Features

Most activity centers offer activities that attract a baby's attention and promote her developing motor skills. You'll pay more for a high-octane model, but more isn't always better. Although many babies enjoy a wide range of options, some find all that motion, sound, and light too stimulating. Keep you baby's temperament in mind when considering these activity center features.

Motion

Some activity centers offer merely a stationary seat. Others feature a seat that swivels 360 degrees, with springs that allow the unit to bounce when baby moves, and create a rocking motion, which active babies might enjoy.

Stabilizers

These anchor the frame in a stationary position. They're a must to keep a rocking activity center from becoming too turbulent or if you want to feed your baby in his activity center. The stabilizers should seem sturdy.

Adjustable height

Many models offer legs that adjust to three heights, so the activity center can grow as your baby grows. The height of the play tray is the key. When the tray is at the proper height, your baby's feet will touch the floor and her legs will be straight when she's seated. If your baby is on her tippy toes when she's seated, the tray is too high. If her knees are bent when she's seated, it's too low. You might have to adjust the legs (without your baby seated in the activity center) every month or so, just to keep pace with your baby's growth.

Seat

More-expensive models have cushy seat padding. Seat pads are typically removable for machine washing, which is a real plus. You might have to air-dry them, though. Check the care and maintenance requirements on the label or in the instruction manual.

Toys

All activity centers feature a play tray with attached interactive toys, such as a fun-house mirror, a spinning stoplight, picture books, and bead toys along with lights, songs, sounds, and sometimes bilingual voices. To make these gizmos work, you'll need up to 12 AAA batteries, depending on the model. In general, more-expensive models are loaded with exciting options and have lots of ways to bounce and rock so your baby feels like she's on the go. They also require more battery power.

Certification

Five stationary-activity-center brands have been certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), which signifies that they meet the requirements of standards developer ASTM International: Dorel Juvenile Group (Safety 1st), Fisher-Price, Graco (Baby Einstein), Kolcraft, and Summer Infant.

See also:

Strollers

High chairs

Cribs

Play yards