Best Activity Centers for Babies 2019
Best Activity Centers for Babies 2019
Keep older babies and toddlers entertained with these all-in-one fun zones.
Babies ages six to 12 months are like little scientists, constantly investigating their environments and testing cause and effect.
Activity centers give curious tots a bunch of things to explore—textures, movements, sights and sounds—and can keep your little one occupied long enough for you to load the dishwasher or make a phone call.
Around six months old is a good time to upgrade your baby from an activity mat on the floor to a seated activity center, where they can swivel the chair around and put toes to the floor.
Activity centers come with toys and objects that encourage babies to practice eye-hand coordination and the pincher grasp. Babies can reach for items, open and close flaps, spin wheels and work levers. Some centers last a bit longer by converting to play tables for toddlers too.
Let your little Einstein loose on these entertaining options:
Streamlined Fun
Both parents and babies fall fast for this modern activity center. Children can’t get enough of the swiveling, swaying objects and the electronic keyboard that lights up and plays songs when they hit it with their hands or feet. The foot platform is height adjustable so your tyke’s toes are always able to touch and push off (think: a bit of bouncing action). Grownups appreciate the activity center’s cheery, but not too bright colors, and that it converts to a small table for later.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 4 months-4 years (for the table) |
| Dimensions | 31” x 31” x 18.5” |
| Includes | 6 detachable toys and activities |
Travel Ready
Similar to the Skip Hop activity center, the PortaPlay enthralls tots with toys that flip, squeak and spin. And, it can also be used as an activity table—for when your baby starts cruising (taking steps while holding onto furniture)—or a play table for bigger kids. But its small size and fast-fold legs make it easy to tote to grandma’s or fold flat to stow away.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | As an activity center: ages 5 months to 12 months. As a play table: up to 5 years |
| Dimensions | 26.8” x 26.8” x 18.1” |
| Includes | 6 detachable toys and activities |
Bouncing Fun
This popular Fisher-Price activity center encircles baby with lots of stimulating toys. (Don’t worry, the seat rotates 360 degrees so baby won’t get frustrated.) But what makes it different from other activity centers is it’s also a jumper that rewards your child’s every bounce with music and lights. Consider it baby’s best workout!
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | For children up to 25 lbs |
| Dimensions | 32” x 43.1” x 37” |
| Includes | A bat-at butterfly & toucan, giraffe with spinner-bead neck, froggy teether, lion slider & more |
Best for Siblings
When baby number two comes along it can be challenging to find things both kids can do together. But Bright Starts’ unique design encourages siblings to join the hands-on exploration. Unlike other activity centers that put your baby in the center with a circle of toys surrounding them, this one puts the toys in the middle and your baby on the outside. Baby will sit in their attached seat and navigate the perimeter of the table to get their hands on engaging objects. And while they’re on one side, their sibling can happily play on the other (read: no fighting over toys). Later when your little one is able to stand, you can detach the seat and use it as an activity table.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 4 months to walking age (up to 25 lbs or 30” tall); as a table: up to 5 years |
| Dimensions | 27.9” x 13.7” x 21.7” |
| Includes | 15 toys and activities |
Early Start
“Fun from the start”: That’s the theme of this activity center. It includes a playmat to use for children as young as four months old. Once your kiddo can sit upright, the Exersaucer transforms into an activity center with a seat that bounces, rocks and spins to reach a full circle of developmentally appropriate toys. The legs have three different height adjustments to grow with your child, and the whole thing transforms into an S-shaped play table for toddlers.
Additional Specs
| Child Guidelines | Ages 4 months to walking age |
| Dimensions | 30” x 25” x 30” |
| Includes | 11 toys and activities |
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