Which jumperoo to buy

Photo by 5footcloset. Jumpers come in two versions: Doorway jumpers have straps that clamp to the top of the doorway. They take up less space, but can be inconvenient if you need to walk through said doorway on a regular basis.

Tip: If your house has really wide moldings or other unusual features, doorway jumpers might not work with them. Freestanding jumpers are all-in-one structure with straps that attach the jumping portion to built-in rods. They can be placed anywhere in the house, but they tend to take up more room.

Add to Babylist Buy Now. Additional Specs Child Guidelines Recommended up to The freshest in parenting this week, delivered to your inbox. Baby jumpers are delightful for infants, who love the chance to jump and bounce on their own while their parents get a break.

But parents may wonder when their baby can use a jumper, when babies learn to jump, and even if a jumper will help their baby walk sooner. Read on for answers and the BabyCenter Love It Award winners for the best baby jumpers, based on recommendations from parents in the BabyCenter Community, plus our editors' research and experience. 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 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. 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. He goes totally bonkers in it, jumping and squealing.

He only usually lasts for 15 to 20 minutes in it, but do you know how long that is in Mom time? We've washed the seat four times — it comes on and off easily.

Adjusting the height is a cinch as well. 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! Like the Jumperoo, this jumper incorporates toys and music into your baby's jumping fun. The theme is travel, and the Baby Einstein has colorful features designed to introduce your baby to different places and languages, including a globe that lights up and plays international music.

Your baby can spin degrees for a full around-the-world experience. This jumper folds up for easier portability. He hasn't quite figured out how to spin around yet, but he's intrigued by every element of it. The wood is attractive, but not as sturdy as thick plastic or metal. The wood runs the risk of bending or even breaking. The toys are cute and definitely entertaining, but some of them just might be able to move around and whack baby in the face if they get too close.

Finally, this seat sits up very tall. That was almost a deal-breaker for me, but then I looked at how cute it was and all the other pros, and I was willing to overlook this. The Graco Doorway Bumper Jumper is a really good choice for a doorway jumper. Like I talk about at the end of this article, door jumpers are somewhat frowned upon. Kids hurt themselves on doorway jumpers. This jumper takes care of most of those problems, but still, exercise caution!

Once baby is big and coordinated enough to reach the end of the tray and grab it, watch out for those little fingers! The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.

Baby jumpers have been around for ages. You can find a bunch of varieties in a wide array of price points. The first kind of baby jumper is the fixed seat kind that stands alone.

These are by far the most common. These jumpers have a seat and tray that are fixed in place, and then that whole assembly is usually suspended by cords or springs of some kind. It is these springs, combined with small movements, that provide big bounces for baby. The second kind of baby jumper is also a stand-alone jumper with a balance element.

These are a lot harder to find, but they do exist. These baby jumpers rely on your baby to provide the bounce more than the springs. The last kind of baby jumper is a baby doorway jumper. This kind of baby jumper usually has a harnessed seat system that is attached to a large spring. This whole assembly can then be attached to a doorway. There are even some like this that can be attached to a frame or an old swing frame. These are great for saving space and rely on that big spring to get baby going up and down.

They make big jumpers and compact jumpers. Some can fit against a wall, while others need a few inches of clearance all the way around. Consider how much space you have and where your jumper will live before you buy. Read the dimensions before buying!

Not all seats are created equal. Some are made for thin babies, some for chunky ones. I mention this because both my babies have what I like to call healthy thighs. Not all baby thighs will fit in the same leg holes! And a nice sketchy material will help baby stay comfy. So will proper adjustment of the seat height. This will be a matter of personal preference.

You may like brighter, louder toys than other parents. Just remember that any toy your baby plays with should have some kind of educational value.

Think bright colors, shapes, and patterns. Any toy that teaches cause and effect, like toys with levers or buttons, is great. Use your child as your guide and choose well. I know you think the doorway jumpers are cool. And I do too. But they are so unsafe. Besides that, just make sure that your jumper is constructed well.

It should have sturdy and safe plastic and metals that are free from harmful substances. No springs should be exposed. And no toys should be small enough to choke on. Is it just a jumper, or maybe something else too? And while I picked a jumper with maximum versatility, there are options out there that are versatile, but more subtly so. For example, many jumpers have toys that can detach and be played with outside the jumper, so you are getting more use for your money. Find more versatile and unique baby products on our popular list.

It can be tempting to pay a lot of money for something that you think is good. And the shiny toys and loud music can help you justify the price tag. But keep in mind that a jumper will only have s life of about 6 months, so paying an exorbitant amount of money is just silly. Why we love it: It has a much longer lifespan than your average bouncer, so it really works hard for its slightly higher price tag, making it our Gold award-winner.

And it has fun features — the light-up foot piano was a particular favourite with our testers and once it has changed into a drawing table, the chalkboard was a big hit with our toddler reviewers. It comes with an additional suction snack bowl, a cute extra.

What it is: A musical electronic activity jumper with 3 height settings, removable play tray and degree rotating seat. Comes with a number of moving and sound toys. Why we love it: A multifunctional jumper, the Red Kite Baby Go Round Jumparound Peppermint Trail matches the functionality of many other products on our list, but goes one better with its price — half the cost of most on the market, it offers exceptional value for what it delivers.

Available from: Red Kite and Kiddies Kingdom. What it is: An activity centre with 3 height settings, folding legs and a spinning seat that converts into a fun stand-and-play activity table. Comes with 6 detachable toys with light-up buttons and musical effects.

Why we love it: The animal characters are very cute and chunky and our mini testers loved the rolling toys. It folds up nice and small too and our testers were big fans of its premium feel and bargain price. The quality of the attachments and toys are perfect.

Available from: Amazon.