Having a baby in the house means having lots of stuff. Not just stuff like bottles and diapers but big stuff, too. I’m talking bassinets and bouncers and baby seats of all sorts, gear befitting kiddos from infant to beyond.

Whether you’re a parent or a grandparent, if you’ve got a baby, you’ve got too much baby stuff.

Thankfully Infantino has come up with a remedy for at least a portion of baby equipment overload. Introducing the all-new—as in, launched just last month—Infantino 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat, available exclusively at Target.

The multi-functional Infantino 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat is, as the name suggests, two seats in one (click photos to enlarge):

The bouncer is for the tiniest of tots, at least eight pounds and up to 20, until the babe is able to sit up unassisted. The seat has a three-point harness for safety and removable, washable seat pads. In this position, the comfy, reclined seat gently bounces (manually, via baby power or a gentle push by an adult). A removable activity bar has three hanging toys that can be removed and/or repositioned for overhead play, and the “entertainment panel” soothes the baby with 20 minutes of music, nature sounds or white noise as well as gentle vibrations, all via a simple on/off control.

Benjamin demonstrates the bouncer position

Once the child is able to seat up on his or her own, a (sort of) simple click and flip—and switch of seat covers—converts the bouncer into an activity seat. Toys from the bouncer’s overhead activity bar are added to the activity seat for handy handling, and the entertainment panel still provides vibrations and musical options. Important note: The activity seat should be used only for little ones who cannot climb out or walk, and up to only 25 pounds.

Benjamin demonstrates the activity seat position

Now, I can certainly give a run-down of what I consider pros and cons of the Infantino 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat—and I do just that below—but the real test is how a baby feels about the seat. Thankfully four-month-old Benjamin was game for trying it out!

Here, Benjamin’s review of the Infantino Bouncer & Activity Seat. (You’ll notice my grandson has some redness on his forehead; it’s due to bothersome eczema he couldn’t resist aggravating, but he’s much better now!)

And, as promised, here are my thoughts on the Infantino 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat:

Pros

The 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat is sturdy and well built.
Being able to throw the seat covers in the wash is a huge plus—especially for grandparents who may have more than one grandchild taking turns in the seat on different visits.
The vibrations and bouncing seem to soothe more readily than a couple other seats Benjamin has used.
There’s a large selection of sounds to choose from, including white noise, all with decent volume (the music in Benjamin’s video is the seat, not music I added to the video).
The three-point harness reassures baby’s safety, even if he or she really gets into the bouncing.
The activity bar comes off easily with a soft tug, making it easier to remove the baby quickly if necessary, without weird contortions on the kid’s part… or adult’s. That said, see the Cons list for the caveat.
Having one piece of gear cover two important functions is fabulously helpful, especially in smaller homes or for grandparents who don’t want to invest in numerous seats for babies who aren’t around often.

Cons

The bouncer-to-seat transition can be confusing, so careful attention to the transition directions is a must.
There is no safety belt for the activity seat position.
The entertainment panel requires three C batteries… which aren’t included and noted only in tiny print on the bottom of the box.
There are separate seat covers for the bouncer and the activity seat but no holder/pocket or such for storing the unused cover when not in use.
The bouncer activity bar can be easily pulled down by a determined child, requiring adults to continually reposition it in place.

Parents—as well as grandparents who care for grandkids in their homes—can certainly benefit from less gear for their sweetie pies. The Infantino 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat is an ideal remedy for such… and for keeping kiddos comfy, soothed, and entertained, too.

Learn more about the Infantino 2-in-1 Bouncer & Activity Seat—MSRP $49.99, part of the Go Gaga collection available exclusively at Target—at Infantino.com.

Disclosure: I received this product free for review; all opinions are my own… and my grandson’s.