I'm head over heels in love with my 6-week-old son Ben.  Just as his sister Sadie did before him, Ben has captured my heart in a way I never could have imagined, and I find myself snuggling with him for hours at a time.  Of course, as intoxicating as these baby snuggles may be, there are some times when I need to work, clean up or - gasp - take a shower, and therefore need to find a safe and comfy place in which to rest Ben for a short while.  Like most babies, however, Ben won't stand for being plopped down in a bouncy seat or swing and left to soothe himself to sleep or hang out.  Rather, it typically takes a great deal of holding, rocking and swaying on my part before I can lull Ben into a calm state whereby he can be oh-so-gingerly placed in his bassinet or seat to chill out.  Needless to say, this takes up a tremendous amount of time!  So of course I was both intrigued and delighted when the folks from 4moms offered to send me their mamaRoo infant seat, which has been taking the parenting world by storm with its unique ability to bounce and sway a baby just like a parent does. 

Recognizing that parents don't vibrate like bouncy seats or swing like swings, the 4moms team developed the mamaRoo, which bounces up and down and sways from side to side, just like parents do when comforting their babies.  Simply place baby into the mamaRoo's oh-so-comfy egg-like seat and choose from a variety of simulated motions, including Car Ride, Kangaroo, Tree Swing, Rock-a-Bye (Ben's personal favorite), and Ocean, each of which gently move your baby the same way you would if you were soothing him or her.  You can even adjust the speed of the motion, making it slower for naptime and faster for times when baby is feeling a bit more energized.  Add to that a choice of built-in nature sounds and the ability to play your own music through an mp3 adapter and you've got one happy baby.  Should you wish to have a little quiet time, you can turn off the sound function, and the mamaRoo will sway and bounce with hardly any noise at all (which pleasantly surprised me, as I mistakenly assumed the robotic motion platform would create a ruckus).  I'm particularly fond of the reversible plush toy balls that dangle from an overhead bar and sport designs patterned after classical artists such as Van Gogh, Monet and Seurat, and am also impressed with the mamaRoo's ability to recline to any position, so that your baby can lie back for a nap or sit up and observe what's going on around him.

And when  it comes to style, the mamaRoo can't be beat.  Its sleek, modern design will make your baby the envy of the infant set, and the smart, stylish patterns will ensure that the mamaRoo blends seamlessly into your home decor.  Even better is the fact that the mamaRoo's fabric seat is easy to remove and machine washable.  The mamaRoo is particularly well suited to space-starved Manhattan apartments like mine because it eliminates the need to purchase both a bouncy seat and a swing, which also helps justify its somewhat daunting price tag (from $200-$240). 

Ben and I have both been loving our mamaRoo.  I can place him in the seat when I need to get something done, and know that the mamaRoo will not only comfort Ben, but also keep him nice and snug so that he doesn't startle awake the way he often does in his bassinet.  I also happen to love the fact that I can turn on one of the mamaRoo's nature sounds or opt to just let the seat quietly sway back and forth as it gently rocks a very blissed-out Ben to sleep.  For more information on the mamaRoo and other 4moms products, including their new super high-tech Origami stroller, visit 4moms online.

GIVEAWAY! The folks from 4moms generously have provided me with a mamaRoo infant seat to give away to one lucky Macaroni Kid subscriber! Here's how to enter:

• Visit 4moms online and then leave a comment below letting me know which of the six mamaRoo fabric options you like best (this part is mandatory).
• Want an extra entry?  "Like" Macaroni Kid Manhattan East Side on Facebook by clicking here, and then leave a separate comment below telling me you've done so.
• Want another extra entry?  Follow @MacaroniKidNYC on Twitter and leave a separate comment below telling me that you've done so.  Be sure to include your Twitter handle in the comment or it won't count! 
• You can only enter once via commenting regarding your favorite fabric option, a second time via "liking" Macaroni Kid on Facebook and a third time via following @MacaroniKidNYC on Twitter.
• As always, you must be a Macaroni Kid Manhattan East Side subscriber to be eligible to win.  Not a subscriber?  Click here to sign up (it's free and you'll love it)! 
• I'll use Random.org to draw one lucky winner from all eligible entries received by 5pm on Thursday May 24, 2012.  No purchase necessary to win.  Open only to residents of the continental United States (no P.O. boxes) and you must be age 18 or over to enter.  Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law.  Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary mamaRoo for purposes of preparing this review.  The opinions expressed herein are, as always, entirely my own.