Baby activity centres - or 'centers', if you're in the US - are becoming increasingly popular purchases for parents around the world.
They offer huge amounts of fun for babies and toddlers, learning development benefits and some even provide a safe place for Baby to stay and play while you use to toilet or do a few chores around the house for five minutes.
But what exactly is a baby Activity centre? Over the course of this guide, we'll explain what a baby activity centre is, the different types, and things to consider when buying one.
And, we'll bring you our 10 favourite baby activity centres.
Table Of Contents
Our top picks for the best baby activity centres
Best overall activity centre
Skip Hop Explore & More Baby's View 3-Stage Activity Center
Best activity chair
Baby Einstein Neighbourhood Friends Activity Jumper
Best activity table
Manhattan Toy Double-Decker Celestial Star Explorer Wooden Activity Center
What is a baby activity centre?
It's entirely possible that a lot of people will picture different things when they think of an activity centre. That's because activity centres are the broad name given to a range of products designed to keep your child entertained while aiding baby's development.
They range from a bouncing activity chair (also known as 'jumparoos') and a fixed seated activity chair to a play table or a play mat for floor play. On top of those, some baby walkers have been called activity centres, as well as small play cubes.
While they may vary in shape, size and function, all of the best baby activity centres have something in common - plenty of fun things than kids love to play with for hours on end. There's usually musical toys (whether they're mini instruments like rattles or electronic keyboards), plenty of colour and even detachable toys so baby can continue the fun away from the activity centre.
The great thing is that the various toys are designed to develop things like sensory skills and fine motor skills, particularly hand eye coordination.
Types of baby activity centres
There are three main types of activity centres. Let's take a look at each of them in a bit more detail.
There are two types of baby activity chairs. Because of the position it holds your baby's legs, it is recommend that you do not allow your baby to use activity chairs for longer periods.
Bouncing activity chair
Probably the more common of the two, a bouncing activity chair might be more commonly known as a 'jumparoo', while plenty of parents just call them a 'bouncer'.
They typically have a centre seat for baby, surrounded by a range of toys on a console. The seat itself is attached to a large frame by (usually) four stretchy, springy ropes or cord, which allows them bounce.
Static seated activity centre
The same concept without giving baby the ability to bounce around. As a result, they tend to take up less space because it doesn't require a large frame to support the bouncing motion. Many will often allow the seat to swivel around so that baby can play with all areas of the play station.
Some sit on wheels allowing your baby to walk around, which is perhaps why baby walkers are sometimes called activity centres. However, these 'sit-in' walkers are not recommended by healthcare professionals due to the high number of related injuries suffered by babies in the US.
An activity table usually has a (roughly) square play station packed full of toys, bright lights, songs and music sitting on four legs. Because they're on legs, they are often called a toddler play table or toddler activity table.
They're not exclusively for toddlers, however. Plenty of activity tables have detachable legs that allow babies to enjoy lots of floor play. Most parents will then attach the legs when their baby is showing signs of learning how to pull themselves up and walking.
A play mat is quite different from a baby activity table or chair. Typically suitable from birth they're a soft, flexible play mats with two arches that allow soft toys (and usually a mirror) to dangle down.
Plenty of parents also use their play mat to encourage tummy time.
The 10 best baby activity centres, tables and chairs
Let's take a look at our 10 favourite baby activity centres.
1. Skip Hop Explore & More Baby's View 3-Stage Activity Center
Editor's Review
“I would do it again! Our LO grew out of it quicker than we anticipated, but he is a bigger kid. We love that it transformed with ease when we needed it to."
Our pick as the 'Best overall baby activity centre', the Skip Hop Explore & More grows with baby in three stages. Starting as a bouncing activity chair for younger babies, it transforms easily into an activity table and an art table for older children to do colouring or crafts. It was designed in collaboration with paediatricians to ensure a “whole body" approach to learning and development. Unlike most bouncing chairs, it doesn't have a large frame - instead, the elastic cord is attached to a floor plate underneath baby, rather than to the seat itself.
Type: Bouncing activity chair/activity table
Size (WxHxD): 31 x 18.5 x 31" (78 x 45 x 78cm)
Suitable from: When baby is able to hold their own head up
Key features
- Three stage functionality
- Floor plate for bouncing
- Designed with paediatricians
PROS
CONS
2. Baby Einstein Neighbourhood Friends Activity Jumper
Editor's Review
“My sone absolutely loved this bouncer. He'd go wild on it, putting every ounce of energy into bouncing as hard and fast as he could. He also spent a lot of time playing with the light up piano on the front - more so than the other toys."
Loved and trusted by more than one million parents, the Baby Einstein Neighbourhood Friends Activity Jumper is widely regarded to be the best baby activity centre for bouncing. That's why it's our pick as the 'best activity chair'. Yes, it also a few nature-themed activities and toys, but the bouncer is definitely the focus. There are five different height levels, meaning your child can bounce even as they grow older. The seat can turn 360 degrees, however, it requires parents to turn it rather than baby being able to do it themselves.
Type: Bouncing activity chair
Size: 33 x 31 x 28" (84 x 79 x 71cm)
Suitable from: 15lbs - 25lbs (and when baby is able to hold their head up)
Key features
- 12 themed activities
- Five height adjustment levels
Three language choices (English, French, Spanish)
PROS
CONS
3. Manhattan Toy Double-Decker Celestial Star Explorer Wooden Activity Center
Editor's Review
“Worth every penny! My son is only 8 months old so he hasn't played with it much yet. But my 3-year old daughter loves it and plays with it all the time. And I love playing with her. Fun for the whole family!"
