
A baby that gets too excited can swing into a door frame, resulting in a nasty bump on their head. But the opposite can happen if they have an accident while jumping. Baby jumpers are designed to keep your little one entertained and happy. This means they miss out on opportunities to gain strength and coordination. Baby gear can keep them busy for a while, but it doesn’t require their muscles to work as hard. When your baby is on the floor, they can use their muscles without assistance to move and get stronger. The best place for your baby to use their muscles is free! It's on the floor. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that babies who spend too much time in confining gear like car seats, strollers, swings, and bouncy seats can experience delayed motor development.įree baby gym. Most experts recommend leaving your baby in their jumper for only 10 to 15 minutes at a time, no more than twice a day.

How long to play? It can be tempting to leave your bouncing baby in the jumper while you do a quick workout or some chores. Consumer Protection Safety Commission says it's safe to use jumpers/bouncers until any of these happen: your baby reaches 5 months of age, starts to roll over, or wants to pull themselves up using the sides of the toy. Most manufacturers give their jumpers a weight limit of 25 to 30 lbs, or until your baby can walk. Generally, your baby can start using the jumper when they can hold their head up strongly and independently. Every child is different and develops at a different rate. There’s no hard-and-fast rule about the exact time your baby can use a jumper. Be certain it’s in safe and working condition before you place your little one inside. Do your due diligence and inspect all parts of the jumper.

Sometimes baby gear like jumpers can come second-hand. If the jumper is suspended from a door frame, make sure it fits your doorframe properly. Jumpers that keep the legs open can put pressure on their hips and can cause problems in hip development.Ĭheck with the manufacturer to make sure the jumper size is right for your baby. Your baby is developing every minute and playtime is no exception.Īny jumper, also known as a bouncer, should keep your baby’s legs in a natural, relaxed position. The baby gear you choose shouldn’t put any pressure on your baby’s spine. What are the most important things to look for? There are so many products out there, each boasting its own claims of both brain stimulation and safety. The amount of baby gear out there can be overwhelming for parents. But when is the right age for them to start jumping and how long should they do it for? Shopping for a Baby Jumper And finally, simple board games and activities like dominoes and memory cards are also fun for preschoolers.Baby jumpers can be a great tool to keep your baby entertained and happy, freeing up your hands for other tasks while they get their energy out.

With more control over their fine motor skills, art supplies like paints and brushes, markers and other similar items can also be a big hit. Pretend play props, like costumes, a tea set or construction tools encourage role-playing. "If your child already has wooden blocks, consider expanding the set with new block types like turrets, arches and cylinders to spark their building play. " The best toys at this age include construction toys that allow them to build and problem-solve - think about plastic interlocking blocks, gear toys, domino runs, magnet tiles and other similar choices," Parlakian recommends.

Tasks that require planning ahead and better motor skills will keep them interested and occupied and help exercise their new abilities and interests. They're also going to being questioning more about the world around them, explains Rebecca Parlakian, M.A., E.D., a parenting expert from Zero to Three, an organization that focuses on kid development during the early years. Most 4-year-olds are eager to try their hand at problem solving or experiment with new tasks that require a greater attention span that will keep them occupied for longer than the usual 15 minutes. Now's the time to encourage them to look into new interests and incorporate learning with play. Your little ones will be eager to learn, experiment, try new things and understand more about the world around them. Once you've got a 4-year-old on your hands, you've left toddlerhood behind and are entering preschool age, but that doesn't mean there aren't a slew of cool toys to entertain them with.
