Fisher-Price Rainforest Bouncer
Fisher-Price Rainforest Bouncer
Fisher-Price Rainforest Bouncer Reviews
We’ve had this for a few months now, and it’s still one of the “go-to” items in our house. Our daughter enjoys the lights and music and is challenged to reach the dangling toys with her hands. She also loves to prop her feet up on the bar;) The only minor gripe I have is that you cannot lower the volume of music and have it stay that way – if the music stops, then when it starts again, it pops right back up to regular volume. However, that is a *very* minor gripe, since the music is not too terribly loud in the first place. Highly recommended!!This seat is for our 3 month old daughter who weighs 15 pounds. First, I’ll point out the pros of this bouncer seat. The music is wonderful. The waterfall is captivating. The colors are mesmerizing. She can sit in the seat for 25 minutes easily. The seat takes 4 D-size batteries. Unlike other bouncer seats we have used, there is only one compartment for 4 D-sized batteries. Unlike its predecessor (the Ocean Wonder Aquarium), the Rainforest bouncer keeps our child AWAKE. If we wanted our child to sleep, we’d put her in bed, not the bouncer. So Fisher Price definitely got it right this time! A++!
The cons is that the seat was used twice before it started to make this loud clicking noise from the bar. Being an engineer, I took it apart and noticed that the gears are designed to click (or skip a gear) if a child were to grab the frog or the monkey while it is moving. This prevents the gears from being stripped or the motor overheating. However, the tension on this “gear skipping” behavior is too sensitive such that after 3 hours of use, the clicking occurs from just the friction of the frogs moving up and down on the bar.
I called customer support about the clicking and they promptly sent a replacement bar. After 2 weeks of using the new bar, it started clicking. Argh! The good thing is that the new bar does it randomly. We’re willing to live with the flaw and the annoying clicking from time to time for the Pros listed above.
The other con is questionable. There is much debate about the height of the toys on the bar. Being an “infant” bouncer, it is designed such that the child can grab the toys and even pull the rings off the monkey. Our daughter loves it! We do have the Fisher Price “Kick and Play” which is designed for slightly older children in that it provides more clearance between the child and the toys … hence “Kick and Play.”
The bouncer comes with a one-year warranty. So for a year, I can get replacement bars as the clicking becomes annoying. After replacing enough of them, will their engineers will fix the problem? I hope so.
19 March 2007:
The clicking has returned with the replacement bar and won’t go away. I called Fisher Price for a replacement bar. While they really wanted to send a voucher for $48, I pressed to have another toy bar sent as a replacement. At that point, customer service informed me that there is a backlog of replacements on this bar till 30 April 2007. Customer service continues to be very friendly and easy to deal with. We’re willing to wait for the new bar … This bouncer model is the best available currently on the market, even though there are few flaws and room for improvement, as other Amazonians pointed out. But it does work and keeps our baby entertained, while leaving parents some much needed time for other important things around the house. Sounds and lights are easily activated by baby’s movement, but volume can not be adjusted. Vibration mode could keep baby amuzed for about 1/2 hour first month, but later our baby got used to it and does not care for it as before. We also like to use this bouncer without play bar, as simple comfy chair. This way baby could listen & see parents or watch together ‘Baby First’ TV. I higly recommend this product to new parents or as baby shower gift.
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