Q for BTDT moms: exersaucer

shootthemoon · May 2013

While trying to finish up the registry, DH and I kinda got into an argument over these. He claims the only reason he's ever heard to buy one is so it can be a glorified babysitter. He doesn't see why, with a swing, a bouncer, and a pack n play, we need ANOTHER place to stick the baby when we can't watch him. I'm under the impression that, yes, it can be a life-saver when you're home alone with LO and hafta pee or shower, but also that when baby is bigger and maybe grown out of the swing/bouncer, it's a safe, stimulating place for him to play. DH is willing to put one on the registry if I can give him a good reason, but as a FTM, I don't have one other than "I've heard it's a lifesaver!"

So should we get one and if so why? Or is DH right? (I hate it when that happens.) TIA

magdalina.h · May 2013

It's not a life saver, but it's nice to have when baby is older and can play with the toys. Baby is stimulated and you can go pee. Plus it wears baby out doing all the jumping so it's great right before nap time. lol

atoz625 · May 2013

It's an activity center for development. The pushing off the ground thing helps them get ready to stand and build their muscles. It was always used with us in the room, never as a "babysitter", but lets face it, you are NOT going to want to hold baby every waking minute. I would almost suggest that if you had to take one of the items on your above list off to get the exersaucer/jumperoo that the bouncer could go.

We had two jumpers, they were fantastic. We also had a swing, and a pack n play.

To be fair, the exersaucer is bulky, and only used till maybe 1 year (I can't recall, that may be pushing it too) but it was absolutely worth it.

amarissa85 · May 2013

To be quite honest, I never had one for either baby and I don't plan to have one with this one either.

SarahKate31 · May 2013

By the time your baby is big enough for the exersaucer, they will probably have outgrown the bouncer so it's not a duplicate issue. It's a toy that your child will most likely love! It's stimulating and around that age starting at about 4 months, they will love to "stand" and "jump" so why not give them a toy that lets them do just that?

All that said, we got a jumperoo rather than an exersaucer, but same idea.

NiksMama · May 2013

I loved my baby Einstein jumper. It was a great place to put DS for some exercise and he used it until he was about a year old.

For the record, I didn't use it if I was out of the room. I also didn't have a bouncer or swing, and never used our PnP.

Mrs.KMid · May 2013

We didn't have one for DD but we are thinking about getting a jumperoo with this LO only because she like to play with it when she went by her cousins house, so I would say that it is a nice to have but not necessary.

stephmarie · May 2013

We had a borrowed exersaucer for awhile but DS much preferred the jumperoo once we got that. Also, like pp have mentioned, this is much different than the items your DH mentioned, and I certainly wouldn't just stick the baby in there and not oversee him.

silvercamaro77 · May 2013

Agree with PPs. It's good for babies development. They help strengthen leg and core muscles and help develop hand eye coordination at the same time.

DD bored easily but would play in the saucer for 15 minutes at a time. Your DH may not realize it now but that is a huge chunk of time to not have a crying baby!

kateisgreat · May 2013

SarahKate31:
By the time your baby is big enough for the exersaucer, they will probably have outgrown the bouncer so it's not a duplicate issue. It's a toy that your child will most likely love! It's stimulating and around that age starting at about 4 months, they will love to "stand" and "jump" so why not give them a toy that lets them do just that?
All that said, we got a jumperoo rather than an exersaucer, but same idea.

This! We had a jumperoo instead of an exersaucer, but by the time DD was big enough for her jumperoo (which she loved up until a month ago BTW) she had outgrown all of the other things you mentioned. We put the swing away and put the jumperoo in it's spot in the living room. It's most definitely not a redundant toy!

We have a fairly large bathroom, so once she started getting into everything, I moved it to my bathroom and let her jump while I took a shower. It really was a lifesaver in the respect. Since she outgrew it I have to take much faster showers, and poke my head out every few minutes to remind her to get out of my cabinet (there is no way to put a baby lock on it unfortunately).

virginiamama85 · May 2013

While we never had one, I definitely remember thinking at various times that it would have been nice to have one. So, not a necessity in my book, but if you have it, would probably be a nice toy to have around and would get used.

MommyKristin88 · May 2013

I never had one, and we don't plan to get one this time. I didn't understand the purpose since I had a swing and bouncer. We never had a PnP either.

BlueJewelM · May 2013

I couldn't live without the jumperoo. Well I could, but I'd be stinky. Because that thing allowed me to take showers!!! Kept him busy just long enough!

AlexKate45 · May 2013

We got the even flo exersaucer as a gift. It is for three stages. The first they start using at 2 months as a playmat. The last stage it opens up for when they start standing on their own. He loved the stage two bouncing part. So we used it from 2 months to 12 months. We'll use it again for #2. Worth it for us.

My son out grew his swing and bouncer (he never liked this anyway) way before that.

So I say you're right! Wink

EmarieDuke · May 2013

I didn't register for one, but was given one at my shower. BEST.THING.EVER. My DD was able to use it early on - just after 3 months and used it right to about 10-11 months. She loved that thing. She was able to stand up and see the world, plus it rotated 360 degrees so she was able to see me as I worked around. I used to take it outside in the shade and she had a ball. I am going to be buying a second hand jumperoo for this LO. I found my DD was able to use the exercauser a lot earlier than she could use the jumperoo, but she loved my friend's jumperoo once she could use it.

It all depends on your LO. DD was a hot baby so she hated to be held too long or sit in a swing/bouncer. I used to rotate her between a play mat on the floor that she could roll around on and the exercauser. Kept her busy.

BlueJewelM · May 2013

BlueJewelM:
I couldn't live without the jumperoo. Well I could, but I'd be stinky. Because that thing allowed me to take showers!!! Kept him busy just long enough!

Oh. And we had the bouncer, swing and pnp. But the bouncer was nice to move from room to room. So if I was picking up on the top floor or basement, I could move it easily for him to chill in. I loved the pnp because we travel a lot. I'm actually bummed DS is getting too big for it...I need to find a good travel toddler bed situation. I don't want him sleeping with us at gmas houses, hotels.

I could have done without the swing. I was always too nervous to keep him in it too long. But seeing as it will last for two kids I think overall it was worth it. If I didn't have one before, I probably would skip it knowing this will be my last. But glad I have it.

yodasmistress · May 2013

I thought the exersaucer was dumb. I gave ours away after just a few months and was glad to be rid of it. Will not be buying another for bebe #2. The swing and the jumperoo were good things to have though IMO.

MrsI · May 2013

My guess is it says exersaucer but on mobile you can't tell. Honestly DD hated the swing, bouncey seat, and everything in between but she LOVED her jumperoo. We bought one on craigslist for 35 and it was a God send! She only used it for a few months because she was walking at 9 months and no longer wanted to be contained but I'm so glad we got it. She wasn't really a fan of the exersaucer at my mom's. She liked the jumping of a jumperoo.

kje120 · May 2013

I don't know about a lifesaver, but it can come in handy. We used the jumperoo a LOT, but didn't use the exersaucer very much (both were hand me downs so it's not like we spent any money on them). DS loved the jumperoo and it was great for keeping him entertained long enough to get get dinner on the table and to wear him out.

vintageutopia · May 2013

SarahKate31:
By the time your baby is big enough for the exersaucer, they will probably have outgrown the bouncer so it's not a duplicate issue. It's a toy that your child will most likely love! It's stimulating and around that age starting at about 4 months, they will love to "stand" and "jump" so why not give them a toy that lets them do just that?
All that said, we got a jumperoo rather than an exersaucer, but same idea.

This! And glorified babysitter or not, it was a great place to put the baby while I used the bathroom or showered. You will have to contain them somewhere in order to go about your business, so why not an exersaucer. I would rather hear someone say that they used an exersaucer than play the martyr role by saying "It is 4pm and I have yet to shower" or "the only thing I have been able to do today is make my bed". Ummm...okay.

MommyAmes2 · May 2013

I had an exersaucer given to us, my kids never cared for it. They loved the jumperoo though, and I plan on getting one for this baby too.

atoz625 · May 2013

To clarify my suggestion- we never had an exersaucer, only 2 jumperoos. I loved the jumpers.

holly753 · May 2013

I had the jumperoo in my living room all of my kids loved it, we always kept the exersaucer on the deck, both were much better than babies just sitting in a bouncy seat,plus like PP have mentioned they cannot use exersaucer right away, I would say not until 4 or 5 months,

sleeping5beauty · May 2013

We used my sister's with my first. With my second we didn't use one at all. They are big and bulky and aren't really needed. I would hold off on getting one until at least 5 months, because it will just sit there not being used until your baby can sit and support their head. In my opinion it's not needed at all.

janneann1127 · May 2013

I agree with a PP who said that if you can remove anything off that list, it would be the bouncer. We had a jumperoo and it was a great, if only for a short period of time (like months 5-8).

The thing is, the swing is used early - from birth until maybe 6 months at the most. The PnP was something we bought but pretty much only used as a travel crib, so that wasn't something we used on a regular basis. Other than the swing, or on the blanket to roll around, the only other place we "put" him to keep him entertained was the jumperoo. If you can get a used one, I say go for it.

CelticWife · May 2013

We loved the bouncer, which is for babies who cannot sit up. After the bouncer, they would go to the exersaucer. Both of my kids really disliked the exersaucer and the jumperoo, though. Once they reached the age where they could sit up, they hated being confined in anything.

Ladydianna · May 2013

AlexKate45:
We got the even flo exersaucer as a gift.nbsp; It is for three stages.nbsp; The first they start using at 2 months as a playmat.nbsp; The last stage it opens up for when they start standing on their own. He loved the stage two bouncing part. nbsp; So we used it from 2 months to 12 months.nbsp; We'll use it again for 2.nbsp; Worth it for us. My son out grew his swing and bouncer he never liked this anyway way before that.nbsp; So I say you're right! [;]

A friend just got this at her shower yesterday. I haven't looked at them in over six years and really thought it was great. Both my girls loved their playmat and exersaucer. My 2 year old still plays with some of the toys when my nephew is in his.
I will be getting the same one for this little guy.

tittytwistertortoises · May 2013

We had a bouncer, swing, pack n play and an exersaucer. The thing is, you will never know what your baby will like until he tries it. DS did not like the swing at all but like the bouncer. I was able to put the bouncer in the bathroom while I took a shower and DS was entertained.
We only use the pack in play on vacation. It's just too big to keep up all the time in the house and I would rather just have him play On the floor.
We loved the exersaucer. We also got the one that has multiple stages. It is now on our deck and DS at 16 months still plays with it. It can be a lifesaver when your kid starts becoming mobile and you need to run to the bathroom or get dinner started before dh gets home.

shootthemoon · May 2013

Thanks for all the opinions, ladies. Sounds like it's down to preference, whether baby likes it, and they're nice but not necessary. Sure wish this kid would tell me what he wants before he comes out, lol. Like, c'mon kid, a wishlist would be asking too much? What else have you got to do in there right now?

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