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Jumper, bouncer, Jumperoo, ExerSaucer; they have a lot of names and do a lot of things. Baby jumpers can vary significantly across the market. How do you know which is right for your baby and your space? After researching nearly 20 of the top brands of jumpers, I have come up with the top 5 Best Baby Jumpers, including my top pick: The Baby Einstein Neptune’s Ocean.
Don’t forget to create your Amazon or Buy Buy Baby registry so you can add your favorite baby jumper!
First things first: Basic Questions
Baby Jumpers can look like crazy contraptions if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Let’s begin by answering some common questions by parents and caregivers.
What is a baby jumper?
A baby jumper is a seat suspended by a spring-like mechanism that allows the infant to stand with support and work leg muscles by bouncing or jumping. Many options include trays loaded with developmental toys to stimulate baby and keep them occupied while contained by the equipment.
There are two types of jumpers: stationary or doorway. Stationary jumpers stand on the floor and suspend baby from the side, while doorway jumpers hook over doorway trim and suspend baby from above.
How old should my baby be to use a jumper?
Use is less dependent on age and more so on development. Infants should be able to regularly hold their head up on their own. While this generally occurs around 3 months, if your baby is not yet displaying steady head control, hold off on a jumper until they do. Always consider the height, weight, and age requirements of any jumper you are purchasing.
What are the benefits of a baby jumper?
Baby jumpers can be beneficial in a variety of ways. The primary purpose is to strengthen leg and core muscles to ready infants for crawling and walking. A majority of jumpers add developmental toys to benefit baby in other ways as well. Rattle toys, lights, and sounds can stimulate the senses as little ones play. Fine motor skills can be tuned with flipping toys or buttons. Hand-eye coordination and cause & effect are also enriched with hanging toys and motion activated toy attachments.
Do I really NEED a baby jumper?
Are there other ways babies can strengthen their leg and core muscles? Sure. However, a jumper is probably more effective and practical than holding baby up for 20 minutes (the maximum recommended time for an infant to be confined to a jumper) while they bounce, jump, and tear at your arms. So while your baby doesn’t necessarily need a jumper, a good quality jumper can be beneficial for development and the sanity of parents and caregivers.
Important things to look for in baby jumpers
Before diving into the list of baby jumpers, it would be helpful to take a look at the criteria I use to rate them. This section can also be useful when considering any other jumper that may not be on this list.
Safety & Quality
The most important thing to take into account is safety. With your child, who is not yet capable of holding their own weight, literally suspended, you definitely want to be sure the device is not going to fail and cause injury.
Different jumpers use different methods of providing bounce, but most use springs secured by nylon straps. Make sure the seams are sewn thoroughly as to not come undone. There should be no fraying or anywhere that would rub and cause fraying. Springs should be covered in some way and not at all accessible to baby’s fingers. Any bars or structure that hold up the unit should have strong connection points and be able to hold up to rigorous bouncing movement.
Any added developmental toys should not have pinch points and be smooth for baby to explore. A lot of jumpers rotate 360 degrees, but infants don’t have a lot of body autonomy. There shouldn’t be any toy that could cause harm if the baby suddenly moves away or bounces.
Doorway jumpers are popular in small spaces, but need to be scrutinized significantly more. This type of jumper needs to have a secure way of attaching to door trim. It is also important to pay attention to the height of the doorway as not all jumpers can adjust to the appropriate length to allow baby to touch the floor. This kind of jumper tends to let baby walk the floor a bit so look at how the seat prevents pinching fingers against a door frame.
Plastic pieces should be thick and not brittle or able to crack easily. Toys should not have stickers or be a hard, sharp material, as babies explore with their mouths.
Size & Adjustability
One thing to keep in mind is the size of your space and the size of the equipment. Jumpers are probably the biggest piece of indoor gear you will own for your baby. Many jumpers take up a lot of space and are not collapsible. However, there are space saver options that allow you to put it away or are at least smaller structures. The seat should also be able to be made higher as baby gets taller.
As previously mentioned, doorway jumpers need to be able to fit over door trim and be the correct length for your door height. All of these have adjustability ranges.
Activities & Mobility Factor
In an effort to keep infants entertained, baby jumpers tend to include a variety of engaging activities and toys. Though, too many toys and sounds can be overstimulating. Jumpers that have seats which rotate 360 degrees can have toys all the way around and can help work other leg and core muscles as babies turn themselves.
Here are some developmental factors to consider when assessing jumper activities:
- Gross motor skills – reaching for toys above eye level, turning themselves in a 360 seat
- Fine motor skills – things to grasp and manipulate
- Physical development – building leg and core strength as they jump and turn
- Auditory development – various music and/or sounds such as rattling, squeaking, jingling, or crinkling
- Visual development – different colors and patterns throughout; an assortment of items to look at; tracking swinging or moving toys
- Hand/eye coordination – reaching for toys and making contact
- Cause and effect – jumping and hearing or seeing movement or sound in return with motion activated attachments
- Self-awareness and social skills – mirror play, animal or other characters to interact with
- Problem solving skills – turning themselves in 360 seats to get to a toy out of reach
The Best Baby Jumpers
With everything to consider, choosing a baby jumper can become an overwhelming task. What one parent or caregiver is looking for might not be the same as another. For that reason, I have broken this list down into 5 best categories: overall, doorway, space saver, versatile, and value. You will also find Other Options within some categories and reasons as to why they were not chosen as the best.
Best Overall Baby Jumper
Neptune’s Ocean by Baby Einstein
A common occurrence with baby jumpers is that infants’ feet can’t touch the floor because they are not heavy or long enough. Baby Einstein jumpers start off in a lower position than others, so it is likely you won’t need that pillow or stack of books. In addition, it includes a soft book, fish toy, built in spinners, and plenty of places to add baby’s favorite toys. What’s more is that it has a removable musical turtle that can be used even after baby starts to walk! There is not much to dislike about Neptune’s Ocean by Baby Einstein, which is why it is my best overall pick.
Pros
- Starts with a lower height level
- Easily adjustable with 4 levels
- Removable seat for easy machine washing
- Space to add other toys
- Removable grow-with-me turtle toy
- Soft cloth book about sea animals included
Cons
- While base is smaller, the arms curve out significantly which takes up a bit of space
Buying Options
Best Doorway Baby Jumper
Graco Bumper Jumper
While a doorway jumper would never be my first choice, it is understandable that space in some homes can be very limited. In this case, I recommend the Graco Bumper Jumper. With a height range of 69.5” to 80.5” this one works on a majority sized doors, including 9 foot ones. The weight limit is 25 pounds, which is average among doorway jumpers. What sets this one apart is the tray feature that doubles as a bumper in narrow doorways. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions when installing a doorway jumper. Never skimp on safety!
Pros
- Longer adjustability than most
- Harder supports surrounding baby to protect from bumps
- Adjustable toy attachments
- No twist straps for easy in and out
- Machine washable seat
Cons
- Adjusting the height straps can be a tad confusing
Buying Options
Other Options
Baby Einstein Sea & Discover
Why it didn’t make the cut
- Reports of the unit breaking while baby is inside
- Pricey for a doorway jumper
Evenflo Exersaucer Door Jumper
Why it didn’t make the cut
- No toys or places to attach any
- Straps are close to baby’s face
- Low weight limit – grows out of faster
- Reports of babies falling out
Bright Starts Bounce & Spring
Why it didn’t make the cut
- Seat is huge – may work well for larger babies
- No support for smaller babies
Best Space Saver Baby Jumper
Astro Kitty Space Saver Jumperoo By Fisher Price
The ultimate space saver is by Fisher Price. Not only is the unit itself smaller, but it also easily folds flat for storage. The Astro Kitty Space Saver Jumperoo by Fisher Price features a removable and motion activated activity center that keeps baby engaged while bouncing. This jumper only has one spring, located behind baby, which has 4 positions for adjustably. While this Jumperoo does not have a 360 degree swivel seat, there is plenty to do in front for the allotted 20 minutes of play.
Pros
- Small size and collapsibility means it takes up a lot less space than the competition
- Motion activated activity center motivates baby to bounce
- Easily removable seat for machine washing
- 4 height adjustments
- Reasonably priced
- Also available in Woodland Friends theme
Cons
- Does not have a swivel seat
- Limited movement because of the smaller unit
Buying Options
Other Options
Explore & More Jumpscape by SkipHop
Why it didn’t make the cut
- Reports of missing pieces for assembly
- Accounts of strap breakage (although this may have been addressed by the manufacturer)
- Reports of unevenness
Best Versatile Baby Jumper
Bounce Baby 2-in-1 by Bright Starts
This unique style jumper does not actually suspend baby from springs, but holds baby in a stable seat. The jumping action actually comes from the bouncy pad underneath, so baby gets the leg muscle exercise, but their feet never actually leave the floor. The Bounce Baby 2-in-1 by Bright Starts doesn’t just stop with the jumping. When your little one has become mobile and able to stand, the activity center becomes a play table with toy storage!
Pros
- Converts to a play table for longer use
- Affordable price tag
- Safer option with no suspension
- Seat swivels 360 degrees
Cons
- Toys are kind of boring
- I feel they missed the mark by not allowing the bouncing pad to be turned into a flat top for a table
Buying Options
Other Options
Neighborhood Symphony by Baby Einstein (with take along instruments)
Why it didn’t make the cut
- Reports of tipping
Jam Session ExerSaucer Jump & Learn by Evenflo
Why it didn’t make the cut
- Pricey
- Large
- Hard plastic and boring toys
Best Value Baby Jumper
Rainforest Jumperoo by Fisher Price
This baby jumper has been around for years and it is easy to see why. The Rainforest Jumperoo by Fisher Price is a great value because at just about the $100 mark, you get a safe and secure way to let your baby bounce with lots of engaging toys to occupy. The main play center is motion activated with lights and sounds to reward baby for jumping. In order to access all the great fine motor toys around it, the seat spins 360 degrees. While this does claim to fold up, it is a tad difficult and it doesn’t really save much space to be worth the hassle.
Pros
- Amazing price for a full scale jumper
- Motion activated play center
- Swivel seat 360 degrees
- Fabric covered springs to protect little fingers
- 5 play areas plus hanging toys for batting at
Cons
- Folding feature is difficult and doesn’t save much space
- Only has 3 height positions, making use a tad limited
Buying Options
Other Options
Animal Activity Jumperoo by Fisher Price
Why it didn’t make the cut
- No folding feature
- Boring toys
Safari Friends ExerSaucer Jump & Learn by Evenflo
Why it didn’t make the cut
- Huge size
- Minimal toys
Neighborhood Friends by Baby Einstein
Why it didn’t make the cut
- Reports of pinch points
- Seat is difficult to rotate
ExerSaucer Bouncing Activity Saucer by Evenflo (Available in several themes)
Why it didn’t make the cut
- Bulky
- Limited movement
- Sometimes overwhelming
- Lots of hard plastic rubbing baby’s lower half
Baby Jumpers to Avoid
While researching and exploring various models of baby jumpers, there are a few I have encountered that I would recommend to avoid altogether. The Dream On Me Zany 2-in-1 Activity and Center Bouncer is too easy to have user error resulting in many reports of the unit tipping. The Woodland Wonder Wooden Frame Jumper by Evenflo also had over 5 reports of the unit falling apart and tipping. Due to safety hazards, I do not recommend these jumpers at all.
Please be sure to follow any and all manufacturer instructions when it comes to baby jumpers.
