My baby was colicky (or really fussy) and like all the books say… nothing really helps and eventually it goes away. The colic ended and now I have a happy baby. And besides sushi and wine (which did help a lot) the only other thing that got me through was our bouncy seat. I won't recommend my bouncer because it was really awful to look at. The toy bar doesn’t even matter until they’re a few months old so I wouldn’t focus on that. It’s really all about the bounce. Some bouncers also play music so that's another feature you may want to consider, but I'm not sure the music did anything for my baby and it does eventually drive you a little nuts. So, my advice to first-time parents is to buy a bouncer that you like since you’ll be staring at it all day. Here are a few options that aren’t eye-sores.  

(above) Kate Spade’s Biarritz Rocker made by Maclaren ($120) is named after the French beach town, Biarritz, and is inspired by French striped t-shirts. The bouncer rocks, vibrates or sits stationery. A removable head hugger in included. The seat folds easily for traveling or storing. 

Boppy's Cradle In Comfort Bouncer ($52.99 ) offers an “infant support system” to surround your infant in plush comfort. New-age melodies and nature sounds are helpful for soothing infant to sleep. 

A lot of parents swear by the Fisher-Price Papasan Infant Seat ($49.99) because of the “infant insert” that supports the newborn on each side to create a womb-like space. Bouncer also plays ten classical songs.

The Maclaren-Rocker ($85.00) folds flat, converts from a rocker to a stationary chair, has adjustable recline and a removable head hugger.