Bouncers, mats, swing, jumpers HELP!

So I am setting up my registry and having trouble with what I really need (we have a pretty small house) I registered for a full size swing and an activity mat for the floor. Do I also need a bouncer seat as well for a newborn or is the swing and activity mat enough? What about these jumpers/activity center things (I guess these are for once the babies can sit up on their own?)
Thanks! ...overwhelmed by baby stuff lol

Re: Bouncers, mats, swing, jumpers HELP!

i did get a small bouncer for when kiddo is small and so i can move the bouncer with me to bathroom when i shower if need be.
the swing would work but might be a pain to carry around kwim?

that was my thinking anyways lol

Re: Bouncers, mats, swing, jumpers HELP!

I registered yesterday, and went overboard. We chose a swing, bouncy seat, exersaucer, and three different types of activity mats. All totally different, but overkill. I need to eliminate something!

Re: Bouncers, mats, swing, jumpers HELP!

You don't need a bouncer but I found it useful when they are small. I would put dd in it when I took a shower and than took her in the bathroom with me. I also put her in it while dh and I ate dinner sometimes. For me the swing was the most used item! Dd would only sleep in the swing!

Re: Bouncers, mats, swing, jumpers HELP!

I have 3 bouncers! I think the bouncer is a must because it's easy to move around the house. Both my kids slept in it. Swing is a must. The activity jumpers aren't a MUST, but they are great to have once baby can sit up. Both my kids LOVED mine.

Re: Bouncers, mats, swing, jumpers HELP!

We had the swing, bouncer and rock and play. We never used the bouncer. He pretty much lived in the rock and play and swing. He slept in the rock and play at night and I took it in the bathroom when I showered or went to IL's house. The swing is in the living room and he was in there or the rock and play when we were in that room.

We have a small bungalow house and we picked a swing accordingly. We picked the Graco that plugs in and it slightly folds up, not super compact but better than nothing. It's a full size swing, not a travel but I liked that it could be folded if needed and the plug in was a must because he was in it A LOT.

The exersaucer and the jumperoo I feel are a must and are really for two different stages. The exersaucer I started him in around 3 months. He still didn't touch the bottom but we put phone books down there to help him. He grew out of it fast, and he's a peanut of a kid...10% in height and weight. We went to the jumperoo around 7 months-12 months. It's for taller babies and he liked it better than the exersaucer after awhile.

The activity mat is for newborns-3months to help with neck control, tummy time, less chance of getting a flat spot in the back of the head. We got the Fisher Price Rainforest activity mat. The top dangly piece comes off and folds into an arch and fits nicely under the crib and the bottom piece is a piece of fabric so it just folds up small. We stored it in the closet or under the crib when not in use and the bottom part is machine washable.

If you don't have the room to get all now then I'd get the activity mat, swing and bouncer or rock and play (pick one) although the rock and play doesn't vibrate, it does fold up really slim and fits under your bed and the swing vibrates so why do you need two vibrating things KWIM?

Then, down the line like 3-4 months I'd get an exersaucer or jumperoo or both but if you want to get it free then it may be best to put it on your registry.

Re: Bouncers, mats, swing, jumpers HELP!

The bouncer and activity mat were ABSOLUTE musts for both my DD who is now 6.5 years old and the little girl that I babysit for, who is now 3, but I've watched her since she was 6 weeks old.

The babies both slept in the bouncer a lot when they were younger. My DD ONLY slept in the bouncer for the first few weeks. She wanted nothing to do with the crib or anywhere else we tried to have her sleep.

And the playmat is so great for floor time, tummy time, etc. We used it for a really long time.

As far as swings, we had a full sized swing and hated it. I loved my travel swing. You could fold it up at the end of the day, stick it in a corner, and it took up very little room. Plus you could take it to relative's houses easily if you were going to be out for several hours.

I never had a jumperoo or exersaucer...that's an "extra" IMO!

Re: Bouncers, mats, swing, jumpers HELP!

Thanks for all of the opinions ladies! Now I have to decide between bouncer and the fisher price rock and play (it seems like they serve the same purpose of being small, easy to transport and good for a newborn). This is why it's so nice to have a community to bounce ideas off of!