Not a jumperoo, not a walker... so what do I get?

[DilysDerwent]

My 5mo DS is bored of his baby gym and has almost grown out of his rocking chair. I want something new that could entertain him while I go to the loo/eat lunch etc.
I was planning to get a jumperoo or similar but they all have weight limits of 11 or 12kg and he is almost 11kg already so they are out.
Then I thought of getting a walker and found some that have weight limits of 15kg, but then I read that podiatrists don't recommend them and they are banned in some places because they aren't good for children's feet and legs. So they are out.
So what can I get? He is just starting to sit independently but is very wobbly so would need something that would support him. He can't roll yet but is looking like he will soon.

Personally I'd just babyproof your rooms and let him explore!

Give him lots of different things to play with - different textures and weights. My DS2 loves wooden spoons, plastic bottles with pasta bits in (very noisy) and his older brother's trains...

DS1 wasn't so into toys but did love musical things (like activity tables).

We never had a jumperoo or a walker and didn't miss them at all. DS1 walked at 10 months. DS2 is 9 months and crawls loads. When we need to contain him we either put him in his high chair (and bring it with us into the kitchen or wherever) or sometimes we put him in his pushchair and put that where he can see us/look out of the window.

Door bouncer? My dd loved her bumbo seat to sit in with some toys infront of her.

Door bouncer!

You can get walkers that have wheel locks so that they can't trundle about, I think this is the main objection to them. Usually go by 'activity station' I think.

www.mothercare.comon/demandware.store/Sites-MCENGB-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=337128

Not sure onweight limit though.

High chair with toys on tray? Then can sit up at table and watch you eat etc. using cot as playpen with mobile/ music on?

A play ring? Do they still do them? a door bouncer thing?

Are you sure your 5 month old is 11kg? That is huge for his age, off the percentile charts for a baby his age.

Sorry, ignore me, of course you know your baby's weight.

We had a Leapfrog learn and groove station for ds - he loved it so much and it's been used by three children now.
Sturdy and lots to occupy them

We had a Leapfrog learn and groove station for ds - he loved it so much and it's been used by three children now.
Sturdy and lots to occupy them

To be honest we had a jumperoo and a walker and barely used them, DD preferred to just explore and play with household items like dry pasta in a bottle! Friends of ours had the activity stations that a PP has linked to and found them useful. No idea of weight limits though on them though. DD is 15 months and still below the weight limit for the jumperoo!

We had this issue.

Most of the time a padded a corner of the room with cushions but during the summer I had the issue of outdoors and reluctantly bought a walker but clamped it so he couldn't move it it. It was useful for a little while.

I didn't spend much on it and didn't rely on it, just as you said - handy for a few minutes here and there.

StrawberryMojito I know, he is huge. He was 11lb 110z so half a kilo above the 99th line when he was born and has just kept going!
Thanks everyone. Door bouncers and the leapfrog and mothercare toys all have similar weight limits to jumperoo-type toys so they won't last us long.
I think I just feel like I need to get the next thing because everyone else I know has a jumperoo or door bouncer but he is perfectly happy in his cot or highchair so why worry?

A Playnest will support him sitting safely and he can play with toys in it. My DS is a late sitter and he gets frustrated, so needs sonething to help!

If he doesn't mind being in the cot, what about those cot activity things that go on the bars. Or a v tech walker. You can take the front bit off so they play with the noise bit and keep the walker bit for later.

TwatFaceBitch Sorry, missed your suggestion. I've looked up play rings and they look like a good possibility (assuming you mean the baby play rings rather than the type made by Durex? )

yes the baby ones, both my ds loved it as it gave them that bit free movement rather then strapped in. it was a bit like this one, you can take the top bit off.

I have an inflatable play nest which works well.

We got a Chad Valley Door bounder. DS loves it. He has a Leapfrog playstation at my parents and loves that too but we just dont have the space so a door bouncer is perfect.

The inflatable rings are a good bet. I just used loads of rugs and cushions layered up with toys around so dd wouldn't hurt herself if she toppled over but she did enjoy the ring at playgroup.

A travel cot? If you get one with mesh on all 4 sides he'll be able to see out and you can fill with toys. We got one when DS was too big for his bouncer and have a mattress and play mat inside with toys, as well as mirrors and lamaze toys clipped to the edge. Lots for him to play with, he can practice standing when he's ready and is totally safe.