Baby Activity Center Buying Guide

When preparing for the arrival of your baby, you may find yourself submerged beneath shower gifts of many baby products. This means that usually it is the future parents who equip the nursery with all the baby furniture. Before you know it all the preparation leads up to the big day, and within months your baby has gone from being almost immobile to a mover and a crawler. This is when a baby activity center comes in handy, but before you go out and spend a lot of money on a fancy and pricey baby activity center, first consider what features will best suit your baby. Things you should consider when deciding which baby activity center to buy are as follows:

Smooth turning comfortable seat- Look out for seats with little or no padding in the chest area, it may be too hard for baby's chest. Also check that the seat turns smoothly so that baby can reach all toys easily.

Toys- Babies usually love bright colorful toys that make noise and spin.

Bounce- This is definitely a plus for active babies!

Height Options- You want to look for a center that will grow with your baby. Check to see if the one you choose has the option of adjusting to various heights.

Safety Features- A good safety feature to look for on a baby activity center are flip down braces that anchor it in one position.

Size- If you travel a lot and want to take it with you then size and portability is a factor. There are some that are more compact and readily portable than others.

Keeping baby safe in her new activity center is the most important thing to consider when your baby gets to this stage. Baby is ready for an activity center when she can support her head properly and sit up on her own. Before putting baby in the center, be sure that it is on level ground and use the flip down braces if possible. Ensure that the center is not near any dangers like a hot stove or electrical outlet.

Other tips for safety are to take baby out before moving center and to always check for damaged parts and loose screws before and after each use. It is important not to leave baby in the activity center for more than 30 minutes as this will cause strain to her back, and stop using it when baby reaches the manufacturer's recommended maximum weight and height limit.