Our ped suggested we get an exersaucer or jumperoo. After some research safe usage says LOs should only use them 10-15 min at a time up to 30 min a day. The one I want is expensive and isn't eligible for Prime two day shipping. I am trying to gauge the usefulness and justify cost per use.
How long did your LO use their exersaucer?
Did it help your LO achieve milestones- standing up well/ standing/ walking?
pomegranate / 3438 posts
We didn't use ours for very long. He didn't fit until he was 5 months and then he started crawling at 6 months and didn't want to be contained. I probably only used it for a few minutes at a time so I could go to the bathroom (small house, I could see him from the bathroom). I don't think it was worth the expense but we did keep it, we'll see if I use it for baby #2.
Oh, but once he started crawling he would pull himself up to standing and play with the toys that way.
apricot / 431 posts
I would put it in the doorway of the bathroom and she would go in it when I showered. It was also useful when she just started being mobile and I needed her to stay in one place. We probably used it for a couple of months?
grapefruit / 4291 posts
It did nothing for milestones but both our jumper and exersaucer were useful as baby containers! Baby was out of both by nine months
persimmon / 1483 posts
Not helpful for milestones but LO1 loved the jumper and we have some amazing videos of her going CRAZY jumping. I was so excited to bust it for LO2 but she is not a fan and just gives me the wtf face the entire time she's in it. My point is that it's a crapshoot whether they'll like it and for how long. 
grapefruit / 4278 posts
We have two, one upstairs and one downstairs. I don't know that they're useful for milestone development, but they're excellent baby holders. We started using them around 4 months and will continue as long as she still fits. She's not happy to be laying on a playmat now that she can sit and scoot around, so she goes in the exersaucer or jumper while I need to tend to big brother, or go to the bathroom, or shower, etc.
persimmon / 1445 posts
My daughter loved hers and it was awesome for when I needed to grab a shower or start dinner. We got one that you could remove from the bouncy part and set up as a play table so we got quite a bit of use out of it.
pear / 1622 posts
We weren't planning on getting one but then I saw how happy LO1 was in it at daycare at 4 months so we got one at a consignment store. He enjoyed it through a year. Once he outgrew sitting in it, he still liked coming back to it and playing the musical buttons. It is useful as a baby holder.
persimmon / 1130 posts
We used to keep ours in the kitchen and DD would play it it while we were cooking. It was super helpful and worth the money. We also have one that converts to a standing toy when baby is older though, so she used it longer.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
We never really used ours. It's good for a minute or two but that was it. I'm surprised they recommend it for milestones.
pineapple / 12793 posts
Looking back, I wouldn't get one.
None of my girls was all that into it. Their interest lasted for maybe two months. The rest of the time it just took up space.
coconut / 8472 posts
I don't think it had any impact on his milestones. I got ours used at a consignment sale for $40 I think. Our main use was as a baby holder. Once he was old enough for it I would plop him in it in the mornings while I finished getting all our stuff together (daycare bottles, pump supplies, etc.) I got about 10 minutes out of it before he melted down. Then we'd run out the door.
I will say we had one of those walkers people tell you not to get and he loved it and I do think it helped with walking.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
Thanks everyone for the feedback. Still mulling it over.
@Madison43: LOL, for the longest time LO did the WTF face or straight up cried in his Bjorn Bouncer. Don't these kids realize the gear is supposed to be fun! Lol
@Lemonjack: @caterw: I love multi-use gear. the one I am looking at turns into an adjustable legs kids table and can be used until age 5. Then, I can buy a matching pair of kid size stools for it. In that case it probably is a good buy, but who knows if I will want a green plastic kids table for LO.
honeydew / 7463 posts
For us it was indispensable. Bathroom breaks, feeding myself, or even just trying to entertain him when I didn't know what else to do. We had both and he loved both. He used them daily from about 4/5 months to 9/10-ish? Even when he was mobile he loved them!
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
Neither of my LOs ever want to stay in it more than 20 minutes at a time anyway, but another vote for super helpful baby holder. They have fun and get some energy out, I get to make dinner or pee or help the toddler in the bathroom without worrying about what the baby has gotten into.
I got mine used on Craigslist, knowing that it's a big item that has a short life span. It was a little bit of work cleaning it but I paid half of a new one and have used t for two kids now, will give it to my sister for her baby next.
honeydew / 7235 posts
My first loved the exersaucer and jumperoo thing, used them for maybe 4 months? He sat, crawled and walked on schedule or early. My second would sit in the saucer for 5 minutes but never loved it. It's a good place to set them if you need a safe spot to do something. If I need to shower and he's awake now (11 months) I can put him in it for 5 min while I shower.
coconut / 8079 posts
I got a cheaper one because I really didn't want LO in it more than 15 minutes per day. He only used it for a few months, but he did enjoy it.
grapefruit / 4361 posts
I've read the same things and decided the look of sheer joy and excitement on his face was worth it. It helps him get his crazy energy out safely and he has a ton of fun with it, even 30+ minutes (yeah, I know, bad mom). I use it for bathroom breaks, preparing and eating dinner, and sometimes chores. We have a jumper bc I figured it was like an ExerSaucer but with the additional bonus of jumping. However, the multi-use aspects of the one you are interested in sounds great too.
Babe has used it from 5-7.5 months and doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon, and is crawling. No effect on milestones.
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts
@Madison43: so true! My youngest is not a fan but my first LOVED it.
honeydew / 7463 posts
@DesertDreams88: We're bad moms together 
If he was happy in it and I could get some down-time or multitasking done, win-win.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
Mine loved it despite being an early crawler and walker. She also just liked playing on the outside once she could pull to a stand. It got a lot of use and she was sad when I put it away.
pomelo / 5220 posts
Agree with others that it's a useful baby holder. My LO loved it! It took up a lot of space but we got it as a gift and plan to use it for our next LO and then pass it on to younger babies we know.
persimmon / 1273 posts
We got one as a hand me down, but my son never tolerated it for a minute or two so it wasn't helpful for us. I'd try a free one again with LO2, but I doubt I'd buy one since I didn't have a good experience.
clementine / 770 posts
My daughter didn't mind being in it. She would hang out in there while I made dinner so we had it in the kitchen. I probably did more than the 15 min guidelines but Other than being in it she was always free on the floor or worn in a carrier so I didn't feel toooo guilty. And it didn't seem to affect any milestones.
nectarine / 2797 posts
LO1 loved it and hit all milestones at an average time. LO2 is 5 months and is a fan too. Ours is in the kitchen is critical for getting cooking and cleaning done in there, just baked some muffins while he played happily. But we also spent $20 buying on consignment so if they had hated it no loss!
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
I ended up getting it from Amazon since we can easily return it if we don't like it. DH is worried about punching, which he read on some reviews- not necessarily this one, but in general. It won't arrive for another week or two, which gives me plenty of time to continue doing some of the exersaucer alternatives I found on Google for milestone development. His daycare doesn't have them, so LO has no clue he is missing out. Lately, I have been able to finally use the Bouncer as a baby holder. Who knows I may realize before it arrives we really don't need it.
In case you were wondering: http://www.loveoribel.com/products/portaplay-convertible-activity-center
persimmon / 1458 posts
All of my kids loved them. We got a jumper as a shower gift, one used exersaucer from our neighbor for free and my sister gave us another one that she got cheap at a yard sale. We have one upstairs that we use for when one of us is in the shower and the other downstairs mostly as a baby holder when we need to be hands free. Also good so my other kids don't lay on top of him if we are busy
Also as others have said he is really starting to reach for toys and is fascinated with himself that he can't make the toys move and he squeals with delight!
grapefruit / 4988 posts
We never had one and I never missed it. She used one at daycare and I didn't want her spending extra time in it at home too. I admit it probably would have been convenient but only for a couple months. She was crawling early and didn't like being contained at that point.
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