Bumbo

This soft and squishy chair allows your baby to get the feel of what it is like to sit up, without any assistance from Mama. If your baby doesn’t like to sit still though, this might be kind of a waste. Be sure to get the tray that attaches to it if you do decide to register for it.

Exercise Ball

Now we don’t mean some new fancy ball made for baby – we mean those good old fashion rubber blow-up balls you use for crunches at the gym! If you have a colicky baby this is probably one of the most important things you can own. When your arms feel like they are about to fall off because you have been bouncing your baby for the last year and a half, you can put the baby in the infant car seat, rest the car seat on the ball (while you are holding itk of course) and bounce the seat on the ball. You can also put the baby in a sling, or Ergo/Bjorn and sit on the ball yourself and bounce. This will save your arms, your sanity, and probably your marriage.

Swings

We refer to this as “the sleep machine” as it saved many a Mama from rocking their baby to sleep at times. You have many options here – you can get one that a carseat snaps into, one that moves side to side and can be turned to swing front to back, with music, with vibration, etc. Some say that this is a good place to spend a little extra money, as it will be a lifesaver. As for brands, Fisher Price or Graco are the way to go here.

Exersaucer

Or as one Mama jokingly calls this, the “circle of neglect.” This is again a very popular item with the Mamas. Once your baby shows interest in standing, and you can’t/don’t want to bounce them all day long, this is a great item to keep the baby entertained. Again, the tackier and more stuff on there for them to grab, the better!

Bouncy Seats

One Mama calls this thing a “lifesaver.” When you need 5 minutes (yes that is all you Mama’s get) to shower you can stick your baby in this and bring them into the bathroom with you. The vibration and sounds are very soothing to baby. We recommend the Fisher Price or Combi (with iPod hook-up for your fancy pants mamas). Stay away from the Chicco brand, as it broke after a few uses.

Activity Mat

All our Mama’s little ones love their activity mats! This great development toy will keep your babies occupied by batting at all the little doohickeys hanging from it. We don’t have a favorite brand, but love the Baby Einstein, Tiny Love and Fisher Price versions.

Registry: Bounce, Swing & Swat - Oh My!!

You are probably thinking to yourself, how can one baby need a swing, an activity mat, a bouncy seat and more? You just wait! All of our Mama’s didn’t think their babies would need multiple stimulating toys, but they came in handy when Mama needed a break! Make peace with the fact that your now swanky home will soon become a baby gym, with stuff everywhere…And as one of our Mama’s says – the tackier the better when it comes to this stuff! If you are short on space, we do recommend possibly waiting till the baby comes to see what they actually like, because not all babies love all of these (enter gift certificates!).

Click on "Bounce/Swing/Swat" at right for individual activity product reviews!!