Are jumperoos (or similar) worth the expense?

[exBrightonBell]

My 4 month old seems to be getting a bit bored of the play gym that we have, and doesn't particularly like being in his bouncy chair for very long. People have mentioned the jumperoo to me but I am put off by the price. However I think my ds might like it!

Is it worth the price tag? Is there something similar that would do or even be better?

I don't really know what a jumperoo is but if it's one of those seats that go over the doorway then yes definitely get one! I put it over the bathroom door while I had a shower, over the kitchen door while I was cooking meals etc - it was brilliant.

Worth every penny. I bought second hand in eBay for £40 and it will be going back on eBay when dd has grown out of it

I think the hip issue is if they are weight bearing? You just need to make sure it is high enough so just toes touching.

DS loved it but probably stayed in no more than 10 mins at a time. It was really useful if I needed to park him somewhere safe to do something quickly!

Ah see. I used a bouncy chair then the high chair once they were a bit bigger. Which is why I think they're expensive for what they do.

My son was never content to stay in a bouncy chair. From 4 months he wanted to be up and doing and the jumperoo filled a gap between playmat and standing up on his own. Once he was cruising at about 9 months he didn't need it.

Neither was mine - he lasted 5 mins at a time

It's the price that puts me off mainly.

Agree about getting a door bouncer. Pretty cheap, portable and doesn't take up half the house. The day I discovered the door bouncer is the day I was able to take a shower when Dp was out at last! I take it with me if we visit people too.

Yeah I got mine on clubcard exchange so cost me nothing. Sold for £45 which is about what you'd pay on ebay more or less. It definitely holds value.

I would second (or third) the door bouncer. I've got a plain old Lindam one, second hand on eBay for about a pound. You don't need to install it, it just clips very securely onto your door frame. Used it every day from 4-6 months. She can keep herself entertained more on the floor now, but I still use it if say I'm cooking and need to keep an eye.

I had a door bouncer and a Jumperoo. The Jumperoo was definitely more "hands-free" meaning I could leave the room, make or clear away a meal, go to the toilet, even have a shower when I put it in the bathroom, etc.

Never felt safe to do that with a door bouncer, sorry!

Got the jumperoo when dd 7 months and decided it was worth the cost within half an hour. Dd loved it and would have stayed in far too long if given the chance.

And I'd been fretting about the cost but checked it retained its value. So, I reckon, get a secondhand one and see if suits.

Another big vote for them from me. DD loved hers and even got in it for the odd "jumpy session" at 2! I was a bit paranoid about sticking to the recommended time per day (I cannot remember what it is any more) but it was still a lifesaver.

my friend's ds hates it

biggest waste of money

they bang and clatter when they jump around and it freakks him out

he does this weird thing for about 5 mins where you aren't sure if he is laughing or crying and then he cries

pile of poop

we got a Fisher Price bounce and spin (froggy thing) for DD1. She adored it and it is now entertaining DD2 (6 months). I found the jumperoos to have a HUGE footprint but the bounce and spin was smaller and still as entertaining.

We also got a vtech leap frog activity table that is working brilliantly for DD2 as well. We didnt get it for DD1 until she was starting to cruise at 9 months and while she einjoyed it she outgrew it quite quickly. DD2 has been enjoying it from about 4.5 months. I sit her in her baby donut/playnest and prop the activity table in front of her (the legs are detachable) and she has an absolute ball bashing the crap out of it and making the lights and songs come on.

so many spelling mistakes, so little time! sorry. must learn to preview.

I think it depends on the kid - can you try one before you buy?

They are bloody expensive if only used a few times. I have a door bouncer used only two weeks before DS got bored - luckily was a cheap ebay purchase. He had a £2 dreaded baby walker which he loved for many months. But the jumperoo he tried once just frightened him. Very loud, noisy thing. DS doesn't like loud noises, even now.

It was a lifesaver for me . My ds cried alot !!! I bought it second hand for £50 and had it 9 months . I sold it on for £50 as second hand . It didn't look third hand so I didn't feel the need to say. The seat can go in the washing machine and you can wash down the plastic. They sell immediately on local selling sites.

The other thing about babywalkers (as opposed to Jumperoos) is that they delay your child's progression to walking, apparently. As soon as my ds got too big for a jumperoo I was just happy for him to practice his crawling within my sightline while I got on with as much stuff as he'd let me.

Yes yes and yes. DD2 adored hers from 4 months to very recently. Now at 10 months (today, sob!) she's had enough of it. And she's a hair's breadth away from walking so it hasn't hindered her development one iota.

I bought it for £50 from Netmums and I have a buyer for it for £45. It's more than earned its keep.

Yes!! We bought ours third second hand for $20 worth it's weight in gold and still going strong

It is a lifesaver. I Picked mine up new on amazon for £83. My son will happily play in there'd for 30/40 mins at a time so I have a chance to get housework/cooking watching daytime tv done!