Jenson LOVES to jump. When he’s sitting on my knee he will bounce up and down, flailing his arms around. Particularly if he sees our cat. If I sneak him a bit of chocolate mousse when he’s in his high chair, he gets so excited and jumps about so much that I can barely get the spoon to his mouth. And don’t get me started on the trampoline … just the sight of it makes him giggle and if I actually bounce on it with him in my arms he ends up in fits of laughter.
So it figures that he was always going to be a fan of the Jumperoo.
Wtf is it?
In short, it’s a bouncer that plays music, lights up, and has a squillion activities for baby to play with. According to the Fisher Price website it’s suitable for babies aged 6-15 months.
Jenson’s in his big sister’s hand me down Jumperoo in the image above, but there is a newer version which you can find here.
The Pros
I’m going to start with the main benefit, and it’s a selfish one. It has saved my aching back! Jenson is a happy soul but he’s one of these babies that has to be constantly entertained. So I’m always carrying him around, either in a sling or in my arms. But popping him in the Jumperoo every so often is a brill way of keeping him safe and giving me a bit of time with both hands free.
Jenson absolutely adores his Jumperoo. His little face lights up when he sees it and when he’s sat in it, he goes crazy jumping around. The seat spins around 360 degrees so there’s something interesting and stimulating and colourful for him to look at from every angle. (He’s particularly taken by the dragonfly, and is determined to try and eat it, whereas Lyra was obsessed with the blue rattle-y lizard).
Being plastic, it’s easy to clean, and the seat fabric is washable: an essential if you’ve got a baby like Mr Explosive Nappy over here. It’s also adjustable so the seat can be lifted as your baby grows, and it’s super sturdy.
The Cons
As far as I see it, there are two cons. Firstly, the sheer size of the thing. It’s big and bulky and will take up half of your living room/kitchen. However, I’ve just discovered that it’s foldable so it can be stowed away slightly smaller when it’s not being used.
And secondly, as with any products which suspend babies by their hips, it’s important to only use the Jumperoo in moderation.
Have you got a baby who likes to be entertained the whole while? Have you got any tips on how to keep them occupied and safe whilst trying to do the million-and-one chores around the house? Does your baby love their Jumperoo?
The jumperoo saved me in maternity leave. When I felt exhausted, needed 5 with a cup of tea or just to sit down for a minute, there it was…like a really comforting old friend.
Like a comforting old friend is the perfect description Rhiannon 🙂
Such a great description of it….we stayed in an airbnb a couple of months ago and they had one for their little one …me, my husband and our little girl (now almost 2) did literally greet it like an old pal (although I was relieved the music had broken!) And I had to stop many attempts by her to clamber in!
I would definitely look for one second hand as I always see them on flogging groups and they are pricey to buy new. Despite lots of use ours was still in great condition when I sold it.
My son absolutely adored his jumperoo, and it gave me a bit of hands free time to cook, clean or have a cuppa. I bought it second hand for £40 and sold it 6 months later for £35. I would say he only used it until he was cruising and then he didn’t want to be confined so it’s worth checking second hand. I’ll do the same for my daughter in a few months when she’s big enough. One or our best baby products!
I just don’t know how people cook, clean etc without one. Jenson’s already been in his this morning while I was getting Lyra dressed for preschool! x
Our little girl just wanted to be up and bouncing all the time, it was a real strain on our arms/backs so we bought her a Jumperoo, the other version, and she absolutely loved it., obviously we had to restrict her time in it, she would have bounced all day, and she did once bounce herself to sleep. We also had an East coast walker but she wasn’t as keen. The size of the Jumperoo is a negative and the noise it makes bonging about, that’s without the happy tunes playing, could drive you mad but the payoff of having 10 minutes hands free is a winner for me. I’d say don’t buy one new there are 100’s for sale,we made that mistake and they’re in them for such a short time, ours was still like new when she had grown out of it.
We also had a sensory basket I had put together which she still returns to every now and again. Have you seen the beautiful ones from Grasp&Gather?
I’d say anything,safe, they can shake, squash, spin or chomp is always going to be a winner. We’re just moving on to crafting, crayons playdoh and painting and that’s a whole new adventure!
I have heard stories of kids bouncing themselves to sleep and think it’s hilarious. Lyra never did and Jenson hasn’t yet but I am so going to have the camera at the ready.
Grasp and Gather sensory baskets…gorgeous. I’m tempted to try and recreate one myself! x
Ahh baby jail. The saviour! All hail the jumparoo. My two used to rave in theirs to Ibiza Club Classics, cus the tunes that they are programmed with nearly sent me to insanity. A great addition to the plethora of plastic permanently featuring in the living room, during this age range. Hope you get time for a cuppa hands free now Lis xx
Ha!!
The batteries in the Jumperoo need changing so it currently sounds more like a cat dying, I’m not sure whether that sound or the happy tune is better! I need to take a leaf out of your book and put my own tunes on. x
Total saviour and a really good thing to get second hand if you can as they are quite pricey and don’t get used for that many months. Both mine loved it and perfect when getting the dinner on or trying to get the floor washed etc.
I’m glad you said about the hips as its important to know! Our Physio said the same as you – its fine as long as they are not in them for hours at a time, short bursts.
Nikki my health visitor actually recommended the Jumperoo to me a couple of weeks ago which I found interesting x
Lisa please tell me how you fold them! We have the same one as you and I had no idea it could fold?!! This could change my world 😂
I haven’t tried to fold it yet 🙈 I will have a go and report back though! X
I would like to know this too please! 🙂
Just watched this YouTube video and had a go at folding it away.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi9jsMlMcrE
Super easy and only took a minute. Will definitely be doing this when I want to take it into the kitchen! Makes it even more of a gamechanger! X
Our little boy adored his jumperoo – total life saver! It’s fairly easy to fold, you unclick it at the bottom and shuffle the halves together, folding the seat sideways (dodgy explanation but I’m sure there are YouTube videos.
I was very sad when he got too heavy for it and we had to move it to the loft 🙂
SUCH a lifesaver Maike 🙂
Both kids are finally in bed so I’m going to go and try this folding malarkey x
Ah we have the same one! Leo would stay in it all day if he could. Now he can roll it’s invaluable for nipping to put a load of washing on or getting a cup of tea! I currently have a bouncy chair in the bathroom for when I need the loo and one in the kitchen for when I’m cooking/washing up, but too soon he’ll be too big for those and I have no idea what to do then! I think I’ll have to put the travel cot up as a “playpen”…
I often find myself humming the jumperoo tunes to myself, even when I’m nowhere near it… argh!
Good tips on the bouncy chairs and travel cot. Baby proofing is just around the corner, argh!
Doo-di-di-do-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doooooh-doo x
The “Circle of Neglect” (as Mumsnet likes to call it!) was my saviour! My eldest hated being put down but could happily bounce away for ages. I have a friend who’s baby used to bounce herself to sleep, she’d look away, then look round and baby would be snoring (don’t worry she didn’t leave her in it!)
Oh Sara this haas cracked me up! The Circle of Neglect! Haha! Both Leo and Tayo loved the jumparoo. IT saved my arms, back and sanity on many an occasion! x
Lol-ing at Circle of Neglect and the Jumperoo saving arms, back and sanity xx
We had the same one from Fisherprice but the seat became worn and it was replaced with the newer model. The older model was much better – seemed much more robust so I’m not surprised there are many floating around on the second hand sites.
My girl bounced herself to sleep just once as we were busy gathering ALL the gear you need to go out for more than 5 minutes with a wee one. It didn’t last long as the dog was concerned about the lack of bouncing and barked at her to get her going again.
I can just picture this scene Steph. The dog being concerned about the lack of bouncing…love it! x
We were given one as a gift but neither my wee one or my nephew were huge fans, would go in it for a few minutes but never that long. Hoping number 2 might be more of a fan as I’ll need my hands more!
Jenson definitely likes it more than Lyra did Laura. Fingers crossed for you that your second will be the same 🙂