Imagine it… first-time mom-to-be registers for the
Infant to Toddler Soothing Rocker and receives it, but in the
wrong color. Most people wouldn't care, right? Not this psycho. I searched high and low for the blue and teal version, and ended up with the purple model. You see, I'm an interior designer thus color, and pattern are of great importance to me. Not to mention,
purple didn't go with the nursery decor. It must have been the hormones that drove me mad, because today I wouldn't give a hoot.
The
Infant to Toddler Soothing Rocker is categorized as an infant bouncer that converts into a rocking chair for toddlers up to 40 pounds. It's very sturdy and built well. Primarily made of steal, it has a hardboard seat, and plastic rails for rocking [steal rails would probably scratch tile and wood flooring]. The rocker has two positions: upright, and semi-recline. To obtained the recline position there's a kickstand that simply rotates out. To return the rocker back to the upright position, flip the kickstand up. It holds its position well, and does not flop around.
The chair is covered with a seat pad that securely buckles onto the frame. It is brightly colored in
purple and red. The rocker features a bug theme, and includes a removable toy bar. Attached to the pad is a 3-point adjustable restraint. It adjusts at both ends of the buckle, not at the crotch. The restraint is not difficult to adjust, and it accommodates a variety of shapes from slender to hefty. The chair features a vibrating sensation, which is controlled through the soothing unit. It has two positions On, and Off, and is located on the back of the frame, behind the seat. The battery compartment does not require a screwdriver to open, a coin is recommended instead.
Toy Bar The toy bar is made from a piece of Styrofoam that is covered with fabric. Attached to the bar are three straps, which hold the toys. The straps are made of Velcro, so the toys are easy to remove, and to reattach. The largest toy is a bright, happy sun that has five piece of ribbon hanging down from the center. The other toys are bugs: one is a rattle, while the other squeaks. The toy bar attaches to the rocker with Velcro loops, and it is easy to remove, and to reattach. On the back of the rocker are straps for storing the toy bar if need be.
Assembly & Cleaning: Assembling the
Infant to Toddler Soothing Rocker is a cinch. There are 9-steps in all, unless you're attaching the toy bar, which makes ten. The Instruction Manual is well written, and includes drawings that support the directions. Insert one D battery, not included, and the chair is ready to go. No tools are necessary. Even a woman with highly polished fingernails can set it up. It took me about 15-minutes to assemble ~ from taking it out of the box, to putting my newborn in the chair. The seat cover, and the toys are machine washable. They wash up nicely, and are easy to remove and reassemble. The frame is surface wash only.
Our Experience: This chair doesn't bounce it vibrates. Thus, I'd say it's really a soothing chair for infants, which converts into a rocking chair for toddlers. What's the difference? A bouncer falls at an angle that supports a newborn head and neck, and generally cradles the body. Fisher-Price says the
Infant to Toddler Soothing Rocker is for newborns, yet the semi-recline position is too upright to support a newborn head and neck. My son was only two days old when I first tried the chair, and I was so disappointed I nearly took it back. His head flopped to the side without any support, so I took him out immediately. I thought he might like the vibration, but it was another 4-weeks before I was able to use it.
Once we were using the chair on a daily basis, I realized I needed to stock up on batteries. This rocker eats batteries, and D size is not something we have hanging around the house. The chair doesn't have an automatic shut off, and the vibration is very quite, so we were always forgetting to turn it off. I actually liked that they battery compartment didn't require a screwdriver to replace the batteries, as we were doing it frequently; however, it was a pain when my nieces and nephews visited, because they were always removing the "fat" battery. I guess it was a novelty to them.
The chair really came in handy for feeding time. The angle falls perfectly to feed a child that's not quite sitting independently. Plus, it didn't matter if my son made a mess, because the cover washed up beautifully. The toy bar was short lived. It hangs at an odd position, too forward for a newborn, and too close to the face for an older child. William enjoyed the bugs for about a month or two. I usually removed them from the bar so he could chew on them. As a toddler chair, it was mildly entertaining. The infant restraint isn't removable, so it can be uncomfortable for a toddler to rock back in forth with the plastic buckles poking in your back.
In the end, I was very grateful for the
Infant to Toddler Soothing Rocker even though it's
purple. It really helped to calm and sooth my son when he was little, and I never worried about him flipping out of the seat. The restraint is very secure, and the frame, and seat are sturdy.
Fisher-Price Headquarters 636 Girard Avenue, East Aurora, and NY 14052
Telephone: 1-800-432-KIDS 8 AM ~ 6 PM EST Monday through Friday
www.fisher-price.com
Additional Fisher-Price Reviews: Activity Center Kick & Learn Piano Symphony Star Beads Farmer Says See 'n Say Sesame Street Grow N' Go Play Gym View-Master Thomas & Friends Gift Set 
