Baby Activity Centers: Reviews

Seated activity centers, also called stationary entertainers, have upright seats surrounded by toys and other items that interest babies who are able to sit up on their own. Among this type of toy, experts say the Graco… Baby Einstein Discover & Play Activity Center covers all the bases: It offers different textures, sounds, colors, music and even languages. This adjustable activity center can be set to three different heights, and its soft seat pad is machine washable. The textured base of this unit provides tactile stimulation for little feet, while the activity center's stable legs keep it safe and steady. Parents say their babies stay captivated in this activity center, which features a swiveling seat that spins 360 degrees to provide easy toy access. The Baby Einstein Discover & Play Activity Center requires three AA batteries to power the sound features, and it comes with a one-year limited warranty.

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Many parents end up buying both a play mat for newborns and a seated activity center for older babies. Some products, like the Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun Active Learning Center, convert from one type to the other,… giving it a longer lifespan. The Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun, a parent favorite on review websites, can function as a play mat for babies up to 4 months old, a seated play station for babies 4 months old through walking, and finally as a play table for babies who are able to walk. On the downside, some parents say the play mat is a little sparse and not very interesting. The Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun requires three AAA batteries to power the music features, and it comes with a 90-day limited warranty.

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Play mats are soft floor mats designed to entertain infants who can't yet sit up on their own. Reviews reveal that Tiny Love's Gymini Super Deluxe Lights and Music is a top choice among parents, who say babies get hours… of enjoyment from this play mat, which has six toys and six separate activities on a 32-by-32-inch soft mat. It's recommended for newborns up to 10 months old. The two plastic arches that cross above this machine-washable play mat display several toys that hang from plastic hooks. These items can be shifted around or even detached for use on other items, such as a car seat or stroller. Parents also say the flashing lights, bold colors and cheerful music quickly enchant babies, and they appreciate that this play gym folds up for easy storage and travel. The Gymini, which requires three AA batteries, has a lifetime warranty.

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The Fisher-Price play gym is smaller than most play mats, but parents like its versatility. This mat features a 21-by-19-inch, machine-washable tummy mat, plus two toy-filled plastic overhead arches. The toys can dangle… from the arches, or you can attach them to the play mat. When your baby can crawl, you can reconfigure the Kick & Crawl Gym as a crawl-through tunnel. Reviewers like this play mat's price tag, but parent opinions on the product are mixed. While many like this item, some find its toys to be uninteresting -- especially for newborns who can't manipulate objects. The Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Gym comes with a one-year limited warranty.

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