not allow your baby to sleep in a bouncer.
- Use your bouncer on a firm, non-slip, flat surface. Never on a table/kitchen sideboard, uneven or soft surface.
- Never carry your baby around in a bouncer.
- Fasten your child's harness when sat in a bouncer.
- When your child can sit independently, remove the crotch strap.
- If applicable, use the pedal lock so that siblings cannot adjust anything.
- Your child's movements can move the bouncer, regularly wipe the rubber feet with a damp cloth and keep them clean.
- Before use, always check that any safety locks are correctly engaged.
- Always read the safety instructions.
