Parents absolutely love when a new innovative piece of technology hits the market that can make their life easier. Cleaning, cooking, folding laundry, and even napping are almost impossible to do with a newborn strapped to your chest.
Over the years, bouncers have gotten an upgrade. Sure, the old school version still exists, but there are new devices that have been proven to be more effective. Two of these are the MamaRoo and the RockaRoo. These pods rock or sway your baby back in forth to keep them calm and help them sleep.
We took an in-depth look at MamaRoo vs RockaRoo and what each one had to offer both baby and parent. The MamaRoo definitely has more to offer than the RockaRoo, which is why it came out on top in our opinions.
About 4Moms
The MamaRoo and Rockaroo is created by the 4moms company. They are always creating new innovative pieces of technology to better help parents and hospitals with their newborns. The company frequently offers product discounts to hospitals and health care centers. They will also occasionally donate the MamaRoo to children and hospitals in need.
The MamaRoo
The MamaRoo is a baby soothing machine…literally. It is an amazing piece of technology that makes it much easier to keep your baby calm and happy while you’re doing other tasks around the home. Let’s check out everything it has to offer:
Motion & Comfort
The MamaRoo has five unique motions and speeds which include bouncing up and down, sways from side to side, and recreates the motion of riding in a vehicle. This makes it much easier to comfort a child who enjoys riding in the car to go to sleep.
It has these five motions:
- Car ride
- Kangaroo
- Tree swing
- Rocka-bye
- wave
Additionally, this device can recline. You can adjust it to any position to ensure your child is as comfortable as they can be. It can recline all the way back or all the way up. Unlike other products on the market, the movement of the bouncer isn’t dependent on you.
Bluetooth Technology
A fantastic feature of the MamaRoo is Bluetooth technology. You can plug your phone or MP3 player into it directly or connect it via Bluetooth. This allows you to play music for your baby to put them to sleep or soothe them.
More recently, the MamaRoo got an upgrade. You can now pair your iPhone or Android device to it with a free app that allows you to control the MamaRoo from your phone. This is a fantastic feature for many reasons. One of the main reasons is that you don’t have to worry about walking into the room if your baby is sleeping and risk waking them up.
Size
The MamaRoo weighs 25 pounds and measures 33 x 19.5 x 25.5 inches. It’s not as small as a traditional bouncer, so it’s best to ensure you have optimal room in the space where you plan to use it. The baby can use it until they are up to 25 pounds or can sit up without assistance.
Power
No batteries are required with this device. It comes with an AC adapter so you can plug it into a regular outlet.
Additional Accessories & Features
The MamaRoo comes with an infant insert for premature and smaller babies as well as a mobile with balls on it that the baby can easily view as well as a rattle and a mirror. Additionally, this bouncer comes equipped with a white noise setting and nature sounds. The white noise has been an effective method for soothing babies, which is why a lot of moms prefer the MamaRoo over the RockaRoo.
More so, you can ensure your baby is safely in their seat with the three-point harness that keeps them in place.
Ease of Care
If the baby spits up or has an accident while using the MamaRoo, the smooth nylon fabric can be removed and tossed in the washing machine.
Pros
- Five motions
- Bluetooth enabled
- White noise option
- Three-point harness
- Seat recline
- Mobile included
- Preemie insert included
- App control capabilities
- 1-year warranty
- Machien washable fabric
Cons
- Bulky
- Pricey
The RockaRoo is very similar to the MamaRoo in many ways. There are a couple of key differences, so let’s check it out:
Motion & Comfort
This is actually one category where the RockaRoo and MamaRoo are very different. As you know, the MamaRoo has five different motions whereas the RockaRoo only has one, which is a back and forth gliding motion with five speeds. It has been shown that regular swings provide more motion at the baby’s feet whereas the RockaRoo provides more motion at their head. This can be more soothing for the baby
Additionally, the fabric of the RockaRoo is made from comfortable mesh and nylon. The mesh allows the airflow to be maximized while your baby is in it, keeping them cool and happy. The back layer allows for optimal breathability as well.
Unfortunately, the RockaRoo doesn’t recline as the MamaRoo does. This may be an issue if the baby prefers to be reclined rather than sitting up all of the time.
Bluetooth Technology
Unfortunately, the RockaRoo isn’t compatible with Bluetooth technology like the MamaRoo is. If you need to change a setting on the RockaRoo, you have to physically do it, risking waking the baby up or disturbing them in any way. It can, however, hook directly to an MP3 player or a phone if it has capabilities.
Size
The RockaRoo is only ⅓ of the size of a traditional swing, leaving less of a footprint in the home. It measures 16.5 x 29.6 x 27.5 inches and only weighs 11.5 pounds. It’s much smaller and lighter than the MamaRoo. The baby can remain in it until they are 25 pounds or can sit up on their own.
Power
Like the MamaRoo, this machine only requires an AC power adapter, which is included. It does not require batteries and can plug into any standard outlet in the home.
Additional Accessories & Features
The Rockaroo comes with a toy mobile with reversible toy balls for your child’s enjoyment. There is no white noise option with this device as there is with the MamaRoo, which could be a dealbreaker for some individuals. I think that if the RockaRoo has the white noise feature, it would definitely be more appealing.
It’s unknown whether or not the RockaRoo comes with the preemie insert as the MamaRoo does. If it doesn’t, it can be purchased online. Additionally, you can rest assured knowing your baby is safely in their seat with the three-point harness that keeps them in place.
Ease of Care
As with the MamaRoo, the cover can be removed from the RockaRoo and tossed in the washing machine. If your baby has an accident or throws up, just take off the cover and let the washer do the rest.
Pros
- Affordable
- AUX hookup
- Compact & lightweight
- 1-year warranty
- Machine washable fabric
Cons
- Doesn’t recline
- Only 1 movement option
- No white noise
- Cannot be connected via Bluetooth
- No preemie insert
Final Verdict
Okay, so both the MamaRoo and RockaRoo come from the same company, but they’re definitely very different from one another. The MamaRoo has more features that allow the parent or guardian to control it the way they want to.
The RockaRoo, on the other hand, is very simple with the exception of the AUX hookup ability. The RockaRoo does have a lower price, but that’s for the simple fact that it’s not as technologically advanced as the MamaRoo. We would have to recommend the MamaRoo as the better for the two simply because it can be controlled via Bluetooth and it has a white noise option and five movement settings.
Remember, every baby is different so just because one is better than the other, doesn’t mean your baby will respond to the better of the two.