The Baby Gym That Entertained My Son Every Day For Months
Are you looking for a review or recommendation the best baby activity gym? This article gives a review of the baby gym I chose for my son when he was 5 weeks old. Firstly from my research, here is the things I looked for when I bought a baby gym:
Lots of hanging toys - A variety of toys for babies to firstly look at, the play with and explore. Great toys include mirrors, crinkly toys, spinning toys as well as toys that are brightly colored.
Lots of loops to hang more toys - To engage babies for longer its good to have lots of loops so there are toys in different areas for babies to look at and explore.
Music and sounds - Look for music which can be soothing and relaxing for babies and not too irritating for parents! Many gyms have different modes for music including a continuous play mode and a baby activate mode.
Lights - Lights are especially good for younger babies to focus on.
A comfortable mat to lie on - As well as being comfortable for your baby to lie on, it's makes it more comfortable for them when they start to roll over and have tummy time.
Washable or Easy to Clean Mat - Small babies dribble and are quite often sick so it's definitley worth getting an easy to clean mat or one which you can just put in the washing machine and dry easily.
Read on for my personal review of the best baby gym.
Lots of hanging toys - A variety of toys for babies to firstly look at, the play with and explore. Great toys include mirrors, crinkly toys, spinning toys as well as toys that are brightly colored.
Lots of loops to hang more toys - To engage babies for longer its good to have lots of loops so there are toys in different areas for babies to look at and explore.
Music and sounds - Look for music which can be soothing and relaxing for babies and not too irritating for parents! Many gyms have different modes for music including a continuous play mode and a baby activate mode.
Lights - Lights are especially good for younger babies to focus on.
A comfortable mat to lie on - As well as being comfortable for your baby to lie on, it's makes it more comfortable for them when they start to roll over and have tummy time.
Washable or Easy to Clean Mat - Small babies dribble and are quite often sick so it's definitley worth getting an easy to clean mat or one which you can just put in the washing machine and dry easily.
Read on for my personal review of the best baby gym.
Fisher Price Rainforest Melodies and Lights Gym Review
I bought the Rainforest baby gym for my son when he was 5 weeks old. Immediately after I bought it, my first thought was – that’s a lot of money for a toy for such a small baby. Have I fallen for all the hype surrounding the gym? However, during the next few months I realized it was worth every penny. He still played with parts of the toy on occasion at 10 months old! And, when we finished with it, we sold it second hand on ebay for just under 1/2 the price we paid for it too.
 
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Here is a review I wrote on the baby gym when he was just five weeks old:
This is the baby gym I've chosen for my baby. At the moment he is five weeks old and I'm extremely happy with the choice. He is very happy when on the mat. He stares at the lights and the different toys as well as the hanging butterflies at the top of the gym. The mat is slightly quilted and makes a comfortable base as well as being extremely bright and colorful. The gym features lots of toys including spinning toys, crinkly toys, moving and stationary toys. |
The toys can be attached to the hanging loops but you can also detach them so baby can play with them on the floor. I don't see why the toys couldn't also be attached to a stroller or car seat too.
My 4 year old son likes to lie next to the baby in the gym and show the baby the toys and the mirror. As my baby gets older I expect him to reach for the toys and start playing with them. The quilted mat is also great for tummy time as there are lots of colorful animals to look at.
The music is catchy and not at all irritating. There are different modes for the music including a 20 minute parent mode where music and rainforest sounds is played continuously for 20 minutes. There is also a baby activated mode, where babies moves activate the music - although I haven't used it yet. The music is soothing and he has already fallen asleep in the gym a couple of times so it is quite relaxing for him.
A great plus with this baby gym is that you are able to fold it up and put it away. It doesn't have to be laid out on the floor at all times
My 4 year old son likes to lie next to the baby in the gym and show the baby the toys and the mirror. As my baby gets older I expect him to reach for the toys and start playing with them. The quilted mat is also great for tummy time as there are lots of colorful animals to look at.
The music is catchy and not at all irritating. There are different modes for the music including a 20 minute parent mode where music and rainforest sounds is played continuously for 20 minutes. There is also a baby activated mode, where babies moves activate the music - although I haven't used it yet. The music is soothing and he has already fallen asleep in the gym a couple of times so it is quite relaxing for him.
A great plus with this baby gym is that you are able to fold it up and put it away. It doesn't have to be laid out on the floor at all times
How A Baby Gym Helps Your Babies Development
Baby Gyms are perfect toys for newborn babies up to when they are on the move. Here is how baby gyms help babies develop at every stage:
Newborn babies - very young babies love to stare at lights, colors and shapes on the baby gym. If the gym has music they will enjoy hearing and listening to the different sounds. Very young babies can't focus on objects far away (they appear blurry) so they focus on objects that are between 8 and 12 inches away from their face and baby gyms are set up perfectly to accommodate this. The dangly objects are easy for them to focus on and the colors are usually bright and contrasting which makes it easier for babies to see.
Ages 3 to 6 months - This is when your baby will probably get the most out of a baby gym. This is the age babies start to bat and grasp at toys and baby gyms give lots of opportunities for babies to do this. At first they will just try to reach out and bat the toys but eventually they will grab hold of them.
Baby gyms can help encourage babies to roll over as they attempt to reach objects further away from them on the other side of the mat.
If the baby gym comes with a mirror, this is the age they will begin to notice their reflection. You may notice them staring at it or reaching for it.
Age 6 months plus - Again baby gyms encourage movement at this age. They will want to get to toys that they can't reach yet. It provides a safe comfortable area. My son used to get on his hands and knees and rock on the comfortable mat.
Newborn babies - very young babies love to stare at lights, colors and shapes on the baby gym. If the gym has music they will enjoy hearing and listening to the different sounds. Very young babies can't focus on objects far away (they appear blurry) so they focus on objects that are between 8 and 12 inches away from their face and baby gyms are set up perfectly to accommodate this. The dangly objects are easy for them to focus on and the colors are usually bright and contrasting which makes it easier for babies to see.
Ages 3 to 6 months - This is when your baby will probably get the most out of a baby gym. This is the age babies start to bat and grasp at toys and baby gyms give lots of opportunities for babies to do this. At first they will just try to reach out and bat the toys but eventually they will grab hold of them.
Baby gyms can help encourage babies to roll over as they attempt to reach objects further away from them on the other side of the mat.
If the baby gym comes with a mirror, this is the age they will begin to notice their reflection. You may notice them staring at it or reaching for it.
Age 6 months plus - Again baby gyms encourage movement at this age. They will want to get to toys that they can't reach yet. It provides a safe comfortable area. My son used to get on his hands and knees and rock on the comfortable mat.
