Joie Wish Review

For parents looking for a simple, comfortable, and practical baby bouncer, the Joie ‘Wish’ is a popular option that promises to offer a safe and soothing spot for little ones to rest or play. Tested over the course of a month by our mum tester, this review covers everything from ease of assembly and everyday use to comfort and design. Scroll down to find out how the Joie ‘Wish’ performed in a busy family home.

As a mum of two, with a toddler and a 12-week-old baby, I tested the Joie ‘Wish’ for my baby over a month period, keen to have a safe and comfortable place for the baby to relax or use when I needed to be hands-free. Having used a traditional bouncer and hi-tech baby rocker for my toddler, I was excited to see how the Joie ‘Wish’ performed.

Testing the Joie Wish

Assembly was simple, with clear instructions and economical packaging. The box outlined the product's functions and how it should look, and the instruction manual was easy to follow in construction. It’s battery powered, with a secure screw cover on the rear to access it.

Immediately, I loved the comfortable, padded material and head cushion, with the neutral colour and ‘ABC’ design. The straps are also easy to adjust and the 3-point clip to fasten baby in does not press onto baby or cause discomfort. It is a good design, apart from the detachable toy bar.

Whilst the removable toy bar makes it easier to place the baby in and out of the seat when it’s not in position, as it pops on over the material, it requires a solid push to get it on, which is tricky to achieve. It also pops off with the slightest touch, so it doesn’t feel secure or robust compared with other bouncers I’ve used in the past that have a standard ‘clip-on’ attachment setting. The toy bar is at a strange, upright angle, which makes it hard to manoeuvre the baby under it when it is on. Plus, with a toddler who can remove it quite easily and swing it around when you aren’t looking, it isn’t very practical either. While it does offer stimulation for activity when the baby is alert, it’s often discarded due to its impractical design so I didn’t always have it attached, which I felt defeats its purpose.

The dual vibration setting offers a calming effect on my baby. It is quite loud, although most bouncers that vibrate tend to be. I did like that even a small baby can stimulate the bouncing motion when they move, as it is a light product, plus parents can also make it bounce with a simple push. My baby loves the varying positions and the recline function, which is easy to achieve with the buttons on the side. The highest upright position is also great as my baby has reflux, so it means I can position her sitting up so she isn’t overly reclined and sick as a result.

The neutral ‘stone’ coloured ‘ABC’ design and padded material is not only soft for baby’s skin, but durable when needed to be wiped down and it can also be removed to wash. This is great news if the baby were to have a ‘poonami’ or be sick, which is always a risk.

The compact nature of the Wish means it’s easy to transport around the home or take in the car if needed.

Final verdict

Overall, the Joie ‘Wish’ has been a really handy addition to our baby gear. It’s comfy, easy to move around the house, and my little one seems really settled in it, especially with the gentle vibration and different recline options (a big plus for her reflux!). I love that the cover is wipeable and washable—because let’s face it, accidents happen - and the design is soft and neutral enough to fit into any room without screaming “baby stuff.”

While the toy bar isn’t the best (it’s a bit fiddly and pops off way too easily), I didn’t find it to be a dealbreaker since my baby was happy without it most of the time anyway. All in all, it’s a great bouncer for day-to-day use—simple, comfy, and does exactly what I need when I need a few hands-free moments.

I would recommend the ‘Wish’ as it’s exactly what I expect from the Joie brand: A Great value, quality product that does exactly what it should, with simplicity and ease. It’s a worthwhile purchase for a mum with a young baby, offering a safe and soothing place for baby to bounce.

Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine since 2015. First-time mum to Theodore, Emily writes about everything from the top baby products to pregnancy, fertility and maternal mental health. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.