How old does your baby need to be before they can enjoy a baby jumper? It’s always best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure your baby is safe in the activity. As a general rule, your baby should be able to hold their head up independently before using a baby jumper. However, always follow the weight and height limits on the baby jumper. Before you go on the search for a baby jumper, explore your baby’s playing habits. Do they enjoy toys that have flashing lights or are they more partial to sound and music? Do they like rattles and things they can shake, or do they enjoy hammering on buttons? Pay special attention to the toys your baby jumper has, as this is what will stimulate your baby’s mind and keep them engaged while they play. The Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo has a number of toys circling the seat. It plays sounds and has lights to reward each of your baby’s moves. Other baby jumpers have exciting activities all around their seat. Whenever your baby jumps, lights flash and sounds play from the toys. You’ll even find models that allow your baby to play the piano with their feet. Stationary: Baby walkers, and even some jumpers, have wheels attached so baby can move while they play. But these types of baby walkers aren't safe as they are a fall risk, and shouldn't be used. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a ban on the sale and use of these products. The AAP, however, does consider stationary activity a safer alternative. Per this guidance, all of the jumpers on our list are stationary.

Naturally, the zaniest-looking jumper was the favorite of our tester babies and therefore won over their parents too. Every tester and parent appreciated the variety of engaging activities and sensory toys that keep a baby entertained. There's a toy piano, a mini bead maze, several kinds of spinning toys and more. You can also set it to say words and phrases in English, Spanish or French. For example, it can name colors in any of the three languages. It plays six songs and, in keeping with Baby Einstein's roots in educational entertainment, they're all classical compositions, including tunes from Beethoven and Vivaldi. FISHER-PRICE BABY BOUNCER JUMPER TOYS - Our baby activity seat bouncer for baby boy and girl embody a deep rooted belief that play is the way children learn best. As the #1 infant and preschool company in the world, we are the only kid brand committed to all the years between 0 and 5. From little moments to big milestones we’re dedicated to helping families throughout every age & stage.

Overall Take

Little ones are instantly enthralled with the different toys, which are placed around the jumper and offer plenty of opportunities to spin, bat and touch the various textures. The overhead toys, as unsightly as they are, help encourage reaching and grasping. Because it’s so engaging, babies are content to play and jump while you get things done around the house. In my experience, this made it worth every penny. I could place my baby in it for 10 to 15 minutes while I did laundry, tidied up or made dinner, and still have him in my sight (and he could see me, too). Set up is easy. We've washed the seat four times – it comes on and off easily. Adjusting the height is a cinch as well." Toys, fun, bouncing, spinning, engaging, and interactive games, all while keeping your baby stationary in a secure location? Brilliant! Parents love activity centers and exersaucers for many reasons. First, they are the perfect and relatively portable place to put your baby while you need to do something and guarantee your baby isn't moving. Need to shower? Get dressed? Take out the garbage? Do some cooking? Activity saucers are perfect for this. Jumpers can be pricey, but this Baby Trend activity center is significantly more affordable than most on the market. And unlike many more expensive products, it has three uses in one: The activity center converts to a play table then a flat table that your child can use as a toddler. We reviewed and selected jumpers based on the following criteria from leading experts, as well as What to Expect community members:

My son loves it. We limit the amount of time he spends jumping and alternate with tummy time and other non-jumping activities. When we take him out of the Jumperoo he looks longingly at it from across the room!" The huge plus of this model is that it converts to a useful preschool table when your baby starts cruising, which means taking steps while holding onto something. The springboard is designed to take the place of the seat, forming a flat tabletop, and the whole thing becomes a great table for coloring, playing with dough and other toddler and preschool activities. There are a few included toys (a spinner ball, rattle, teether and mirror book) although the overall selection is more limited. There are no music options, either, if that’s a feature you’re looking for. Exersaucers and activity centers vary widely in function, quality, and price, making it challenging to find the perfect option for your family! This jumper has a fun ocean theme and a seat that swivels 360 degrees. There are a variety of sea animal toys, including a removable, light-up sea turtle. The jumper has sounds and music, and says colors and numbers in Spanish, French, and English. Four easily adjustable height positions help this jumper grow with your baby. It's also foldable for easier transport or storage.Your mini-marine explorer can embark on a playtime expedition and swivel from toy to toy in the height-adjustable baby bouncer. There's a crab that spins inside a clear ball, a little starfish that holds a self-discovery mirror, an octopus paddle toy, and flash cards with real underwater imagery to boost vocabulary. The removable sea turtle activity center helps your baby discover numbers and colors in 3 languages (English, Spanish, and French). With extra link loops, you can also add your baby's favorite toys. The Baby Einstein has so many activity toys and keeps my almost-6-month-old grandbaby occupied and happy!" Granted, this won't last through preschool like Skip Hop's jumper-to-table (also on our list), but Bounce Bounce Baby becomes a toddler toy table that's useful until about your child's second birthday. Because there are no overhead arches, it has a slightly lower profile than other baby jumpers. We especially like that you can replace the seat with a net that holds toys for your toddler to fish out.

The Jumperoo is a freestanding jumper and activity center combination that babies go crazy for. It has lights and sounds that go off as your baby jumps, and colorful and enticing rainforest-themed toys for your baby to grab at. Your baby can bounce and spin 360 degrees, supported by a steel frame and four pinch-free covered springs. Three height adjustments help you find the right fit for your growing baby. And though it's bulky, this jumper folds up easily so you can move it from room to room or store it.

Recall Details

We referenced product safety guidelines from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The downside? There are no toys or music included, so you’ll need to place your own on the tray. (There are five nylon hoops that allow you to attach toys to the seat.) And for the price, you may prefer to invest in a sturdier model that has more built-in entertainment options. Never let baby sleep in a jumper. If your little one happens to doze off in one of these products, move her to a safe, flat sleeping spot like a crib, bassinet or playard. Instead of having springy cords that hold the seat, this jumper has a springboard on the seat's underside. It moves your baby in a side-to-side motion, like they're surfing — not so much up and down. If you really want your baby to bounce, you might try a different jumper. Space: While very helpful, jumpers can take up quite a lot of space in the home. We chose jumpers of various sizes to work with large and small spaces.

Place it in a clear, open space. "[A jumper] should never be an excuse for leaving a child unattended, and you also want to be sure that nothing is within reach that could be a choking hazard, like window-blind cords or loose items placed on or near the tray," Dr. Hoffman says. An exersaucer gives your baby a secure place to jump, spin, play, observe, and explore while stimulating their senses, motor system, and development.Although it doesn’t have quite as many included toys as the Fisher-Price or Baby Einstein jumpers, this activity center does have a nice selection of activities and the seat rotates 360 degrees so baby can explore all of them. The toys clip on and off, too, so you can move them around. Christina Johns, M.D., a pediatrician and senior medical advisor at PM Pediatrics in Lake Success, New York. When choosing a baby entertainer or baby activity walker, look out for features that can spark your little one’s curiosity. Playful music, flashing lights, mirrors and bright colours stimulate baby’s senses, while entertainers with animal toys or baby walkers with steering wheels can help encourage imaginative play. Bat-at toys, teethers and bead chasers are great for your child’s developing hand-eye coordination and other fine motor skills. Some baby entertainers, like the Fisher-Price jumperoo, feature seats that spin 360˚ so baby has even more to explore. Some parents say the Jumperoo takes up too much space in their living room. Others say the lights, music, and sounds are overstimulating for their baby.