Extras: Decide whether you want a basic seat or one with fun extras like toys, music, lights, and vibrations to soothe and entertain your baby. It seems like only yesterday you were shopping around for the best breast pump or baby bottles for feeding your little one, now they're ready to graduate to sitting at the table and eating solid foods. But there's more to weaning than just making sure there's an Ella's pouch in your changing bag at all times, and thankfully Mumsnetters are on hand to help you navigate this messy time. There are several styles of infant seats available, from basic bouncers to high-tech swings with toys, lights, and music. 1. Basic bouncer These ensure that your child always has somewhere safe and age-appropriate to eat when they’re not at home – whether that’s at a grandparent’s house, a friend’s, or away on holiday – although many are designed so well that people use them at home too. Most baby bouncers can be used from birth but may not be suitable for premature or low-birthweight babies.

Lightweight and portable, the Hoopla can be folded flat for storage or travel, so is the ideal companion for overnight stays with the grandparents or family holidays should you wish to take your bouncer with you. Our parent tester Luci says, “The Chicco Hoopla has a compact fold. Second best to the flatter BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss but far better than all the others I tested. It lies completely flat so it’s easy to pop into the car to take to a friends’ [house].” Never leave your child unattended – a young baby has little muscle control which can cause their head to flop forward. With a seat that can last right up to toddlerhood, you’ll want to make sure milk, food and other baby stains can easily be wiped or washed off.As a busy mum of two young children, now aged eight and six, she knows just how important first-hand parenting knowledge can be, and she draws on her own experiences when writing about baby essentials, toys, health, money and lifestyle. She has also written for Prima Baby, Woman’s Own and Bella. To ensure our testing is fair, we ask one tester to use all of the products in their own home. This reduces any potential variables in the testing process and ensures that our results are based on a like-for-like comparison. Finally, she marked each bouncer on whether the quality of the seat matched the price tag and, most importantly, whether she would recommend it to others. Type: Freestanding chair which converts from baby seat to a highchair | Materials: Faux-leather; fabric; BPA-free plastic | Suitable from: Birth | Harness: Yes | Wheels?: Yes What we love

I love the IKEA antilop. Little ones make SO much mess when they eat and I loved how easy it was to clean." Recommended by Mumsnet user swaziscot Our verdict We asked Charlotte Stirling-Reed what features bewildered first-time parents might watch out for, here are her top tips: Suitable from: Birth to 18kg (approx. three years) | Fabric sling removable and machine washable: Yes | Additional features: Converts to toddler chat, vibrations, toy bar | Dimensions: 65 x 40 x 16cm | Weight: 3.7kg | Batteries required: Two C batteries What we like

What to look for when buying a baby bouncer, rocker, or swing chair

Make sure harness straps are always done up, even if you are only putting your baby in the seat for a couple of minutes. Investing in a baby bouncer can give you moments of much-needed peace - it's somewhere you can lay them down when they can't yet sit up by themselves - but also help your little one learn and develop. Five products were then awarded a Mumsnet Best badge – these are the products that we feel offer the best value for most parents. We also gave honourable mentions to three others. It can be used with the newborn set from birth, the baby set from six months (sitting unaided) and after three years or 15kg until adulthood and beyond, so it's great if you need a piece of furniture that will last and can be used by every member of the family. We also like that the tray is dishwasher-safe for particularly messy mealtimes! It's expensive but with a thriving second-hand market you should get a high resale value when you're finished with it. A multifunctional highchair is a step-up in functionality and price. It has been designed to include features that make life easier or that adjust the chair to suit your child.

She considered how entertaining and soothing any toys, music, lights, or vibrations were. Luci also marked the bouncer on how big it was and whether it was portable. Size: Some bouncers and swings are bulky and may need to be plugged into a wall, so consider how much space you have and where it will be stored around the home. Highchairs are a safe and supportive place for your baby to eat before they’re old and tall enough to sit on an adult-sized dining chair. Most come with a plastic tray so your baby can see and reach their food easily – especially useful when first weaning. We had the Oribel Cocoon. It was brilliant, so sturdy, height adjustable and it will recline if you need to keep your baby out of the way of the dogs while you cook and they nap or something." hubbletelescope Our verdict Bouncers tend to last up to six months (9kg) or until a baby can sit up, roll or crawl. When they start trying to escape, it’s time to stop using the bouncer.Identical in design to the BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss but with different fabric options, the BabyBjörn Bouncer Balance Soft is a lightweight and comfortable baby bouncer that offers great longevity. She looked at the aesthetics, whether it was a stylish baby product that would blend in with her home or a vibrant, more child-friendly design. The robustness of the safety harness (is it three-point or five? Does it seem secure when attached?)

Safety: A three-point harness is the minimum a baby bouncer should have, but a five-point harness, which has shoulder straps, is even better.These types of toy are great sensory toys for babies, which is why they were such a hit, however they are quite high up so may not be easy for younger babies to reach. Our tester, Luci, has a five-year-old and a four-month-old who was just two weeks old when testing started. She used each model for at least a week in her busy three-bedroom mid-terrace home. For this category, Rachel partnered with Katrĩna, who has a nine-month-old baby and a 33-month-old toddler to juggle at mealtimes, so was able to put all our products through their paces over the course of three months. When it comes to any baby product, safety should always come first. All baby bouncers should meet the relevant European safety standards, but child development expert Karen Sherr advises parents to always read the manufacturer's guidelines before using a bouncer.