https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 23:22:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255741 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 10:16:29 +0000 fairy 1255741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: that's the piano gym we have! My LO loves it! We got it when she was 2.5 months and at first she would just kick and stare in the mirror and then she started practicing grabbing with the toys and now at almost 6 months she still loves it and even pulls the toys down and hits them against eachother. She likes to practice sitting up and hitting the piano keys now too :) </p> <p>Obviously she would have learned these skills, but this was a great toy for her to practice those skills on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255728 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 10:12:55 +0000 delight 1255728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us it is a necessity. LO loves her activity mat. She loves trying to grab the toys and moving around so she can see herself in the mirror. She can happily look up and bat at the toys for 30 mins. Now that she is trying to roll I also jus put her on a blanket with toys around her, but we do use the activity mat multiple times a day. We have a Tiny Love one. </p> [attach=3209/13/mx8kxk.349x265.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255707 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 10:07:13 +0000 erwoo 1255707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's great to have when they aren't mobile yet. Plus, it's great for tummy time! Both of my boys played with it until about 12 months so I'd say it's worth getting if you don't get one as a gift. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255684 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:58:08 +0000 LuLu Mom 1255684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not a necessity in my mind but LO loved hers!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255671 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:55:20 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1255671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think so. For us it was a toy that basically grew with her. In the beginning, it was just something for her stare at (newborn days). As she grew, she started reaching for items, swatting them, crawling inside it, then she started using the sides to try and pull herself up. We kept ours up until she was starting to walk because she liked having a blanket on it, like a tent. I was surprised how long we got to use it for. We had the Skip Hop Treetop Friends gym. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255550 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:20:18 +0000 littlek 1255550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@citymouse: I don't think they are necessary. But my son LOVED his and it helped with tummy time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255548 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:19:44 +0000 Mamasig 1255548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: we had this one too and DS LOVED it. He would kick forever. But once he could sit pretty confidently he was over it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255515 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:03:04 +0000 edelweiss 1255515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i got one used. i don't think it was really worth it. there were a couple of weeks where he lay on his back and grabbed at the toys, but then he was rolling and it was hard to keep him on the mat. i guess it depends on the baby to a certain extent and how long they are in the grabbing phase but not the rolling over phase. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255497 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:52:16 +0000 kml636 1255497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say yes, get one. A used one would be great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255476 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:43:17 +0000 Beyond2 1255476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS really enjoyed his, but maybe you can find one used. Then if you don't end up using it much it isn't as big of a hit? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255470 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:40:51 +0000 Smurfette 1255470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the one that @oliviaoblivia posted. We just moved it into the basement at almost 9 months. She loved it but now won't sit still long enough to play with it. Even sitting up and playing the piano. But it was so worth it in the beginning. She loved looking at herself in the mirror. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255452 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:32:29 +0000 looch 1255452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You could also string toys across the legs of a table, if you sliding want to buy one. We had one, my son liked it well enough and I would buy one again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255440 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:24:40 +0000 Greentea 1255440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: oh that's what we have and she loves it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255439 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:23:59 +0000 Greentea 1255439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@citymouse: yes yes yes and yes. I am a prefty extreme minimalist and just purchased the absolute necessities. (Crib.changing pad.onsies.) I like to feel things out and buy as I go. At 8 weeks dd needed, yes needed an activity gym. I could tell she was developmentally ready for it. She is 6 monrhs today and still loooves it. It promotes coordination, cause and effect understanding, self guided play. We got the kick piano and she loves it still! It just has one bar where we have different toys and she rolls around and plays the piano with different parts of her body. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255428 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:19:13 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1255428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: love it! She now uses the piano part as a step stool to get on the couch. Crazy kid! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255412 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:14:40 +0000 Pepper 1255412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: We have the same one!</p> <p>LO loves it! He's still interested in it at 5 months. It's nice because it gives him something to do on his own since he can't sit up unassisted for long periods yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255405 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:11:23 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1255405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD loved/loves hers! I didn't think it was necessary as we're space challenged but I'm so glad we got one.<br /> She's almost eleven months and still loves it. At first I was a little bummed my dad didn't pick out the "cute one" but the one we did get has gotten way more use than the one I wanted. DD was an early crawler and walker but it still got a TON of use.</p> <p>We have this one </p> [attach=1339/13/mx8fb1.600x496.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255394 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:06:11 +0000 Adira 1255394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>YES! Xander still uses his at 9 months!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1255381 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 07:55:33 +0000 ValentineMommy 1255381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Worth every penny. DS LOVED his, and it was the only way he'd do tummy time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233602 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:43:08 +0000 yin 1233602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not necessary but very much worth it during the first couple of months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233597 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:41:35 +0000 Weagle 1233597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally worth it. LO played with hers from about 6 weeks until after she started walking. We borrowed ours, but I'm definitely buying one for the next LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233596 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:40:54 +0000 mrs. wagon 1233596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since newborns don't really play with toys (can't grab em! or hold em!) an activity gym is really the only thing they can "play" with in the beginning... so I would totally get one!</p> <p>That being said, it was the first thing I got rid of, too! By the time they're crawling/walking it's just a big spacesucker. All they wanna do is get places and put things in their mouths. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233583 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:38:01 +0000 Boheme 1233583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think an inexpensive one is totally worth it! We have a grow with me piano one like @Mrs. Polish: and DS has loved it since birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233567 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:33:54 +0000 .twist. 1233567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I would have gotten one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233513 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:21:41 +0000 Mrs. Polish 1233513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't get one, but went and got one after lo was born. He's almost 9mo and still uses it. It's one of the grow with me piano ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233511 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:21:13 +0000 shopaholic 1233511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meh. My LO never liked tummy time, but we did get a lot of use until she started rolling. I would say yes, to buy one. But you can always get one pretty cheap used or on sale. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233508 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:20:28 +0000 Beehive 1233508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, get one! I was not going to get one, as we live in an apartment and I hated the idea of a big colorful activity gym in our living room, but man am I glad we were gifted one. LO spent tons and tons of time in there. He loved it, and I loved that I could leave him there and hang out on the couch and relax - he was having fun and I was getting some rest! I miss the non-mobile days! Hee hee. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233395 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 14:59:26 +0000 immabeetoo 1233395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@citymouse: I think they're totally worth it esp because they're relatively cheap used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233371 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 14:55:45 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1233371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use ours multiple times a day- LO loves it. We borrowed one, but I would absolutely buy one if we had to give it back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-activity-gyms-necessary#post-1233172 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 14:22:05 +0000 lamariniere 1233172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used ours almost daily from 2 weeks to about 8 months. Not necessary, but nice to have. </p>