Any new parent will tell you that an active baby is hard to keep up with. Moms need a helper or two around the house to engage and entertain their active baby and keep their creative juices flowing in a directed activity. One choice is an activity center.
A baby activity center was based on the early creation of the baby walker. It has evolved into a much safer and more hands on and engaging activity for a young child when a parent is not there. Before the invention of the activity center, parents placed their children in walkers when they could sit up. This meant that babies were free to move throughout the house independently and explore as they pleased.
The problem with a walker is that no activities came with the device. A baby explored the real world instead. This resulted in a child running into objects like bookcases and tables, reaching out for things that could be dangerous. Since the walker had no restrictions on a baby's movement, they posed great risks. They could tip over or even fall down stairs.
As with all baby products, safety should come first. Make sure that the activity center is made of durable materials and pay close attention to height and weight limitations and any other safety notes provided by the manufacturer. Use the "toilet paper tube" test on attached toys - if it can fit inside the tube, it presents a choking risk for your child. Make sure toys are firmly secured to the activity center, and inspect the activity center frequently to ensure there are no loose or broken parts. Remove any broken parts that are not structural parts, and do not use the activity center if it has any broken structural parts.
Before any purchase of baby products is advisable to do some research. Most products on the market are of high quality but as safety really has to come first checking out the product you want to buy is a great idea. It is best to look at consumer feedback and forums before purchasing an activity center. This will help you make an informed choice that is based on the price that you wish to pay and how the safe the product is. Think about the product in relation to your own child and their age; ask yourself if the toys are large enough and none are a chocking hazard. Think about whether the toys are secured properly to the product and look at what material s have been used to make it, so you can see whether it will be durable and above all safe. If your instinct says that the product is not right, then it most probably isn't.
Consider also the number of activities that each center has to offer. It is possible that some may have too many activities and they may overwhelm baby with lights and sounds. Others, of course, may have too few to keep bay engaged for very long. You know your own baby's temperament and therefore should be able to decide what will suit your baby best. It is also important to consider yourself and how much noise you actually want, ensure that if there are sound on the activity center then there is also an adjustable volume control.
Activity centers can have a crazy number of features, including music, toys, rotating seats, shapes, toy phones, steering wheels, lights and - well, so many activities that your child will either be entertained forever or overwhelmed. As mentioned above, the activity center may bounce, rock, pivot, or spin. You know your baby best, so choose an activity center that suits her temperament and yours.
A baby activity center was based on the early creation of the baby walker. It has evolved into a much safer and more hands on and engaging activity for a young child when a parent is not there. Before the invention of the activity center, parents placed their children in walkers when they could sit up. This meant that babies were free to move throughout the house independently and explore as they pleased.
The problem with a walker is that no activities came with the device. A baby explored the real world instead. This resulted in a child running into objects like bookcases and tables, reaching out for things that could be dangerous. Since the walker had no restrictions on a baby's movement, they posed great risks. They could tip over or even fall down stairs.
As with all baby products, safety should come first. Make sure that the activity center is made of durable materials and pay close attention to height and weight limitations and any other safety notes provided by the manufacturer. Use the "toilet paper tube" test on attached toys - if it can fit inside the tube, it presents a choking risk for your child. Make sure toys are firmly secured to the activity center, and inspect the activity center frequently to ensure there are no loose or broken parts. Remove any broken parts that are not structural parts, and do not use the activity center if it has any broken structural parts.
Before any purchase of baby products is advisable to do some research. Most products on the market are of high quality but as safety really has to come first checking out the product you want to buy is a great idea. It is best to look at consumer feedback and forums before purchasing an activity center. This will help you make an informed choice that is based on the price that you wish to pay and how the safe the product is. Think about the product in relation to your own child and their age; ask yourself if the toys are large enough and none are a chocking hazard. Think about whether the toys are secured properly to the product and look at what material s have been used to make it, so you can see whether it will be durable and above all safe. If your instinct says that the product is not right, then it most probably isn't.
Consider also the number of activities that each center has to offer. It is possible that some may have too many activities and they may overwhelm baby with lights and sounds. Others, of course, may have too few to keep bay engaged for very long. You know your own baby's temperament and therefore should be able to decide what will suit your baby best. It is also important to consider yourself and how much noise you actually want, ensure that if there are sound on the activity center then there is also an adjustable volume control.
Activity centers can have a crazy number of features, including music, toys, rotating seats, shapes, toy phones, steering wheels, lights and - well, so many activities that your child will either be entertained forever or overwhelmed. As mentioned above, the activity center may bounce, rock, pivot, or spin. You know your baby best, so choose an activity center that suits her temperament and yours.
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