Best Toys for 4 Months Old Baby

Updated on December 08, 2009
K.I. asks from Norman, OK
22 answers

HI! once again my friends,
I have a 14 week old little girl and I want to buy a christmas present for her, I was thinking on a play matress but my mom tell me to get her a exersaucer you all know that both are expensive (more than $60)I just need some advice about what is the best thing for her , I dont want to buy something that she will pass real fast.

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone !!
Really helps your opinions

Featured Answers

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M.P.

answers from Texarkana on

Go with the exersaucer if you don't want her to outgrow it quickly..........it will grow with her until she's about 18-24 months.........then she will tire of it. The play mattress won't last beyond the time she starts crawling......she won't stay on it after that.

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

Oh, I vote for the exersaucer!!! My had one when he was little and he loved loved loved it. It was a play toy, it was a snack place, it was his very favorite thing even after he was really too big for it ~ he would still play with the toy on it and use it for his stuffed animals to play in and on.

Merry Christmas !!!!!

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S.A.

answers from Jonesboro on

K.,
It looks like many have suggested the jumperoo, I do too. My son is 21 months now, but when he was about 4 months he started using the jumperoo. He loved it! We have some cute and funny videos of him jumping away in it.
My mother-in-law found mine at a yardsale for really cheap and it was in great condition. My baby used his until he was too big for it and still wanted to get in it. He was like a year old and walking and still tried to get in it and jump. My teenage son said mom why don't you buy me something like that.lol
The jumperoo was a total hit!
Good luck!
S.

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S.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I think the exercise thing would be best. I have a 4 month old as well and she is just as happy laying on a blanket with toys as being on her play mat. We got her a Jumparoo a month or so ago and she is just now playing in it and loves it.

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A.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I highly recommend the exersaucer. They play with them so much longer and my son loves spending time in his. He is 6 mos now, but has been playing in it since 5 mos. My oldest played in it until he was probably over a year. Worth the investment!

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G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Hi, I lived in Norman a long time ago and really liked it. It was so close to OKC and I had the best of "both worlds". You have a "small town" atmosphere in Norman but have the "big city" just around the corner.

Anyway, I owned a Child Care Center for several years and have over 10 years experience in that field. Those jumpers are among the most dangerous toys you can purchase, you can't even have one in a child care setting. They wear the door frame you hook them up on and eventually the frame will break, they are lots of fun for babies but damage their little joints and bones, and when they fall the baby goes flying. A play mat will be a thing of the past as soon as baby is able to scoot away. Also, you will have to continuously go get her and put her back on it. If you guys are talking about those seats that slightly recline and jiggle up and down when the baby moves then those can be pretty useful too but they do outgrow them very quickly.

On the other hand and exersaucer will confine the baby and if you get one that spins then she can turn and play with a variety of different areas. We are raising several of our grandkids and have the potential of getting 2 more, an infant and a toddler.

I won't lie, sometimes I need to do dishes or sweep and mop, or put up stuff like laundry and need the little ones entertained even if it's for just a few minutes. The excersaucers are my one thing I can't do without.

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J.F.

answers from Fayetteville on

Hi,

Check your local resale shops or check your local craigslist. I would go with the exersaucer or a jumper toy. My granddaughter loves both and so did my 2 year old about a year ago.

J.

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K.

answers from Tulsa on

My daughter was almost 3 mos for her 1st christmas. We did a little piano music stationary play thing. Kind of like the excersaucer where it strapped her in. Got good use out of it.

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C.B.

answers from Mobile on

Go for the exersaucer! My daughter loved it and it was totally worth the money!

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J.R.

answers from Texarkana on

I also have a daughter who is 4 months old, and we bought her an exersaucer. We got a really cute one at Wal-Mart for $51 and I think its on sale right now. My oldest daughter used hers ALL THE TIME so I don't think she will grow out of it for a while.
Hope this helps!

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K.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Our 6 month old has been using her jumparoo for 2 months. She loves it! Her legs have become really strong too!

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T.J.

answers from Fort Smith on

My daughter was around the same age for her first Christmas. My mom bought her a Sit-N-Play Piano. It was so neat and she loved it. It can be used instead of a walker or exersaucer. The bottom of it had 4-6 color coded steps that played different musical sounds. The seat would move back and forth along with turning completely around. It had musical notes on top to play with too along with a mirror and toys. My daughter loved it and played with it up until she was almost 3 or more. The seat can be removed as the child starts walking and can move more freely as they get older. It was a great investment and one that was well worth the money.

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T.P.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

OK, I have to respond to this one. AVOID the jumpers!!! I'm a pediatric physical therapist and I happen to know that many or all are banned in many countries, like Canada, because they can damage growing hips. Baby's hips are not meant to absorb the shock of bouncing on the floor like that. They can also over-strengthen the ankle muscles in some kids and cause them to walk on their toes. An exersaucer is much better. Many of them bounce just a little anyway. Just make sure the saucer is adjusted so that your daughter is not up on her toes. I have a different idea for your gift. How about a stand-up play/toy table. There are many out there that your baby can lie under at first and then play with standing in 3-4 months. With my son, he used his Leapfrog one for a long time (probably 4-24 months) but only used his exersaucer for a few months (5-9ish). Once he could crawl he didn't want to be in it anymore. I think we definitely got more use for our money with the play-around table. Good luck!

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A.M.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I do have to agree with your Mom, those things are awesome. Talking to your baby is very entertaining but you can only do that so much of the day. I remember my son LOVING the fisher price rain forest bouncer. It has a glowing, blue lit-up water fall and the animals move. It was how I showered in the morning. Also, consignment stores have great deals. You can also look on craigslist for great deals. I was able to buy big items from a friend who decided not to have any more children. I got the exersaucer, jumperoo and soothing motions glider for $50 total. Usually they are around $70-80 ea. The seats come out of the exersaucer and jumperoo and you can throw them in the washer, the rest of the parts are easy to clean so they can be great used toys. We bought a walker for our son this year from a consignment store for $29, regularly $60. It came with the owners manual and was from 2009. Different textures for them to put in their mouth are great. Oh and one more thing, the kind of jumper that you hang in the doorway is the one to avoid, could be dangerous and that is the one that is known to cause some hip problems, but even that is from overuse. The Jumperoo is much different and safe.

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S.N.

answers from Oklahoma City on

K.,
I totally reccomend getting soft blocks. Kids play with blocks for years, and you can get them with Pooh Bear or Mickey Mouse themes and they're safe to chew on, drool on, throw, build with, and they're great toys. You can easily find them at Target or Walmart. Target usually has a better variety, and they do learning blocks too that are safe for little ones that are still soft. Lots of luck finding the perfect gift for your little one! Merry Christmas!
S.

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P.F.

answers from Lafayette on

Hi, the ideal present is balls of every size! A 4 month old loves color and shapes. They do also love to chew on the plastic string on pull toys. So there you have it the present young babies love and don't soon outgrow! I have care for children for over 30 years and I do know what they like. What intersts us is not the same as what interests babies.

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L.W.

answers from Monroe on

After raising 7 children, I would suggest the exersaucer over the play mattress. It will entertain her much longer, she will begin crawling & that mat will not entertain her. You can always throw a quilt or blanket on the floor with some toys for a play "mat" the exersaucer will provide multi uses. Like when she starts crawling & walking, you can place her in it to play while your cleaning....etc :) It will also help her learn to sit up, you can prop a blanket around her until she can hold herself up. Definitely exersaucer :)

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D.C.

answers from Tulsa on

An excersaucer will last you a good long while. They have lots of toys and keep the little ones upright so they can see. It is a lifesaver for you and fun for her. You can put her in it to shower, clean, work out, etc. She won't be able to go anywhere and will be entertained. They can be pricey, but are worth it, it my opinion. I used one with all 3 of my boys and don't know what I would have done without one. My youngest actually got one on his first Christmas, at about 4 months old also.
Enjoy baby's first Christmas!

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R.U.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Our baby loves his jumparoo, he outgrew the baby gym really quickly and isn't too interested in the exersaucer. HTH!

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S.Q.

answers from Jackson on

OH exersaucer by far... my man didn't even like the play mat except to try to push it over with his feet. We've used the exersaucer since about 4 months (11 1/2 months now) Just make sure you can adjust the height on it. and the best part is that it has springs and your girl can jump to her heart's content! works great for when they get mobile and you need them to stay put during supper cooking or cleaning time too!

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J.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Links with some toys, your baby is getting kinda old for the ones that lay on the ground that they look up at. A tummy time mat would be good for your baby. Jumperoo or exersaucer. Take a look at your local craigslist to find a gently used one.

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