The Best Baby Loungers for Support in Any Position

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Best Baby Loungers

Amazon / Amazon / Bed Bath and Beyond

Baby loungers are a great way to give your little one a spot to hang out and observe the world from a different perspective. Some loungers can continue to be used as your little one gets older for activities like tummy time and support when they’re learning how to sit independently. While baby loungers are great for the development of milestones, they should never be used as a sleep space.

Look for fabrics that are soft and breathable to avoid overheating. Additionally, make sure the lounger’s design props your baby up safely to avoid the risk of suffocation. We carefully considered design, materials, value, ease of cleaning, age and weight recommendations, and ease of use when reviewing products. 

Here are the best baby loungers for supervised awake time.

An Important Safety Note

Although these products are popular, they are also in an unregulated class of baby gear and aren't held to safety standards. It is essential to remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines advise that babies should always be laid on their backs, on a firm surface void of blankets and pillows when it comes to sleeping.

According to Alisa Baer, MD, a pediatrician and member of the Verywell Family Medical Review Board, loungers should only be used when the baby is awake and fully supervised. She recommends loungers be placed only on the floor and never on a couch, on a bed, in a crib, or on any other surface.

Best Overall

Boppy Original Nursing Pillow & Positioner

4.7
Boppy Original Nursing Support, Pink Garden, Ergonomic Breastfeeding, Bottle Feeding, and Bonding, with Firm Hypoallergenic Fiber Fill, with Removable Cover...

Amazon

Pros
  • Versatile

  • Removable slip cover

  • Pillow and covers are washer/dryer safe

Cons
  • Doesn’t fit every body (for nursing purposes)

  • Pillow loses fluff over time

The Boppy Original Nursing Pillow & Positioner earns our top spot because of its versatility, and may be considered a "must-have" on the baby registry. While it’s recommended for babies from birth to 12 months old, older babies get the most out of using it for tummy time, and it offers support for older babies who are learning how to sit independently. The original pillow’s shape is always the same, but there are a variety of cover options to choose from. Plus, both the pillow and covers are safe for the washer and dryer for easy cleanup. 

While the Boppy also serves as a good prop for adults and kids who are feeding or holding the baby, little ones should never sleep on the Boppy. The company says Boppy pillows are designed for adult-supervised awake-time only, and improper use of the product may result in injury or death.

Price at time of publication: $45

Key Specs:
Dimensions: 20 x 16 x 5.5 inches | Material: Cotton | Age Recommendation: Newborn to 12 months old

Best for Tummy Time

Infantino Prop-A-Pillar Tummy Time & Seated Support

Infantino Prop-A-Pillar Tummy Time & Seated Support - Pillow Support for Newborn and Older Babies, with Detachable Support Pillow and Toys, 3 Piece Set...

Amazon

Pros
  • Pieces slide apart for tummy time

  • Teether and crinkle sun included

  • Fun design

Cons
  • Velcro can come undone

  • Needs more back support

Aside from being downright adorable, this lounger is made specifically for tummy time for babies from birth and older. All you do is uncurl it and prop the baby up in the middle, where there are various color patterns and even some toys to keep them occupied. Once your baby has head control and is a little stronger, you can curl the pillow back up and use it as a seat. 

Price at time of publication: $45

Key Specs:
Dimensions: 18 x 6 x 12 inches | Material: Polyester | Age Recommendation: Newborn and up

Best Organic

snuggle me Organic Baby Lounger

Snuggle Me Organic Baby & Infant Lounger, Moss

Walmart

Pros
  • 100% organic materials

  • Soft to the touch

  • Safe for washer and dryer

Cons
  • Costly

  • Middle of lounger could use more cushion

If you’re looking for a lounger with organic materials, this is the one for you. While the inside is filled with traditional polyester, the outer shell of the lounger is made from 100% pure organic cotton, which makes it soft on your baby’s skin and safe for the washer and dryer. This lounger is safe for babies from birth to 9 months old, but the company reminds families the lounger should never be used in or as your baby’s sleep space. 

Price at time of publication: $109

Key Specs:
Dimensions: ‎29.5 x 5.25 x 17.5 inches | Material: Organic cotton | Age Recommendation: Newborn to 9 months old

Best Waterproof

Cosy Nation Baby Lounger

Cosy Nation Baby Lounger, Baby Nest for Co Sleeping, Ultra Soft Breathable, Waterproof Insert, Newborn Lounger for Crib & Bassinet, Perfect for Traveling and Napping, Gift for Newborn(Animal

Walmart

Pros
  • Drawstring allows for adjustable sizing

  • Two handles for easy portability

  • Lightweight

Cons
  • Difficult to take apart for cleaning

  • Zippers get stuck easily

Available in an assortment of colors, this lounger’s outer cover is made from breathable, hypoallergenic, and super soft fabric. The base of the lounger and the bumper pillow are soft and comfortable and are covered in a waterproof shell to make cleanup easy.

The outer cover has a baby-safe zipper, so it can be removed and tossed into the washing machine when it needs cleaning. You can also travel easily with this lounger because it’s lightweight and has a carrying handle. Babies can safely use this lounger from birth to 12 months old for supervised awake time, and should never use it as a sleep space.

Price at time of publication: $60

Key Specs:
Dimensions: 34.5 x 19.6 inches | Material: Cotton | Age Recommendation: Newborn to 12 months old

How We Selected the Best Baby Loungers 

We chose the best baby loungers by researching reviews from customers and competitors, and we studied the features of more than 20 products on the market. We considered price, design, ease of cleaning, age and weight recommendations, and material when deciding our picks. We also consulted with Alisa Baer, MD, for any considerations or product recommendations while reviewing guidance from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

What to Look for in a Baby Lounger 

Materials

Look for fabrics that are soft and breathable to avoid overheating. Keep irritants, like chemically treated fabrics and dyes, in mind when you’re shopping. Opt for hypoallergenic materials whenever possible. Also, make sure the materials can be easily cleaned, because spit-ups and spills are bound to happen. 

Design

Make sure the lounger’s design props the baby up safely without risking suffocation. Also, look for a lounger that doesn’t have loose fabric around it, because it can bunch up and become a hazard. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can a baby sleep in a lounger?

    No. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be put to bed on their backs on a flat, firm surface without any blankets or other soft bedding items (this includes pillows, stuffed animals, bumpers, and more).

    Alisa Baer, MD, a pediatrician and member of the Verywell Family Medical Review Board recommends using baby loungers only when your infant is fully supervised and awake. She also cautions that these products should be used on the floor only—never in or on any other surfaces (including beds, couches, cribs, or coffee tables).

    "One of my key concerns with these products," she says, "is that the parents who are using them are the most sleep deprived. I worry that when they use these and the baby gets sleepy and fall asleep, most parents are reluctant to move a sleeping babies out of these and into a safer sleeping environment."

    The bottom line: If your baby happens to fall asleep in the lounger, you’ll want to transfer them to their crib or bassinet as soon as possible. 

  • How long can a baby stay in a lounger?

    There isn’t a hard rule on how long you can let your baby sit in their lounger, but the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Wisconsin Chapter advises parents never to leave their baby unattended when they’re using one.

    Also, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons suggests parents regularly change a baby’s position when they’re awake and lying on their back to avoid positional plagiocephaly (flattening of the head). 

Important Note

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, advised families on November 9, 2022, to immediately discontinue the use of the DockATot Deluxe+ due to public reports of infant deaths associated with the product. Due to this advice from the CPSC, we no longer recommend the DockATot Deluxe+.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer and mom to a 1- and a 4-year-old with recent personal experience researching and using baby products. Key considerations she used when selecting these recommendations include safety, longevity, pricing, and purchaser reviews.

7 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. How to keep your sleeping baby safe: AAP policy explained. HealthyChildren.org.

  2. Safe sleep recommendations. AAP.org.

  3. Safe sleep – cribs and infant products. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

  4. Safe sleep recommendations. AAP.org.

  5. How to keep your sleeping baby safe: aap policy explained. HealthyChildren.org.

  6. Labracke K. Proper use of boppy pillows and boppy newborn loungers | wiaap.

  7. Price AV. Positional Plagiocephaly. AANS.