Exersaucers - What, Why, When & Which!
What Are Exersaucers?
You've probably seen (or like me used!) a baby jumper before. Well, exersaucers are very similar with one major difference. They don't move!
This is an important feature as baby walkers are very dangerous. Kids could roll themselves down flights of stairs, into kitchens and into lots of mischief and mishap. Well, it's what they're good at I suppose :(
In answer to the risks associated with baby walkers, the exersaucer was born.
How Do They Work?
Well, your baby can sit in it and have a lot of fun! The best exersaucers come with many activities and toys to stimulate and entertain your little one. The idea is to promote gross and fine motor skill development.
You'll find exersaucers with all manner of rattles, spinners, toys and lights. You'll also find them advertised under the name "Activity Center", and this is a good way to describe exactly what they do.
The more expensive models allow your baby to spin 360 degrees and bounce up and down as well. So there's a lot of fun to be had!
When Can They Be Used?
Your baby can use an exersaucer when their feet can touch the ground once inside. Of course, this will depend on your particularly baby and the model you choose. As a good rule of thumb, they can be used from around 5 - 6 months of age.
Any Known Risks?
A few experts believe that over-using an exersaucer can be detrimental to your child's development. The main reasons for this are they are not doing other activities such as crawling or "tummy time".
It's recommended that 30 minute blocks will be fine. This is ideal if you need to nip to the bathroom or get on with the ironing!
Which Exersaucers Are Best?
Like many popular baby products, there's a lot of exersaucers to choose from.
I always like baby products that can "grow" with a baby and not become obsolete after a few months. After all, babies cost a lot of money so I try and get the most use out of whatever I buy.
To this end, you should look for exersaucers whose toys are interchangeable. This is a big plus because the toys your little one will like at 6 months old will be different at 10 months, and will soon change again.
I really noticed this with my own baby's development. We have an activity cube and he could spin the rattles at a fairly early age. But flipping the little doors open and close was a more acquired skill and came a few months later.
The top-rated exersaucers allow you to "mix and max" toys and add your own favorites to the toy rail. I think this is great as you can keep your baby entertained and match their current stage of development.
Evenflo pretty much dominate the exersaucer market, and the majority of their products are loved by parents and babies alike. You can also check out Bright Starts & Baby Einstein as they have some great models, too.
