KICK AND PLAY PIANO TARGET FULL

Read our full review of the Lovevery Play Gym. But for parents with a big enough budget, its focus on developmental stages, large play mat, and design that easily works with most decor warrants the expense. It's one of the more expensive options for an infant activity gym.

If there's a downside to the Lovevery Play Gym, it's the price. Young babies won't be able to reach more than one toy at a time, but my son didn't seem to mind focusing on batting one toy around at that age.

The gym is designed to target development without overstimulating. For example, I never would have thought to position my son so that he could kick the ball instead of grab it or kick the crinkle paper section on the mat.ДЄt first, the Lovevery Play Gym felt a bit too simple - but as my son played, it quickly became a favorite. Three clips can also hold picture cards for younger babies to look at.ДЄ guide included with the play gym opens up more ways to play based on baby's developmental stages. The mat is topped by a wooden play arch with three legs and three hanging toys - a wooden noisemaker, a ring with crinkly fabric, and a fabric ball. The mat is a polyester blend that's machine washable but needs to air-dry. I was initially worried about stains, but so far, everything has washed out easily, including sweet-potato-laced spit-up.

While the tummy stations are colorful, the play mat is a neutral off-white. Each tummy time section can each be closed when not in use. Another section houses different textured tags, a hide-and-seek ring toy, a colorful mix of tags, and a pop-up for inserting a mirror and pictures. My son was obsessed with the crinkly paper section. The mat houses five different tummy time stations around the edge. However, this also means it's not an ideal choice for small spaces. The generous size also helps prolong the gym's use since it can accommodate crawlers if you scatter more toys around the mat. The large size - about 3 feet wide with the tummy time sections closed and nearly 4 feet with them open - means baby doesn't immediately roll off. The differences begin with the play mat and continue with the sleek wood arches. Most play gyms have flashy plastic toys and simple small mats. With versatile hanging toys and a large mat with tummy time stations, the Lovevery Play Gym encourages developmental play. Prices and links are current as of 9/17/20.

Best budget baby activity gym: Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes Music Activity Gym.

Best baby activity gym for travel and small spaces: Infantino 4-in-1 Twist & Fold Activity Gym, Tropical.

Best adjustable baby activity gym: Tiny Love Magical Tales Gymini.

Best baby activity gym for tummy time: Skip Hop Farmstand Grow and Play Activity Gym.

Best baby activity gym overall: Lovevery Play Gym.

Sroll to the end of this guide to read more about my selection criteria.ДЇinally, I handpicked five baby activity gyms that both promote a wide range of movement and help encourage independent play. I also evaluated each one based on the positions and types of toys to encourage developmental milestones, the versatility of play options, and whether the mat was large enough for rolling. While testing, I looked at each play gym's design, durability, and entertainment value. Each gym was provided as an editorial review sample by its manufacturer. I then tested nine different options with my 7-month-old son over the course of more than a month. To find out what to consider when shopping for a baby gym, I spoke to Heffron. Others may be too small, don't hold up to a baby's constant tugs, or don't encourage enough developmentally appropriate movement. With the first one that I bought my oldest, he managed to pull the entire rack of toys down on top of himself. 'Playing on the floor in various positions builds strength, promotes visual motor skills, and generally helps babies get a feel for how their bodies work,' said Claire Heffron, a pediatric occupational therapist who writes for The Inspired Treehouse.В 'Activity gyms can act as a target object for babies to focus on, reach for, and roll toward.'Д«ut all infant activity gyms are not created equal. Instead of squats and push-ups, activity gyms encourage reaching, rolling, grasping, and more. By clicking вЂSign upвЂ™, you agree to receive marketing emails from InsiderДЄs well as other partner offers and accept ourД«aby activity gyms may not include any barbells, but the popular toy mats play an important role in building the muscles necessary to hit developmental milestones.

Kick and play piano target