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The Best Baby Jumpers

Updated November 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Fisher-Price Jumperoo Rainforest
Fisher-Price
Jumperoo Rainforest
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Most Popular
Bottom Line

A popular jumper that boasts ultra-sturdy construction. Our expert likes the adjustable height settings that allow feet to be flat on the floor.

Pros

Sturdy base. Fabric-covered springs deliver good bounce and won’t pinch little fingers. Seat rotates. Three adjustable height settings. Lights, sound, and music features are a nice touch. Many reviewers stated that the melodies are surprisingly pleasant.

Cons

Even the lowest height setting is somewhat tall, so keep this in mind if you have a smaller baby. Spinning seat can be a bit sticky.

Best Bang for the Buck
Baby Einstein Neighborhood Activity Jumper
Baby Einstein
Neighborhood Activity Jumper
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Adjustable Height
Bottom Line

Our baby and kids expert recommends this colorful and fun toy for those hoping to keep their baby jumper for several seasons.

Pros

Features 12 different interactive toys, each that comes with its own sounds, colors, and textures. A fully swiveling chair lets your baby turn around and stay active. The height can be adjusted to suit personal needs and preferences.

Cons

Not as "bouncy" or sturdy as some of the other models on this list.

Bright Starts Finding Nemo Sea of Activities Jumper
Bright Starts
Finding Nemo Sea of Activities Jumper
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Feature-packed
Bottom Line

Disney-themed jumper with stimulating features. Highly entertaining with plenty of activities, good bounce, and sturdy construction.

Pros

Features 13 toys and activities, as well as lights and sound. Comes with a comfortable, 360° rotating seat. Offers 4 height settings. Stable, with a good amount of bounce. Covered springs are safe for little fingers. Easy to assemble.

Cons

Pricey, but most parents agree it’s well worth it. Somewhat bulky. Some reviewers felt it could use more moving parts.

Evenflo ExerSaucer Doorway Jumper
Evenflo
ExerSaucer Doorway Jumper
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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

At half the price of most jumpers, this option still manages to deliver all the features, comfort, and fun of more expensive models.

Pros

Height adjustment is easy and uncomplicated. The spring comes with a safety cover to prevent pinching. Versatile installation, with some owners claiming to have hung it from metal rods or trees with good results.

Cons

Very difficult to get the fabric off for washing. Some complaints of the seat tipping over when bigger babies lean forward too much.

Skip Hop Explore & More Jumpscape Fold-away Jumper
Skip Hop
Explore & More Jumpscape Fold-away Jumper
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Foldable Convenience
Bottom Line

Ideal for smaller living spaces, this jumper is easy to fold. Clip-on toys and several height adjustments earn praise from our expert.

Pros

Boasts unique features, including a bounce counter that rewards little ones with music, lights, and applause when they reach 100 jumps. Clip-on toys allow for customizable entertainment. Seat rotates. Five height settings.

Cons

Expensive. Folding takes a bit of effort. Has a large footprint and some reviewers complained it doesn’t fit through doorways unless folded.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

36
Models
Considered
197
Consumers
Consulted
10
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for Best baby jumpers

Does your baby need a little fun in her life? And perhaps a little exercise, too? A baby jumper could be just the thing. A baby jumper is the infant equivalent of a child’s playground. In it, your child can stand, and can stretch her developing legs while exploring her surroundings. There’s nothing quite like hearing her giggle or watching her eyes light up as she discovers some newfound “independence” in her baby jumper.

The market is bursting with different product options, from stationary jumpers with activity saucers to suspended door jumpers that are classically known by some as the Johnny Jump Up. With so many choices, consumers can pick from a wide range of jumper prices, sizes, age/weight limits, features, and more.

At BestReviews, we understand how taxing parenting can be. For this reason, we want your shopping experience to be as stress-free as possible. Please see our product list for tried-and-true baby jumpers that could have your baby giggling with joy. We have the details you need if you’d like to learn more about choosing the perfect baby jumper.

A happy baby uses a baby jumper.
Baby jumpers can help to strengthen a baby’s legs and hips, but adjusting them properly is important so that baby can weight bear on flat feet, not on tip-toes only. This puts too much strain on the tiny muscles and ligaments of the feet and ankles.

What is a baby jumper?

A baby jumper is a stationary unit in which your child can sit and “jump” while supported by elastic bands and a secure seat.

Some jumpers are quite plain: all you get is the apparatus, and all the baby can do in it is jump. Other jumpers include trays filled with exploratory toys that stimulate and entertain the child.

"Baby jumpers are a great way to keep your child occupied and safe when you need your hands free for cooking, washing, ironing, and such. As long as you don’t overdo the time spent by a baby in a jumper, you can both have loads of fun!"
STAFF
BestReviews

Types of baby jumpers

Simple stationary jumper

A simple stationary jumper, much like the name implies, is fixed in place by its frame. It includes a seat and an elastic cord that helps your baby jump. The simplest of stationary jumpers features no additional toys or sensory entertainment for your baby. Its sole purpose is to allow the child to bounce.

Activity center jumper, or exersaucer

These jumpers consist of a seat, elastic cord, frame, and tray filled with a variety of toys. The toys may vary from jumper to jumper, but their purpose is the same: to provide your baby with visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation during her jumping session.

Doorway jumper

Doorway jumpers include no built-in frame. Rather, they attach as a bungee to a door frame with a clamp. These jumpers can be bothersome to set up and take down, but they tend to cost less than simple stationary jumpers and exersaucers.

Expert Tip
Never leave a baby unattended in a baby jumper.
BestReviews Baby and Child Expert

Considerations

Height adjustability

Some baby jumpers allow you to adjust for your child’s height as she grows. You may see a package that advertises the maximum number of height adjustments that can be made. The more adjustment increments available, the more likely your child will sit comfortably in the jumper.

Seat

Seats differ from jumper to jumper. The best jumpers feature removable seat pads that can be machine washed or spot cleaned. Plush padding is a nice touch, too. For younger infants with less control, we suggest, we suggest that you consider a unit with a high seat and a supportive back. Babies should never be placed in these jumpers until they are able to hold their heads up by themselves and support their bodies most of the time.

If you’re buying a stationary activity jumper, you’ll also want to make sure that your baby can comfortably reach the toys from her seat. Some activity centers feature 360° rotating seats that allow your baby to turn and face different portions of the toy tray, depending on her mood. We at BestReviews strongly recommend this feature, as dealing with a frustrated infant is quite the opposite of a stress-free experience!

Weight limit

In the interest of safety, jumper manufacturers specify a weight minimum and maximum for each model. The majority of jumpers quote a maximum weight of 20 to 30 pounds. However, our product research turned up a few rare models with weight maximums of 40 to 60 pounds.

It’s important to adhere to manufacturer guidelines, as placing a too-heavy or too-light child in a jumper poses a safety risk.

Expert Tip
Never add extra toys or ropes to baby jumpers. 
BestReviews Baby and Child Expert

Toys

Stationary activity jumpers, or exersaucers, feature a saucer that surrounds your baby’s seat. The saucer is filled with various toys to entertain the child, from flashing lights to musical electronics to fuzzy, crinkly touchables.

The toys on your child’s activity jumper dashboard can:

  • Stimulate her visually with bright colors, flashing lights, and fun shapes
  • Enhance her auditory experience with rattles, crinkly toys, music, and pre-recorded language
  • Expose her to multiple languages
  • Provide her with tactile stimulation via textured teethers and toys
  • Teach her about cause and effect

Before you buy a jumper, observe the types of toys your baby currently enjoys. Does she love toys that make noise? Flash brightly? Feel soft to the touch? Choosing a jumper with the right toys helps ensure that your child won’t lose interest in your investment.

Down the road, if you want to add more toys — or replace worn ones with new ones — it’s easy! Toy links, which you can purchase alone or with fun gadgets already attached, easily clasp onto the side of your activity jumper to add extra entertainment for your baby.

Expert tip
Babies should not use jumpers until they are naturally pulling themselves up to stand and have very good head control
BestReviews Baby and Child Expert

Battery requirements

If you choose to buy an activity jumper with powered toys, be forewarned that a set of new batteries (or two or three) are probably in your future. Jumpers with sounds and lights are wonderful and exciting for baby, but they do require an additional small investment. Rechargeable batteries could save you money in the long run, if you’re so inclined to purchase them.

Baby jumper safety tips

It’s a common parental fear that baby jumpers are unsafe. The reality, however, is that many parents swear by them, and they are still legally sold. In order to maximize your baby’s safety, please note the following tips:

  • Always place the jumper on a flat, level surface.
  • Ensure that the floor surrounding the jumper is clear of dangerous objects, including sharps and nervous pets.
  • Never attach toys to the apparatus with string, as this could pose a strangulation hazard. Inexpensive toy links are easy to find in stores and online.
  • When your baby is using the jumper, stay in the room with her.
  • Don’t move the jumper with your baby in it.
  • Keep jumpers away from stairs, pools, and other hazardous areas. Although designed to be stationary, jumpers sometimes do “travel” across the floor.
  • Once your baby exceeds the stated weight and height limit, stop using the jumper.
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Caution
Overuse of exersaucers or jumperoos has been known to lead to poor standing position, lack of balance control, decrease in human interactiveness, and less interest in exploring the surrounding natural environment.
STAFF
BestReviews

Doorway baby jumper safety

If you choose to purchase a doorway jumper, this section of our shopping guide is for you. A doorway jumper is an economical investment that can provide your child with hours of enjoyment, but it comes with a few of its own safety issues.

Preventing a collision

Your doorway is hard, wooden, and angular. It’s generally not a baby-friendly space.

However, your baby’s doorway jumper will be suspended in the doorway, and you want to make sure they don’t collide with the wall. To ease this concern, many manufacturers place circular padding around the seat to form a buffer between the baby and the wall. The padding isn’t foolproof; your baby could still thrust her head or arms outside of the padding ring and into harm’s way. But the presence of the padding eases the possibility of injury considerably.

If you’ve got your heart set on a Johnny Jump Up, consider lining your doorway with protective padding. It’s a fairly easy DIY.

Expert tip
Always ensure that doorways are reinforced and safe when using a jumper in a doorway.
BestReviews Baby and Child Expert

Clamps

A doorway jumper attaches via a clamp to the door’s moulding. That clamp could potentially slip or break, causing your baby to fall to the ground. Some reasons for this could include:

  • Aggressive back-and-forth swinging
  • A faulty clamp
  • Improper clamp installation
  • Door molding that is not the right size for the clamp

Note: many doorway jumpers have been recalled over the years due to faulty clamps.

Situating your doorway jumper

When you’re deciding where to hang your doorway jumper, remember that you won’t be able to move in and out of the room without sliding past your baby. For this reason, we suggest you choose a doorway with light foot traffic.

The doorway will require a good amount of moulding in order for the clasp to adequately grip it. So what if you have a doorway with little or no trim? In this case, we suggest you search for a jumper that uses a hook (these are rare) or consider an exersaucer or simple stationary jumper instead.

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If you own both a pet and a doorway jumper, take precautions. A boisterous dog or cat could barge through the doorway, inadvertently pushing your baby into the jamb or collapsing the jumper altogether.

FAQ

Q: At what age and weight should I get my baby a jumper?

A: Your baby needs to be able to hold her head upright and bear a bit of weight on her legs without assistance in order to successfully use a jumper. It isn’t as much a matter of her age and weight as it is her development.

However, if your baby is already walking on her own, the jumper won’t probably be of much use or interest anymore.

Children who are between the “upright head” and “walking” milestones are the best candidates for a baby jumper.

Expert tip
Take advantage of your baby’s movement to teach vocabulary and language. Say words such as up, down, forward, and back to narrate your baby’s actions.
BestReviews Baby and Child Expert

Q: What is the difference between a jumper and a walker?

A: Jumpers are stationary activity centers. The child can move slightly from side to side and up and down, but she’s not actually mobile. And yet, she gets great exercise and other sensory stimulation from the experience.

A baby walker actually allows the child to move from one end of the room to the other while seated. It’s the adult equivalent of a rolling, spinning desk chair. Baby walkers are not as common as they once were due to safety concerns.

Q: How long should my baby use a jumper each day?

A: Some experts say that your baby should use a jumper for a maximum of 20 minutes per day. More than 20 minutes could actually hinder your baby’s walking process, according to some.

However, others have allowed their baby to use the jumper for more than 20 minutes per day with no problems. In the end, it’s up to you how long you want your baby to play in her jumper each day.

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