Educational Features: Activity centers should keep your baby stimulated with features that help their development and engage their attention. Look for toys to grab and move; different textures; knobs to push, pull, and twist; and sounds like rattles and bells. If the center can be modified as your baby grows, make sure the activities continue to progress in developmentally appropriate ways as well. They also give caregivers peace of mind since they know the child is safely contained and not at risk of wandering or getting into things around the house. How Old Should My Child Be to Use a Jumper?

Engagement: Look for an activity center with fun colors and contrasting patterns to keep your baby entertained. Some options have music and lights, while others are more subdued. Although these baby products are designed to help babies develop stronger leg muscles, some experts suggest that overuse of jumperoos can actually hinder your child’s development and delay walking. Some parents complain that all of the various components make it difficult to clean this activity center. And be aware that the seat doesn't bounce. If your child has special needs, you may be looking for a jumper that outlasts the baby years. Often kids with special needs will continue to use equipment like carseats, strollers or even jumpers for long past the usual timeframe, making it harder to find the appropriate sized products.This jumper is pretty simple, which some parents might like, but that also means it doesn’t have a lot of toys. Some parents might not like the loud music either. While this jumper is a little pricey compared to some baby jumpers, it’s a really unique option that offers a lot without taking up too much space. Since activity centers do the same job — hold your baby upright and give them something to play with — choosing the best one is really your baby's job: The best activity center is something they'll play happily in. But since your baby can’t exactly tell you which one they want, look for a baby activity center that looks fun to you. Toys should be interesting, unique, and fun. Of course, it’s important to consider the footprint of an activity center as well, since it'll take up a fair amount of floor space in your house for months.

Stationary jumperoos consist of a seat, harness, and frame. They typically provide no additional entertainment (i.e. toys) other than bouncing. This is a great option for babies that are easily overstimulated, while providing the exercise and developmental. 2. Stationary Activity Jumperoos The jumpers with all the different toys and the option to hang more toys are great," said Good Housekeeping Institute Executive Director of Textiles Lexie Sachs, a mom of two young kids. "I tried out more simple activity centers, hoping for something that looks less babyish, but my kids weren't impressed." And, she noted, since she wanted to keep a baby in the jumper while she made dinner or got dressed, she needed it to hold their attention for 15 minutes.

What to look for when buying an activity center

CPSC. 2008. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Baby Walkers." https://www.cpsc.gov/Regulations-Laws--Standards/Voluntary-Standards/Topics/Baby-Walkers Opens a new window [Accessed October 2022]

To create this roundup of best baby jumpers, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute tested a variety of both freestanding jumpers and those that hang in doorways. We looked at the top brands and gave preference to jumpers that have been on the market for enough time to get month-over-month reports. We examined 15 baby jumpers in our Lab and sent those same jumpers to parents for use with more than 10 energetically bouncing babies at home. Since this jumper comes with a stand it’s a little bulky, which some parents might not like. But if you have the space, the easy assembly makes it possible to take it down and store it out of the way at times when your baby isn’t using it. Like the original Jolly Jumper, it also doesn’t include any toys, so it’s a great option if your baby will be using it just for jumping and you want them to get a little exercise. An activity center and jumper all in one, this toy provides a lot of fun for your little one, plus an opportunity to move around. Your child might even jump and bounce so much they tire themselves right into sound naps and all-night sleep. The Jumperoo has more-appealing-than-usual toys, and more of them, too: plushy friends that dangle tantalizingly at eye-level, whirling beads, and a spinning, smiling sun. Its footprint is large when the Jumperoo is unfolded, but it's so entertaining for your baby that it's worth the floor space. Three height adjustments help the Jumperoo keep pace with your baby's growth.Baby activity centers help satisfy both of these desires for babies around 4 to 9 months old, since these toys prop them up in a sitting or standing position and have lots of fun things for babies to look at and manipulate. Some even convert to tables or other types of toys for your baby's to enjoy out of the activity center stage. These convertible activity centers generally have a longer usable lifespan, since cruising babies around 9 to 11 months old begin to tire of their activity center and want to explore the world around them. J umping will not help your baby learn to walk. In fact, too much time in a jumper could be detrimental. "A baby's motor development is best supported by playing on a mat on the floor, practicing tummy time, rolling and sitting," says pediatric physical therapist Magdalena Oledzka, Ph.D., clinical lead for pediatric rehabilitation at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. "Sitting a baby in a jumper places your baby on their toes and creates altered biomechanics. Used too much, it may contribute later to a tightness in the calf muscles and bias toward toe walking." What we like about the Disney Baby Finding Nemo Sea of Activities Baby Jumper is how light it is and lots of ocean toys to play with. 9. Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Peekaboo Activity Jumper Key Features