Clicky

11 Best Baby Activity Centers 2022

If you are looking for a top-rated baby activity center or exersaucer, you are probably looking forward to having your baby engaged with toys, bouncing items, spinning items, and interactive games. I know this as I have been there but it will surprise you that I knew very little about activity centers a few years ago.

Before we review the safest activity centers you should consider, let’s first look at some basics. If you’d like to jump straight to our list, click here.

What is a baby activity center?

A baby activity center is a saucer or a table that acts as a support for the baby’s gym. Babies of six months or older can start using an activity center to sit and can get to play with toys and entertain themselves by listening to music and sounds.

Below is an image of a baby activity center showing a baby seated and having fun.

What is a baby activity center

I was in my best friend’s baby shower when I got to know about baby activity centers. One mum who had gotten a Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo as a baby shower gift went on to explain how it was going to enable my friend to have her hands back. At that time, I didn’t appreciate much how much of a relief it would be to get the baby fully engaged and not needing the mummy’s attention.

Baby Activity Centers Age

Wondering which age your baby can start using an activity center?

Baby activity centers are recommended to be used when your baby reaches the age of 6 months. Your baby can use the exersaucer until the age of 18 months. Before 6 months, you’d need to play gym for your baby.

You should, however, note that baby activity centers are not considered or associated with any baby’s developmental stage. It is considered a gear of convenience and we went on to ask 6 parents about the most ideal age for the baby activity center. We found two of the parents indicating that they started using the activity center when the baby attained the age of 4 months. In other words, 33% of the parents had used it earlier than our recommended age.

A lot of research and development efforts (and $$) have been put by experts and companies to make the most engaging baby activity centers to enable your baby to get fully engaged when you want them to be.

Unlike toys, activity centers have add-on features that allow your baby to bounce, sit, sway and explore any environment with a smile that will get you excited about being a parent. Of course, you’ll get the smile because you won’t need to hold your baby to have them be quiet, letting you do other things – parent activities such as filing your taxes or voting wisely in the next local, state, or national election.

Overall Best Baby Activity Center: Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo is our overall best baby activity center in 2022 as it scored well in all the four ranking factors we used to rank activity centers on this list. It is a product of a trusted brand that has been manufacturing baby products in North America for several decades. Aside from scoring well when compared to others on this list, this center also provides excellent exercise and stimulation that are perfect for your baby’s development.

$119.99  in stock
2 new from $105.00
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of September 4, 2023 8:00 am

Our Top Exersaucers List in 2022

The table below shows all our top 10 activity centers you can find in 2022:

NameRating as of 2022Price on Amazon
#1. Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo4.8/5 Check price
#2. Skip Hop Explore Activity Center 4.8/5 Check price
#3. Evenflo Jump and Learn Exersaucer 4.7/5 Check price
#4. Baby Einstein Activity Jumper 4.8/5 Check price
#5. Evenflo Triple Fun Active Learning Center 4.7/5 Check price
#6. Oribel Porta Play 4 in 1 Foldable Travel Activity Center 4.7/5 Check price
#7. Delta Children 3-in-1 Activity Center 4.7/5 Check price
38. Pidoko Kids Deluxe Baby Activity Center4.5/5 Check price
#9. Bright Starts 3-in-1 Activity Center 4.7/5Check price
#10. Tiny Love 4-in-1 Activity Center 4.6/5Check price
#11. Storkcraft 3-in-1 Activity Walker & Rocker 4.7/5Check price

Reviews of our Top Baby Activity Centers

1. Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo is our overall best activity center in 2022 and it came top on this list because of its excellent simulation. It provides good exercise for muscle development and over 10,000 parents that have reviewed it on Amazon have given it an average of 4.7/5 (as of 2021).

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo Sales Jan - Feb 2020.JPG

As of this update in 020, Fisher-Price Jumperoo is among the best-selling jumpers on Amazon (competing closely with Animal Wonders Jumperoo) and we couldn’t agree more. According to Helium10 data, Fisher-Price ships about 3,343 units of this exersaucer on Amazon per month.

Having tried other activity centers with my kids, there are several reasons I’d recommend Fisher-Price’s Rainforest Jumperoo. You’ll find it very easy to assemble and its vibrant colors and features will keep your baby entertained for a long time. This great toy will get your baby super active as it is able to get your little one to build strengths in the entire body, from the neck, back, core to the legs. To get your baby fully engaged, the seat swivels 360 degrees giving your baby the opportunity to see everything in the room, including the toy’s features.

While this activity center is built to be sturdy and safe for babies, it is also lightweight and is designed for infants from age 4 months to 12.

Here is a short video showing this exersaucer:

Why we like it: It is manufactured by a trusted brand name and it provides excellent baby muscle exercise and development. Editor Rating: 9/10

Here are the specs:

  • Weight: 15 lbs
  • 31” x 32” x 32”
  • Max weight: 25lbs
  • Requires batteries
  • Suitable for babies 6+ months

The table shows the features and specifically why I included we included in our top activity centers in the market:

NameFisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
To considerMade by a trusted brand and have excellent muscle development and simulation features
Date released to the marketMarch 20, 2019
Item weight18 lbs
Why we includedIt is great in assisting your baby to build their neck, back, core, and legs strength. Its seat also swivels a full 360 degrees allowing babies the entire room
Amazon rating4.8/5 stars in 16,000+ reviews

2. Skip Hop Explore

Skip Hop Explore

Skip Hop Explore is our second best baby activity center in 2022, Skip Hop Explore is the best-selling toddler table on Amazon. This activity center comes in a grey and white seat and a white table which lets the baby rotate at a 360-degrees angle.

Skip Hop Explore was designed with the support of leading pediatricians with a keen focus on creating a durable activity center with a unique lower foot keyboard that your baby can play at all levels.

NameSkip Hop Explore
Age recommendationFrom 4 months age
Dimensions (LxWxH): 31 x 31 x 18.5 Inch; 79 x 79 x 47 cm
Why We like it360-degree rotation and several 25+ developmental activities
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon (Oct 23, 2019)4.8/5 stars in 11,000+ reviews
ColorWhite table and grey-white seat
Weight 6.8 Kg

3. Evenflo ExerSaucer Jump and Learn Jumper

Evenflo ExerSaucer Jump and Learn Jumper is our third best activity center that you can get for your baby. It is made of polyester and made it to this list specifically for its several 58 learning activities that your toddler will really like.

This activity center can be used by girls or boys and while it is a few dollars more expensive than Skip Hop Explore, Evenflo is (in May 2021), the 26th best-selling Baby Doorway Jumpers on Amazon.

Name Evenflo ExerSaucer Jump and Learn Jumper
Age recommendation Birth to 3 Months
Dimensions 9.8 x 23.2 x 28.9 inches
Why We like itSeveral fun activities, 50+
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon4.7/5 stars in 2,000+ reviews
ColorComes in three colors, Jungle Quest (green) Jam Session (white and black), and Safari Friends (White and green)
Weight22.2 pounds

4. Baby Einstein Activity Jumper

Baby Einstein activity jumper is one of the jumpers that made it to our list of top activity centers. It is a fairly priced center for your baby, selling at a price close to that of Skip Hop Explore we reviewed above.

NameBaby Einstein Activity Center
Weight recommendationup to 25 pounds
Dimensions30.5 x 33 x 29 inches
Why We like itSeat swivels 360 degrees so baby can choose activities; 3 entertaining activity stations & 12+ activities
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon4.8/5 stars in 3,000+ reviews
Colormulti-colored
Weight9.06 pounds

5. Evenflo Triple Fun Active Learning Center

Evenflo Triple Fun Active Learning Center made it to our overall list of best activity centers you can find in the market. It is made of plastic and is manufactured abroad, not American-made. Over 900 parents had rated it 4.3/5 in May 2021 and for less than $150, you can get your baby this machine-washable-pad activity center. You can choose from two options of dark-green and light-green colors.

NameEvenflo Triple Fun Active Learning Center
Age recommendation
Dimensions30 x 30 x 31.5 inches
Why We like it3-position height adjustment grows with baby seat locks in multiple positions
Removable, machine-washable pad; 360-degree spin
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon4.7/5 stars in 1,300+ reviews
Colordark-green and light-green
Weight21.6 pounds

6. Oribel PortaPlay 4-in-1 Foldable Travel Activity Center

Oribel Portaplay is a highly rated activity center, rated 4.7/5, that made it to this list of best activity centers. Oribel is Amazon’s Choice product and comes in three colors; green, grey, and combo.

Oribel PortaPlay 4-in-1
Oribel PortaPlay 4-in-1

One of the features that make this play center suitable for traveling parents is the fact that it is foldable and light.

The table below has more features:

NameOribel PortaPlay 4-in-1 Foldable Travel Activity Center
Age recommendation5 months to 5 years
Dimensions26.8 x 26.8 x 18.1 inches
Why We like itFoldable
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon4.7/5 stars in 400+ reviews
Color
Weight13.23 pounds

7. Delta Children 3-in-1 Activity Center: Bouncer activity center for baby

Delta Children’s 3-in-1 activity center made it to this list of top baby activity centers in 2022. This activity center is designed and manufactured by Delta Children, a renowned manufacturer of children’s products founded in 1967. This activity center made it to this list specifically because of its adjustable height and can serve as a baby walker and as well as a jumper and as an activity center. Check out these top baby walkers we reviewed here.

The three height adjustment levels allow this activity center to grow with your baby

The table below summarizes the features and specifications of this activity center:

Name Delta Children Lil’ Play Station 3-in-1 Activity Walker
Age recommendation For children weighing up to 25 pounds and up to 30 Inches
Dimensions 25.98 Inches x 29.53 Inches x 25.2 Inches
Why We like itYour baby has 4 ways to play with this activity center as it can easily be converted from baby walker to rocker, stationary activity center, or bouncer. It is also a machine-washable seat pad.
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon (Oct 23, 2019)4.5/5 stars in 100+ reviews
Color Blue/Green
Weight 14.5  pounds

8. Pidoko Kids Deluxe Baby Activity Center

Pidoko Kids is recognized for its wide range of products that include the finest selection of wooden toys and kids’ furniture. Their Deluxe Baby Activity Center is rated as the best under the sea baby activity center in the market today. It comprises several fun activities, peek-a-boo doors, rides on curvy wires, match & spin animals, as well as pound drum and musical note xylophone. I also love the removable and reversible design top with Bead Maze. All these activities help promote your child’s hand-eye coordination while improving learning skills.

NamePidoko Kids Deluxe Baby Activity Center
Age recommendation24 months and up
Dimensions13.8 x 13.4 x 14.6 inches
Why We like itInteractive marine life activities
Date released to the marketAugust 1, 2018
Current rating on Amazon4.5/5 stars in 100+ reviews
Color 3
Weight13 pounds
8. Pidoko Kids Deluxe Baby Activity Center

Buy on Amazon here

If you want your baby to interact with the sea, Disney Baby Finding Nemo Sea of Activities Jumper is yet another good option.

9. Bright Starts 3-in-1 Around We Go Activity Center

If you are looking for the best walk-around baby activity centers, Bright Starts got your needs covered. Recommended for babies 6 to 36 months old, it entertains your little one with 15 activities to keep their curiosity occupied with silly sounds and music as you handle other chores. I admire the removable walker seat that allows it to grow with your baby plus the ability to rotate all-around the activity center. It is the ideal alternative to traditional walkers.

NameBright Starts 3-in-1 Around We Go Activity Center
Age recommendationup to ‎25 pounds
Dimensions‎37 x 22 x 25 inches
Why We like itBest walk-around
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon4.7/5 stars in 4,400+ reviews
Color 3
Weight‎20.1 pounds
9. Bright Starts 3-in-1 Around We Go Activity Center

Buy on Amazon here

10. Tiny Love 4-in-1 Here I Grow Mobile Activity Center: For Small Spaces

This 4-in-1 activity center from Tiny Love is yet another great product that you will cherish. It comes with more than 20 activities that help your 6+ months old learn the 7 developmental wonders he needs while growing. I love the safety lock option on the wheels that allows your baby to swivel around while exploring. If unlocked, they can push it to practice walking. The activity center is easy to clean and is available in three colors, including Tiny Princess which is ideal for your baby girl. Others are Meadow Days and Magical Tales.

NameTiny Love 4-in-1 Here I Grow Mobile Activity Center
Age recommendation6 kg to 15 kg
Dimensions‎7.63 x 28.5 x 24.5 inches
Why We like itCompact size
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon4.6/5 stars in 5,200+ reviews
Color3
Weight‎13.14 pounds
10. Tiny Love 4-in-1 Here I Grow Mobile Activity Center: For Small Spaces

Buy on Amazon here

11. Storkcraft 3-in-1 Activity Walker and Rocker 

Storkcraft has been making quality baby products for more than 70 years now which has improved their reliability over the years. Their fun and interactive 3-in-1 activity center come with a toy tray, rocking feature, and jumping board that offers your little one a great interactive experience. You can even convert it into a feeding tray, and it features 3-position adjustable heights. I also love the 360-degree swivel that allows your little one to reach toys hassle-free.

Storkcraft is the winner of the 2021 & 2022 Women’s Choice Awards.

NameStrokcraft 3-in-1 Activity Walker and Rocker
Age recommendation5 months to 5 years
Dimensions17.3 x 25.8 x 29.1 inches
Why We like itFoldable
Date released to the market
Current rating on Amazon4.7/5 stars in 2,000+ reviews
Color4
Weight‎12.59 pounds
11. Storkcraft 3-in-1 Activity Walker and Rocker 

Buy on Amazon here

During my review, I found Summer Pop N’ Jump Portable Activity Center as another great activity center for baby options. I also loved the VATOS Tummy Time Baby Water Play Mat Toys which is an incredible inflatable sensory toy gift for your little one during his or her early development of tummy time.

Experts' Take on Best Exersaucer
Recently a mom asked me about what I thought about Exersaucer and a lot of parents are asking me this question. So today I thought I’d put together a video on the good and not so good points about exersaucer so you can decide whether or not
this is a toy that you want to purchase for your baby. I’ll also give you my professional opinion as an occupational therapist on what I think about this toys.
But before we do, make sure you click on that free PDF document in the description box below which covers the developmental milestones you can be expecting for your little one in their first year of life.
This will give you an invaluable peace of mind as you’ll know what to be expecting and when to be concerned.
Also, if you want to make parenting significantly easy and make sure you start now by subscribing to my channel and hitting that bell
where you’ll learn the tips and tricks I’ve learned over the last 10 years practicing as a pediatric occupational therapist and being a mom to two children. So let’s start with the good points about exersausers.
Firstly, it gives us as parents a much needed break, in that you can place your baby in a self contained toy where we know they can’t escape and it’s gonna provide them with some stimulation in regards to their fine motor play.
This brings me on to the second reason parents love exersausers and that is because babies tend to really enjoy being in one,
and that’s because there lots of toys surrounding them when they in this piece of equipment so they can interact and engage with it.
Generally though I find babies are interacting and engaging with any toy and love any experience, so it’s not necessarily the exersausers that they’re enjoying, it’s the toys that they have access to.
The third reason it’s good, easy, busy, safer option than a baby walker. So baby walkers have been shown to be extremely dangerous for babies and if you want to know more details about that then you can check out my video on baby walkers.
But exersausers were developed in response to the dangers associated with a baby walker.
So the difference between these two pieces of equipment is that the baby when they’re in an exersaucer are unable to move around
so it’s a stationary toy that they’re in, whereas the baby walker they can stand in it and then they walk around really, really quickly and get access to things that they shouldn’t necessarily have access to.
And the last thing parents tend to love about exersausers is that they have multiple uses. So some of the exersausers now can be used as a baby gym. So you take off the toys and then you use those to assemble a baby gym, then as they get older becomes the exersausers and then as they become older again and they’re able to walk around, it becomes a station really play table that they can walk around and engage in.
So the not so good points about exersausers is it does not help your baby’s fine motor or gross motor development, it is not going to teach them how to stand up and or walk. And it doesn’t help in progressing their fine motor skills or their ability to use their hands to engage and interact with toys.
In fact, if exersausers are overused, they can result in developmental delays in their fine and gross motor skills. And that is because when we place babies in exersaucer, they are not yet able to stand upright.
That’s why using exersaucer in the first place rather than a stationary activity playstation.
So when your baby is placed in this piece of equipment what they do is they lock their knees because their legs aren’t strong enough yet to hold their body upright.
And then they lean forward at the hips and then they extend their tummy out.
And that’s so that the slung seat can support their tummy so they’re kind of basically leaning into the piece of equipment in the seat.
And then to use their hands, they have to push their back backwards and then they have to put their head behind their hips.
If you can imagine this is not the position we want babies to be in when we’re trying to teach them to stand.
If they are in that position, they’re going to fall over.
But they don’t because they’re in an exersaucer where the slung seat is essentially holding them in this position.
The other thing you’ll notice when your baby’s in this piece of equipment is that they start to point their toes and with prolonged use
this can encourage shortening of those calf muscles, which would then result in a baby who is starting to kind of toe walk, so walk on their toes which is extremely difficult to do.
The other thing is when you’re looking with the exersaucer, the toys that are on the exersaucer are ones that your baby kind of bats or kind of spins, they aren’t toys that they can take off necessarily that a small in shape
So we want them to start using those three fingers to engage and interact with toys at the age
that you generally be expecting a baby in an exersaucer and the other thing that we want them to develop at this age
is the ability to release and drop toys.So if it’s a stationary toy and they can’t pick it up
and drop it, then it is not going to encourage that by motor development.
Also you’ll notice when your babies in the exersaucer, they tend to stand briefly
and then they kind of collapse into a sitting position because their legs aren’t yet able to hold them upright
and then they extend their legs again, they’re not maintaining that standing position. And then also with the exersausers
there’s that encouragement of jumping.
So jumping means that they will start to kind of point their toes, which will encourage that shortening of the calf muscles and then potentially toe walking in the future as well.
Now babies are at higher risk of developing these delays and complications if the equipment is being overused.
There is no agreed upon time that is safe to use an exersaucer so that it won’t cause these developmental delays,
I’ve read anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes is the recommendation from some physio therapist and that’s for a maximum of once a day. So your baby would technically only be using
this piece of equipment once a day and for a very short period of time.
Now, considering a baby should only use these pieces of equipment once a day,
for a really short period of time, I actually think it’s actually a really expensive piece of equipment.
So in US or Australia, you can buy it for 150 to $300 and that is generally the exersauser that are the three in one.
So it’s the baby playgym, then it’s the exersauser and then it’s a stationary activity playstation.
But $300 is a lot of money, and I personally think having a baby and all their toys is really expensive anyway.
So I would rather spend that 300 or $150 towards a piece of equipment such as a high chair
that I know a baby is going to use for a long period of time.
So I’m talking years they’re going to be using a high chair. So I would rather spend the money on that,
than a piece of equipment that they’re only gonna use for a short period of time
and has the risk of causing developmental delays if it is overused.
So parents you now know the good and not so good points about exersausers and you can make that decision on whether or not
an exersaucer is something you want to purchase for your baby.
Make sure you click on that free PDF document in the description box below
and hopefully I’ll see you next week, where I’ll sharing more parenting tips and tricks.

How to Choose the Perfect Activity Center for your Baby

Here are the 5 most important things you should look for when picking an activity center for your little one:

Child Guidelines
Go for the activity center with clear guidelines on age, weight limit, and size to ensure your little one is within them. This helps prevent injuries.
Safety
Double-check how secure the activity center’s seat is, how well it protects your child from pinches, the stability of the base, as well as activities that are appropriate for his or her age. Make sure that the activity center is made using BPA free material as well.
Educational Features
Choose for activity centers that keep your baby stimulated such as toys to pull, knobs to push/pull/twist, a range of textures, as all these help in your baby’s development. If it makes sounds naturally, the better.
Conversion
Select activity centers that come with different conversion settings that can be customized based on your child’s age, height, and abilities while progressing according to your child development needs.
Durability
Look for activity centers that provide longevity of use by using high-quality materials that do not break easily when your child plays with them. That plus conversion gives you excellent value for your money.

Where to buy the best activity center for baby

If you live in NZ, the UK, or any other region, you can find baby activity centers on Amazon the links shared in the review section above. There are also others on sale in other online shops such as Target, Walmart, Buy Buy Baby, among others.

Best Baby Activity Centers - 10BabyGear List 2020 for Pinterest publication

How We Ranked the Best Baby Activity Centers

To arrive at our list of top 10 activity centers that you can choose from, we used the following factors to rank each of the centers on our list:

  1. Activity Center Safety and Stability: We always have safety as our number one consideration for any baby gear we recommend to parents. This factor, safety, and stability weighed more than 20% of our overall ranking and we strongly advise that you look out for brands with a good safety reputation. Don’t take a chance with your baby.
  2. Age Appropriateness and Adaptability: We considered age appropriateness of difference centers and those that grow with your child scored better than those only suited for a specific age.
  3. Center Features: Different centers come in different styles and themes. Those with additional functionalities and features such as bouncing scored better than stationary ones.
  4. Pricing
  5. Padding

FAQs on Baby Activity Centers