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
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.
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
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
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!"
This space-themed wooden activity table from Manhattan Toy is perhaps the most unique baby activity centre on this list and takes the title of 'best activity table'. With three levels of play, there are nearly 30 different toys to keep your little one entertained, from bead runners and spinners to gliders and clacking doors. One important point to bear in mind is that it is designed for children who are already standing - babies trying to pull themselves up could topple it over and cause injury.
Type: Activity table
Size: 20 x 27 x 20" (51 x 69 x 52cm)
Suitable from: 12months+
Key features
- Three levels of play
- Stunning space theme
- Inter-level play
PROS
CONS
Editor's Review
“My son has been loving this since he was six months old. I think it's helping him learn how to enjoy independent play, standing, and now dancing."
This option from Fisher Price is a 2-in-1 sit-to-stand activity centre, taking your little one from a seated activity chair to an activity table when they're standing and learning to walk. It has a range of rattling and electronic toys, all interchangeable in different slots, and a 360 degree swivel chair meaning your baby can reach which toys take their fancy. Once they've outgrown the seat, simply replace it with the central slide toy to transform into a toddler play table.
Type: Seated activity chair/activity table
Size: 24 x 24 x 22" (61 x 61 x 56cm)
Suitable from: When baby is able to hold their own head up
Key features
- 2-in-1 sit-to-stand entertainer
- 360 degree swivel seat
- Machine washable seat pad
PROS
CONS
Editor's Review
“Oh my gosh so much fun for baby (and momma & daddy to watch)! Love, love, love the colours and how many different activities there are."
The Evenflo Exersaucer Triple Fun Active Learning Center is quite a unique choice on the market. Firstly, it comes with a play mat making it ideal from a younger age. Although we've classified it as a 'bouncing' chair, it technically doesn't bounce - instead the base of the activity centre balances on a central point, allowing baby to swivel and swing around. Don't worry, you can fix it in place with two adjustable legs if you want to calm things down a bit. And, of course, it transforms into an activity table a little later down the line.
Type: Play mat/bouncing activity chair/activity table
Size: 31 x 25 x 31" (79 x 63 x 79cm)
Suitable from: From birth (play mat), when baby is able to hold their head up (activity chair)
Key features
- Balancing base
- Play mat
- Jungle theme
PROS
CONS
Editor's Review
“It's easy to put together and folds up fairly easily as well. I love that you can put the toys anywhere you want on it, or remove them all if you want."
A more traditional-looking bouncing activity chair from Skip Hop, the Silver Lining Cloud™ stands out from the crowd because of its incredible folding mechanism. One of the biggest issues with this type of activity centre is the sheer size of them, but this one folds compactly for easy storage at the end of the day. It also has an electronic cloud that counts the number of bounces, plays music and applause at different milestones, and serves as a 'parent reminder' to ensure baby doesn't spend too long in it. Another standout feature is the ability to move and customise the toys however you (or baby) want.
Type: Bouncing activity chair
Size: 34 x 29 x 35" (86.4 x 73 x 88.9cm)
Suitable from: When baby is able to hold their own head up
Key features
- Compact fold system
- 'Parent reminder' and bounce counter
- Moveable toys
PROS
CONS
Editor's Review
“I love the colours and the fact that he can use this table well into his toddler years. He also tugs on those toys with all his might and none have come off."
This choice from Fisher Price also follows kids from their first year to the toddler. It starts as a seated activity chair and transforms into an activity table when they're standing. It also comes with a separate shape sorter that allows for totally separate play. What makes this one stand out is the silicone textures of the toys and 'activity pods' and the more muted tones of the colours, making a welcome change from the bright colours and hard plastics you normally find on children's toys.
Type: Seated activity chair/activity table
Size: 24 x 24 x 21" (61 x 61 x 53cm)
Suitable from: When baby is able to hold their own head up
Key features
- Easy clip-on activity 'pods'
- Silicone texture toys
- Removable shape sorter for separate floor play
PROS
CONS
Editor's Review
“I got this for my son when he started pulling up to stand and hold onto things (around 8 months old). His favourite part is the globe that spins in the middle."
The LeapFrog Little Office Learning Center is a typical activity table that packs a huge amount into a small space. It has nearly 30 different office-themed touch points including a phone and laptop. And, combined with the other electronic keys, it puts out more than 180 different songs, tunes, sounds and phrases, which is a huge relief to parents who dread hearing the same thing over and over and over again. It also has removable legs meaning babies can play on the floor before they learn to stand and walk.
Type: Activity table
Size: 18 x 15 x 18" (46 x 38 x 46cm)
Suitable from: 6 months+
Key features
- 27 touch points
- 180 songs, sounds and phrases
- Removable legs
PROS
CONS
Editor's Review
“The little activities are engaging even to toddlers (my 3 year old daughter still plays with the piano and hides things in the little leaf compartment) and the can be removed individually from the station to play on the ground too."
It's not uncommon to see a seated activity centre that transforms into an activity table, this the Baby Einstein Around We Go 4-in-1 Walker offers a unique take on the concept. Instead of transforming the seat into a table, it attaches the seat to the table, allowing kids to shuffle around the table. The table itself has 15 nature themed toys to play with that are completely removable for separate play, and converts into an art table for older children.
Type: Seated activity chair/activity table
Size: 23 x 23 x 35.5" (58 x 58 x 90cm)
Suitable from: 6 months
Key features
- 360 degree 'walk around' chair
- 4 play modes
- 15 sweet nature-themed toys
PROS
CONS
Editor's Review
“I am very impressed with the quality. The baby will sit and play for a period of time entertaining herself with the attached toys. She is learning now to navigate from toy to toy."
Like many others on this list, the Oribel PortaPlay Baby Center converts from a seated activity chair to an activity table as your little one grows up. The stylish design makes it a nice addition to any home while the silicone texture of the toys are wonderful for teething babies. We've described it as a 'seated activity centre' because there aren't any springs or cords attached to the seat, but the seat itself is elasticated to allow for 'controlled' bouncing. The legs also fold neatly under the table to make it nice and compact for storing.
Type: Seated activity chair/activity table
Size: 27 x 18 x 27" (69 x 45 x 69cm)
Suitable from: When baby is able to hold their own head up
Key features
- Silicone texture toys
- Compact folding legs
- 3-in-1 play
PROS
CONS
Things to consider when buying an activity centre
Size
One of the biggest factors parents will have to consider when looking for the best baby activity centre is simple how big it is.
Many parents will argue that bouncing activity chairs or jumparoos are the best because babies love them so much. They'll say their baby absolutely loves the combination of toys and bouncing. However, they're by far the biggest type of baby activity centre given the frame required to support the child's weight as they bounce.
Static seated activity centres, activity tables and play mats tend to take up less space. However, there are now some products that fold compactly to allow for easy storage even in small spaces.
Toys
Children benefit from having a range of toys to play with and maximise both the fun and their development.
The best baby activity centres have plenty of different toys. You're looking for things that aid fine motor skills, hand eye coordination and sensory skills - bright lights, musical toys, areas to explore textures. Some will have detachable toys, which can be great if your child has a favourite but it does also increase the risk of losing them.
Longevity
Baby activity centres can cost a lot of money, so you want to be sure that you're getting the most value for your money.
It's vitally important to check the age suitability and weight limit of these products because, depending on the type of activity centre and the exact product, they may have very short windows for your baby to use them. Bouncing activity centres are usually guilty of this because the frame isn't strong enough to support older babies, and the seat itself needs to be small enough to keep a young baby safe.
Thankfully, however, there are activity centres that will grow as your baby grows. Convertible activity centres (usually activity tables) have adjustable height settings that mean your child can continue to play with it into their toddler years.
There are even some baby activity centres that will convert from one type to another as your baby grows. Watch our though, convertible activity centres generally cost a lot more than their counterparts because they're built to be used for so long.
Price
If you're a new parent, you've probably realised by now that the cost of a child is quite something. And unfortunately, a baby activity centre is no different.
Play mats are definitely the cheapest, with the vast majority costing less than £/$50. When it comes to baby activity chair or an activity table, the very bottom end of the market tends to start around £50/$50 with a lot sitting between £/$100-150. High end activity centres can cost closer to the £/$200 mark.
While some can certainly seem very expensive, it's best to balance them against how long your child will be able to use it. £/$150 is perhaps a lot of money for something they can use for a few months, that price may not seem so bad the activity centre follows baby's growth and is suitable for toddlers.
FAQs
Which is the best type of baby activity centre?
This is all down to personal preference and your circumstances, and there are a number of factors that will determine which type of activity centre you think is best.
We would perhaps suggest that activity centres that convert from a seat/bouncer to a table are best, given that they are suitable for a wider age range. You'll get more for your money.
What age is best for baby activity centres?
This all depends on the type of baby activity centre - and the product itself. A seated activity centre requires the child to be able to hold their own head up and is often suitable from around 4-6 months. Activity tables are designed for toddlers and babies who are standing, so are usually best from around 12 months.
Activity centres with a seat will have a minimum and maximum weight limit.
I don't have a lot of space, which baby activity centre is best?
Some are quite large, so the amount of space you have at home is a definitely a factor in your buying decision.
Although there are some that are quite small, we'd recommend either the Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud™ Play & Fold Jumper or the Oribel PortaPlay Baby Center for their brilliant folding mechanisms. Although they're still quite large when upright, they're super easy to store away when not in use.
