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Best Baby Jumpers & Activity Centers for 2021
Explore Baby Jumpers & Activity Centers
BY: HANNAH MARTIN
Introduction
A high-quality, yet cheap baby jumper is one of those essential pieces of equipment that should be on your shopping list when your little one comes along. A top rated baby jumper & activity center gives you your hands back (remember when you didn’t have to balance someone else on your hip?), keeps them occupied, and can even wear out their excess energy.
What’s not to like about baby jumpers?
The biggest hurdle is not figuring out if you want one; it’s deciding which one to buy. With so many options out there, don’t be surprised if you find yourself with a spreadsheet comparing features on baby jumper prices, the safest baby jumpers, and of course the top rated baby jumpers available across the web.
Actually, scratch all that – we’ve done all the hard work for you. Now all you need to do is decide from the following 10 best baby jumpers for 2021.
What is a baby jumper?
A baby jumper is a piece of equipment that is used by small children to get exercise and develop their movement skills. Most baby jumpers also include what is called an “activity center” for your baby. An activity center is essentially toys and visual/textured stimulating items attached to the baby jumper for your baby to play with.
Baby jumpers are also often made using suspenders to keep your baby “floating” in the air so they don’t need to use their full leg muscles to stay standing. The straps on baby jumpers are often elastic to give babies the ability to bounce up and down. This alone will often entertain babies, even without the added toys!
To see some of the best baby jumpers and baby activity centers for 2021 – keep reading!
10 Best Baby Jumpers & Activity Centers
Skip Hop Explore and More 3-Stage Interactive Baby Jumper Activity Center
With so much to look at and do, this top rated baby jumper will keep your baby occupied while you work, do housework, or even (gasp!) relax! This baby jumper has a variety of activities available for your little one to explore that include different shapes, sizes, and textures.
Benefits
This Interactive Baby Jumper Activity Center provides a “whole body” approach to play. It includes four movable toys that enable over 25 developmental activities. It features a 360-degree rotating seat so your baby can learn about cause and effect while working on visual tracking and spatial awareness.
Downsides
Some parents have noted that it doesn’t fold up and is not travel-friendly, so we recommend keeping this baby jumper in place, or in an area where it only needs to be moved around short distances.
Why we love it
This baby jumper activity center grows with your baby, converting from a baby bouncer to a sturdy table as your baby grows. It will likely become one of your most-used toys for when you need to be hands-off and cook dinner, clean up around the house, or just take a second to relax on the couch.
02
Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo Baby Jumper
This is one of the most visually stimulating baby jumper options, with an adorable jungle theme and plenty to look at and play with.
Benefits
This baby jumper is exciting and stimulating for your little one, providing endless fun and learning. And for parents, it’s easy to store, pack up and move, despite looking large due to the frame.
Downsides
A few customers have complained about this seat being uncomfortable for their babies, with some parents even noting that it causes scratches on their babies’ legs and bottoms. However, with over 14,800 positive reviews on Amazon, these issues are definitely in the minority. As long as your baby is wearing some pants, shorts, or has a layer between them and the seat, there is no possibility of scratching.
Why we love it
It’s a great source of entertainment and stimulation for a wriggly little one, not to mention it’s durable, versatile, washable and dryer-safe. These features make this one of the best baby jumpers available online today.
03
Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean Discovery Baby Jumper
Another adorable and colorful jumper, this sea-themed baby jumper seat will keep them bouncing and playing until naptime! The cute add-ons are also removable, so your child can explore different things every day.
Benefits
It’s very reasonably priced, especially considering the number of toys, height positions and learning activities it provides. Baby Einstein makes one of the safest “cheap” baby jumpers out there.
Downsides
It was difficult to find a negative point about this baby jumper – parents and babies seem to love it, plus it’s the cheapest baby jumper on the list so far!
Why we love it
This Nautical Baby Jumper is a win-win: it keeps babies engaged and excited, allowing parents a few minutes to sit down, do chores or even (dare we say it) enjoy a cup of coffee! This product is lauded as such a helpful one that one reviewer even hailed it as being more important to his daughter’s development than any other treatments.
04
Summer Pop ‘N Jump SE Portable Baby Activity Center
If you’re looking for a portable baby jumper to take outside with you, this is one of the best options out there. Featuring a lightweight construction and sleek design, keep your kiddos happy no matter where you go.
Benefits
This portable baby activity center is perfect for days in the backyard, at the beach or visiting friends. Its removable canopy protects your baby from the sun as they play and learn on hotter days. There is also an included cover for your babies’ feet.
Downsides
Buyers have commented that the mat underneath is too slippery for babies to stand properly and that the top sags, offering little support for babies who are new to standing. To counteract this, you can bring a blanket or towel to place on top of the mat to help support your babies’ feet, and easy clean-up if food or juice is spilled.
Why we love it
It’s easy to clean as its soft fabric seat easily removes and is machine washable. It’s comfortable and cost-effective, too! For parents constantly on the go or with messy kids, this is the baby activity center for you.
05
Evenflo Exersaucer Doorway Jumper
If you’re just looking for an option that will keep your baby safe and within your eyesight, while you workout, shower, or do something else that’s only going to take 30 minutes or less, this is a great budget-friendly option.
Benefits
This Doorway Jumper is a great way to supervise your little ones as they build their core strength and leg muscles.
Downsides
It doesn’t come with any toys or learning tools, so your baby will likely start getting fussy as soon as there’s nothing else to keep their attention.
Why we love it
It’s pretty well-reviewed online, with customers saying it’s very secure and safe when properly installed and adjusted.
06
Jolly Jumper Baby Jumper
If your baby can’t stay away from their siblings’ play equipment, this is a great option to ensure they feel involved at playtime.
Benefits
This Standing Jumper can help your baby develop coordination and rhythm, improve balance and strengthen muscles.
Downsides
Like the last jumper, this one is a standalone product and doesn’t offer much as far as entertainment or brain exercises. This jumper has also received some criticism from parents who complained that the chain broke, causing the entire jumper to fall down.
Why we love it
Provided you’re certain it’s assembled properly, this jumper can be a great option if you need a few minutes to sit down and watch your little one bounce.
07
Bright Starts Playful Pinwheels Bouncer
Looking for a bouncer for your littlest one? This baby jumper seat provides a little motion to help keep them entertained or send them off to sleep.
Benefits
Even though it’s bigger than many of its counterparts, this Bouncer is easy to move around. The chair subtly vibrates, soothing your baby to sleep, and it comes with a removable bar with toys, providing hours of fun and learning.
Downsides
Your baby must be able to support their own neck and head before using this bouncer.
Why we love it
It’s affordable, fun, colorful and designed to help your baby grow and learn. It’s also safer than the previous two jumpers with its three-point harness.
08
Baby Einstein Neighborhood Friends Activity Jumper
Another bright and colorful bouncer, this well-reviewed activity jumper is perfect for babies that have started finding their independence!
Benefits
This Activity Jumper features 12 interactive activities with sounds, lights, and songs. It grows with your baby, offering five height-adjustable positions.
Downsides
There have been some comments that the materials feel cheap and flimsy, but these comments seem to come from the minority of customers.
Why we love it
It’s easy to clean, reasonably-priced, well-reviewed and looks great. It also teaches letters and numbers in English, French and Spanish, which is ideal for encouraging multilingual babies!
09
Evenflo Exersaucer Triple Fun Active Learning Center
This is our second jungle-themed baby jumper, and it’s just as great as the first! This one can also be converted into a playmat or activity station.
Benefits
This Activity Center is packed with color, sounds and activities to engage your little explorer’s senses. It can also convert into a playmat or activity station.
Downsides
The price point may be a little high for some parents, especially given how quickly babies grow out of products like these.
Why we love it
It’s great for developing fine and gross motor skills, cause and effect and visual tracking.
10
Fisher-Price Animal Activity Jumperoo
Another well-reviewed baby jumper from Fisher-Price, this one ticks all the boxes for your baby and for you, as it offers a lot at an affordable price point.
Benefits
This Activity Jumper provides 360-degree fun and learning. It features 3 adjustment heights, music and lights, and lots of tactile toys to play with.
Downsides
It has received some feedback stating that it needs wheels, but other than that, it’s well-received (almost 7,000 positive reviews!) in the new-parent market!
Why we love it
It’s easy to disassemble and store and keeps your little one busy learning and jumping. The 360-degree spinning seat is a great feature. It’s also not bulky like many of the other stimulating options on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best baby jumper?
The best-reviewed jumper on this list is probably #3: Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean Discovery Jumper. It’s the most consistently well-reviewed, with parents praising its engaging activities, safe set-up, comfort and value for money, though #10 is a great option, too.
At what age can a baby use a jumper?
Generally, the safest age to introduce a jumper is around 4-6 months. The exact age varies from baby to baby, so it’s important to make sure that your little one can support their neck and head before introducing a jumper.
Are jumpers bad for babies?
While jumper seats can be helpful for parents, they present two concerns. Firstly, most mounted jumpers need to be attached to a door frame or beam, and potential obstructions around the bouncer may cause particularly active babies to hit themselves against the door frame.
The second risk is that any jumper seat can set a baby’s hips in an awkward position, causing them to exercise the wrong leg muscles.
It’s important not to rely too heavily on a jumper as this may delay your baby’s motor development as they become mobile. Experts recommend that parents limit jumper sessions to 15 minutes no more than twice a day.
Can a three-month-old use a baby jumper?
It can be tempting to encourage your baby to stand and walk early on, but three months will probably be too young for most babies. Your baby should be able to support their head and neck, so it’s best to wait until they’re about four months old.
How long can my baby stay in a baby jumper, according to the NHS?
According to the British National Health Service, your baby shouldn’t be in their bouncer seat for any longer than 20 minutes. If you’re looking for a longer-term solution for your little one, see our list of the best baby seats and chairs.
Can baby jumpers cause brain damage?
Some parents are reluctant to use baby jumpers for fear of Shaken Baby Syndrome. This issue can occur from as little as five seconds of vigorous shaking and can cause serious damage. While Shaken Baby Syndrome is extremely dangerous, it’s not generally believed that jumper seats cause this. However, it’s vital to install your jumper seat properly and monitor your baby throughout their exercise sessions.
Are baby jumpers necessary?
For some parents, baby jumpers are a must-have, providing up to 40 minutes of safe, supervised exercise as a parent or caretaker does chores or takes a break each day. Other parents don’t see jumpers as necessary, so it depends on your needs and how busy you are during the day.
Closing thoughts: Is it worth getting a baby jumper?
Giving your baby their own space to explore, learn and grow, while you take a break from the hectic life of being a new parent benefits both parent and child. Provided that you’re aware of when to introduce or phase out these pieces of equipment, there’s no reason not to introduce a baby bouncer or jumper into your little one’s daily movement routine.
