In the case of the Parchment colourway I tested, the white frame certainly gives the rocker a minimalist and spacey feel, helping to tone down a lounge over-run with brightly coloured baby items. The Mocha version has a warmer feel while retaining the chic, pared-down look.
Comfort rather than lots of add-ons is the name of the game for the Silver Cross Halo Rocker. It comes without the sounds, toys and vibration features often found at this price point. The silver coloured seating is padded around the head and bum areas and can be easily removed for hand washing.
Two-month-old Ferris settled down into the newborn wedge, which is included as standard. Made using a luxurious, two-tone textured fabric, the wedge really upped the comfort factor. Both seat options use a 5-point harness to hold your baby in place.
An incorporated lift-up canopy adds to the cosy feel of the rocker.
Portability is another key feature. Designed to be ultra lightweight (3kg) and compact, the Halo Rocker also doubles as an infant carrier – with its own built-in handle - and comes with its own stylish carry bag to either store the item or for travelling.
What we love
The ease of set-up makes the Silver Cross Halo Rocker a winner for time-strapped mums. The carry bag means it’s a good one for taking to Grandma’s house - although you would need your own transport to do so – and is also handy for storage.
Designed to be both a rocker and an infant carrier, Silver Cross has incorporated a reassuringly sturdy handle, which put to rest any fears I had about carrying young Ferris from room to room. It also proved useful for attaching various toys to keep him amused.
The hood/canopy is a nice touch, too. When down, Ferris had a good view around the room (and of mum), and when up, he enjoyed the muted light and warm, enclosed environment that blocked out other stimuli.
What to watch out for
Although a rocker, the rocking motion itself was smooth but fairly limited, requiring the constant hand of mum, dad or willing grandparent to keep it going.
While the 5-point harness is secure, a sleeping baby may be woken up by an overly loud ‘click’ when being placed in the seat. And although this does its job well, the harness itself is excessively padded and therefore on the stiff side. The clear plastic clips seem at odds with what is otherwise a stylish nursery product.
Although compact, the Halo Rocker still takes up a large footprint of floor space compared to some other bouncers, so watch out if space is truly limited.
Who is the Silver Cross Halo Rocker best for?
Stylish mums who want to carry their baby around with ease and confidence.
The Silver Cross Halo Rocker is a robust rocker that is competitively priced in a category where style usually means paying a premium. Although it comes without the features often associated with bouncers and rockers, its ease of use, portability and comfort make is a real contender among other stylish rockers.
