The Family Groove "The Exersaucer Files"

THE EXERSAUCER FILES
TFG'S FAVORITE ONES KEEP BABY ENTERTAINED—LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO
REGAIN SOME SEMBLENCE OF SANITY AND MAYBE EVEN RETURN A PHONE CALL

Exersaucers. Thank goodness for exersaucers. They educate and engage your little one—and give
you a much-needed chance to sit down for a minute or two. From basics to bells and whistles, these
top five choices will have them—and you—jumping for joy.

Evenflo ExerSaucer 3-in-1 Pond
One of the flashier models, this 3-in-1 is geared to transition with your child from infant to toddler. Stage one is an interactive playmate, stage two is an exersaucer and stage three is an activity table. Each stage will stimulate their developmental motor skills and coordination, entertain them for hours and give your tired back a well-deserved break.
($109.95, www.babyage.com)

Evenflo ExerSaucer Mega Farmyard
This exersaucer stands out not only for its cute and captivating farm theme but also for its reasonable price and flexibility. Geared for babies 4 months to walking age, it features a variety of songs to help musical development and cause-and-effect learning, and it has several toys designed to help foster important developmental milestones. Best of all, it folds smaller than other models and features a built-in carry handle for easier have-baby, will-travel adventures.
($59.99, www.albeebaby.com)

Evenflo SmartSteps ExerSaucer Entertainer
The SmartSteps ExerSaucer features spring-loaded legs and a rocking base that let your child safely bounce up and down and develop a sense of balance. But it’s the stimulating and interesting toys that are bound to capture Baby’s attention. Entertainment includes a toy bar with lights and music with more than 50 songs and sounds, a phone, teethers, a mirror, and numerous activities to encourage your child to learn about shapes, letters and numbers in an interactive way.
($99.99, www.amazon.com)

Graco Baby Einstein Discover and Play Entertainer
The Graco Baby Einstein Discover and Play Entertainer is similar to other models with its stimulating and educational toys but stands out because of its bi-lingual focus. The language feature plays a collection of simple words spoken in English and Spanish to encourage talk-back, repetition and retention and is accompanied by photographs for easy recognition. The activity center toys include the Baby Einstein signature dragon hand puppet, teething star, sun rattle, set of three spinning wheels that rattle, squeak and chime, buttons that play animal names, sounds and music and movable beads.
($74, www.target.com)

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
If your little one is looking for more of a workout, try the Rainforest Jumperoo. Best described as an exersaucer with more bounce, the Jumperoo has a jumping motion that activates music and lights, and it comes complete with a bobbing elephant, swinging monkey and spinning lizard. A rotating seat provides your baby 365-degree access to the toys around and overhead. While the Jumperoo may take up more space than other exersaucers, most moms find it well worth the extra inches!
($89.99, www.babiesrus.com)

—Erin K. Butler

Erin K. Butler is a freelance writer living in Connecticut with her husband and daughter.