The bouncy seat is one of the most important and useful pieces of baby gear most families will have in their homes. It would be lovely if we could all sit around with our babes in arms all day, every day; alas, dishes, laundry, dinner, and older children call. Bouncy seats allow the youngest members of the family to enjoy the chaos swirling around them from the comfort and peace of their own personal recliner. And in a pleasantly pared-down departure from the jingly-jangly, swishy-splashy seats that confront parents shopping for a basic bouncy seat, the only bell or whistle on the Baby Sitter 1-2-3 is a toy bar with three solid wood teddy bear shapes. No cutesy faces, no fancy textures or fabrics, no I.Q.-enhancing games and sound effects. No batteries.

This bouncy seat simply, well, bounces. The slightest movement causes a relaxing bounce--no on/off buttons or six degrees of vibration, just baby's natural wiggling. Depending on your tot's mood and wakefulness, the seat can be adjusted to three different positions for sleeping, resting, and playing. The deep recline is terrific for daytime snoozes, while the most upright position will be especially handy when baby gets a little older and is ready for more interaction with the world.

The attractive black fabric of the seat cover is reversible, from flat black to flat black with a diagonal pattern of a million faint gray "Baby Bjorn"s. Either way, the look is subtle, sophisticated, and unforgiving of yogurt or rice cereal stains…Luckily, it's easily machine washable (drip dry). Come to think of it, in this day and age, any piece of baby gear that is not machine washable needs to go straight to the museum of ancient artifacts, for crying out loud. The restraint system buttons (yes, buttons!) securely at three points, and is removable to wash, reverse patterns, or keep off entirely once baby is able to walk or to climb in and out of the seat herself.

That's right, you read that correctly! No need to scold your toddler for trying to get into baby's seat; this bouncy seat is suitable for 8-pound newborns as well as kids up to 24 months (or a maximum of 29 pounds). Just be sure to remove and stow that restraint system. Another good safety feature is the non-skid base, as well as the reminder never to place the inhabited seat on a table or other elevated surfaces.

Unlike the two- or three-month life spans of so many toys and equipment for children, this is one baby item that will truly grow with your little angel, up to two years! Even if it costs a bit more than some, make sure you're measuring that price against the number of months of use; most bouncy seats are workable up until around seven months or so, in spite of the actual age/weight range listed. This will serve as a cool seat for an eighteen-month-old, as well as a cozy bouncy for an infant.

Collapsible to a width of about four inches, the Baby Sitter 1-2-3 will easily accompany families to Grandma's house, restaurants, tropical resorts… The Baby Bjorn Baby Sitter 1-2-3 is the proud and deserving recipient of the Practical Parenting Best Buy award as well as best in test in Swedish parenting magazine. Elegantly simple, the minimalist design is so appealing for parents already weary of the jarringly bright colors and tinny sounds of so many bouncy seats (and other baby paraphernalia). Plus it's great for photo ops - no distracting background! --Emilie Coulter