Exersaucer...would you recommend it?

[tripletsmama]

DS is currently 5 months. I didn't have an exersaucer with my other kids, but I'm thinking of getting one for when he's big enough. I was just wondering if anyone would recommend the exersaucer. Thanks for any experiences you can share!

 

[Spunky946]

We used on for both of our kids and they loved it.

 

[zoemurr]

Craig's List or consignment shops for one. They are fun (and it's nice to keep your kid in one place) but last for a very limited time. Worth $20, not $80-$100.

 

[RedHeadedFairy]

Craig's List or consignment shops for one. They are fun (and it's nice to keep your kid in one place) but last for a very limited time. Worth $20, not $80-$100.

Exact ditto to this post! My DD loved hers but it was short-lived & not worth paying full price for since we didn't plan on having more children & it wouldn't be used beyond a few months.

We ended up getting a really nice one as a gift & the seat was removable so once she outgrew the stationery aspect of it, she could still use it as a toy for many months. We ended up handing it down to 2 other friends so collectively we've gotten our money's worth, lol!

Here's a pic: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-2dPrice-Step-26-Play-Piano/dp/B00006C29H/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

[twinboysmom]

Yes, yes, yes!!! It was a lifesaver for me. My boys loved it andi can say, it is worn out. They used it way past the point when they were too big for it because they enjoyed it. A gently used one is a great option. I see them in resale shops around here all the time.

 

[SweetMissy]

I didn't have one with my first 2 but my sister gave me hers for my 3rd and he loved it!

 

[thedonduck]

My kids liked the jumper better than the exersaucer. It was a great place to "contain" them while I made dinner, etc. and let them be upright and safe!

 

[Missy13d69]

Our kids loved theirs. I think I would say it was one of my favorite baby products.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't believe that they are good for legs or hips or spines of babies, and I wouldn't let DS (or any other small child I might ever have responsibility for) use one (when DS was of the age to use one, of course, LOL) if you paid me.


I do still have a "playpen" that's on the ground (so no weight limit) that we bought with the intent of camping and keeping DS in one spot. Of course, he learned to climb right out of it almost instantly, LOL.

Ultimately I just made our living room safe for DS (we didn't babyproof, we Eamon-proofed as we went, since the things that interest other babies weren't interesting to him until we put things like plug covers up, and he learned to pull those out inside a week, and the things he WAS interested in generally don't show up on babyproofing lists), put up a gate to the kitchen (after he learned to open the drawer and cupboard locks) (which, it turned out, were recalled last year...so he wasn't that brilliant...they were just bad childlocks), and worked in the kitchen while he did his baby work in the living room.

 

[ktlm]

When DD was a baby, the exersaucer and the jumperoo were the only two places that we could put her that she didn't absolutely demand attention from us. She never liked swings, bouncers, just playing on the floor etc. They were the only thing that kept her attention. I'm not sure what you mean about when he's big enough though because DD started in hers at 3 months (she was a bigger baby). I can't recall how long she stayed in it, but I'm pretty sure she was never in it by the time she was 12 months and walking, and it may have been more like 9 months when she quit using it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Bumbershoot makes some valid points. Our pediatrician did not recommend them, nor the walkers that they replaced because of the UN-natural position of the legs. She told us to not use one at all on our DS that was premature. We were gifted one for our little guy when he was a baby and we used it a little bit but he was not a huge fan. We just did not use a lot of "stuff" with our boys. Lots of tummy play time, lots of holding time etc. Our exception was the swing for our supper over the top colic baby. It gave me 10m minute to eat and five to shower each day!!!!

If you want to try one, I suggest a co-sign store for a great deal and try to limit the use to a short time, a few times a day if you little one likes it. I think there are guildlines as to when the baby is ready to safely use one. Pretty sure they should have a little more head and body control than most 3 mo olds have.

 

[North of Mouse]

I used walkers and exersaucers, and unless you leave a child in them extensively, it is not going to harm their legs or hips. My babies had the run of the floor mostly, but the seats were life savers at times when I needed them near me, especially when I was doing s specific task, like cooking. I am a gardener, so also used them outside some.

 

[mummabear]

Used one heaps with my first-hardly ever for my second....Jolly jumper for both was a godsend

 

[tripletsmama]

Thanks for all of the different responses. I didn't know he was already big enough to use it! I called the consignment store we usually go to and they said they have 3 right now but that they go fast. I'll have to go up there tomorrow to see what the selection is like.

 

[elaine amj]

we used ours extensively. my DD didn't use it as much - she liked the jumparoo more. (funnily enough, my DS didn't) My DS adored the exersaucer though and used it until he was 2ish because he just liked to climb in it and relax. I did not see any problems with legs and hip placement as he developed.

He loved to watch tv in it and spent at least 1-2 hours a day in it. When he wasn't in it, he spent a lot of times in my arms as he really liked that too LOL. I didn't see any harm in putting my baby in something he enjoyed so much. He walked just fine when it came time.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My ds11 and dd9 had them as babies - and they were using them by the time they were the age of your baby. The daycare started propping dd in it when she was 3 months old and ds was already self-supporting his neck/back by 3 months. They both loved them and it provided them hours of entertainment so I could do laundry, prepare meals, wash dishes, etc. I always put them in the room I was in so I could keep an eye on them. My ds's was used the longest because after he started walking (the day he turned 9 months old), we converted it into a train track which he used until he was 3 or so. The one I got for dd is now in the nursery at church and still being used weekly. I think I got the $80-100 worth out of each of them - at this point I have no idea who made them.

Now my dd had a jumparoo - I didn't feel that was too safe - she was always grabbing the legs and I was afraid she was going to get hurt. On a plus side, any time she got constipated, I just put her in there and within a few minutes "it" was up her back.

 

[Schmeck]

We used the jumpy thing that clipped in the doorway and an actual walker for my older daughter, now 21 years old. No harm was done to her spine, legs, hips or brain. She was a competitive gymnast, a nationally ranked synchro skater, and is now a rugby playing senior at MIT. Now rugby, on the other hand...

If you leave a kid in something for hours on end, or let them sit in front of a TV for hours, give them iPods instead of attention etc, of course there are going to be some issues. Everything in moderation!

 

[Kae]

I used walkers and exersaucers, and unless you leave a child in them extensively, it is not going to harm their legs or hips. My babies had the run of the floor mostly, but the seats were life savers at times when I needed them near me, especially when I was doing s specific task, like cooking. I am a gardener, so also used them outside some.

I loved using it outside I could pull it over to where I was working in the yard. Both kids loved them & DS is a Cross Country runner & soccer player so no harm.

Kae

 

[Baliezer]

I have four daughters and used an excersaucer, jumper and walker for each of them. I used them for only short periods of time, usually while I was making dinner or doing laundry, and my girls turned out just fine. The older two are gymnasts and the younger two are active monkeys. Like others said. Used in moderation these items are fine.

 

[tripletsmama]

My ds11 and dd9 had them as babies - and they were using them by the time they were the age of your baby. The daycare started propping dd in it when she was 3 months old and ds was already self-supporting his neck/back by 3 months. They both loved them and it provided them hours of entertainment so I could do laundry, prepare meals, wash dishes, etc. I always put them in the room I was in so I could keep an eye on them. My ds's was used the longest because after he started walking (the day he turned 9 months old), we converted it into a train track which he used until he was 3 or so. The one I got for dd is now in the nursery at church and still being used weekly. I think I got the $80-100 worth out of each of them - at this point I have no idea who made them.

Now my dd had a jumparoo - I didn't feel that was too safe - she was always grabbing the legs and I was afraid she was going to get hurt. On a plus side, any time she got constipated, I just put her in there and within a few minutes "it" was up her back.

How do you convert it into a train track? This sounds interesting.