What is the best baby activity center?
A baby activity center makes an excellent toy for a baby. They have all sorts of things to explore and encourage new skills.
They also make excellent baby shower gifts for first time momma’s!
You can start putting your baby in around 6 months of age, giving them a chance to experience standing a solo-play.
Best overall: LeapFrog Little Office Learning Center
“Play in Explore, Learn and Music modes to hear first words, greetings and music from around the world and role-play conversations with Scout.”
Best runner up: VTech GearZooz 2-in-1 Jungle Friends Gear Park
“Mix and match all the gears from GearZooz playsets for an exciting way to be creative while exploring how gears work together. Connect the multi-colored gears on different poles to build motor skills and discover the best ways to get all the gears to move.”
Best wooden: Manhattan Toy Tree Top Adventure Activity Center
“Play is discovery and exploration, and joy, and growth, and learning, and so much more. And for us play is serious work. So, when we bring play to life, we do it with a commitment to the finest in craftsmanship and creativity.”
Best budget: Dahuniu Baby Activity Table Baby Musical Learning Toy
“This musical learning table can flash soft lights and play classic. Baby can explores sounds, songs and instruments such as the piano and drum.”
Best with detachable legs: LeapFrog Learn and Groove Musical Table
“Filled with fun musical features and exciting activities, the Learn & Groove Musical Table encourages hours of exploration for babies and toddlers.”
Best educational: Lamaze 3-in-1 Airtivity Center – Developmental Activity Center Grows with Baby
“The first of its kind, this activity center engages your child through air powered play. This developmental toy promotes visual development, tactile processing, fine and gross motor skills, and problem solving.”
Best water activity table: Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
“The two-tier design creates a showering splash below! Just scoop up water from the pond and pour into the top tray to make it rain. Watch as the rainfall activates the maze-like spinners and ramps, a great way to show a cause and effect relationship.”
Best versatile: Melissa & Doug Jungle Activity Table
“This hands-on multi-activity table keeps kids 12 months and older engaged and entertained, while encouraging important developmental skills.”
Best with seat: Infantino 2-in-1 Sit, Spin & Stand Entertainer 360 Seat & Baby Activity Table
“Keep little ones busy from tiny to toddler with a 2-in-1 play space that transforms from an entertainer to an activity table.”
Have your child learn about greetings from around the world, shapes, animals, numbers and opposites. This is all possible with the desk that includes a globe, laptop and phone.
Crayon piano keys are there to make music fun!
Ages 6 months- 3 years
Good for: Standing or sitting.
This activity table features gears, colors and numbers, instrument fun and animal jam time.
Perfect for exploring melodies and responses as well as get motivated to stand up on their own!
Ages 18 months- 4 years
Good for: Standing, sitting. Inlcudes option for tilting.
No batteries, flashing lights or loud sounds are included in this activity table. Made to inspire imagintave play and built to last-
The Manhattan Toy Tree Top activity table is sure to be a hit!
Ages 12 months – 5 years
Good for: Standing and hands on learning.
This activity table can be used 3 ways:
- Flat mode for floor
- Standing mode
- Suspension mode for car or crib
Encourage music, learning and curiosity with the mini piano, alphanumeric book and lion mirror.
Ages 6m+
Good for: Standing, sitting, car or crib.
Introduce colors, shapes, numbers, letters and sounds with this educator approved activity table 🙂
Flip between music mode or learning mode. Help your baby explore fine motor skills by pressing, sliding or pulling musical instruments.
Ages 6 months- 3 years
Good for: Sitting, standing.
This activity is the first of its kind- engage your child through air power play!
The Lamaze Airtivity Table promotes visual development, tactile processing, fine and gross motor skills, and problem solving.
Ages 6m+
Good for: Sitting, standing.
Help promote STEM play with cause and effect actions by switching the maze pieces. As the waterfall drains back into the water table pond, maze-like spinners, ramps and buckets are activated!
This activity table will last a long time- my 7 year old still loves playing with it with her siblings 🙂
Ages 18 months- 8 years
Featuring 8 different hands on activities, this activity table with build important developmental skills (not to mention keep baby occupied!)
The jungle theme offers bright colors, bold patterns and a whimsical feel, making it a cute addition to any play room.
Ages 12 months- 6 years
Good for: Standing, sitting.
Keep little ones busy from baby to toddler with a 2-in-1 play space that transforms from an entertainer for baby to an activity table for a toddler!
Babies can spin in a whole circle while exploring 6 engaging toys including light up buttons that activate music and sound effects.
After baby grows into toddlehood, transform the entertainer into a stand-and-play activity table with three rolling animal pals.
Ages 4 months- 5 years
Good for: Standing, sitting, solo-play.
Are activity centers good for babies?
Activity centers are good for babies because they give babies a chance to explore new skills and sensations while giving caregivers a much needed break. Just be aware of leaving your baby in for extended periods of time- babies need to figure out their own center of gravity by pulling themselves up to standing and crawling lots too.
When can a baby start using an activity center?
Around 6 months of age.
As long as your baby can hold their head up and stand solidly, they are ready for an activity center.
What are good activities for infants?
- Listening- try speaking or singing to your baby in different voices or pitches and watch their reaction.
- Tracking– use a colorful ball or toy and get your baby to keep watching as you move it slowly around.
- Dancing– put on some music and gently dance around with your baby (making sure to support their head!)
- Mimicking– see how many things your baby can copy you doing. Try clapping, patting the table or touching your nose.
- Kicking– place some tissue paper under couch cushions so that it hangs down. Place your baby on their back so they can kick the tissue paper.
- Tummy time– tummy time strengthens your baby’s back and neck and encourages early play.
- Testing textures– let your baby touch a few different toys with different textures or put some sand, beans or rice in a closed plastic bag for safe sensory play.