Top Baby Gear for Home-Daycare - Jumpers, Walkers & Playstations

Continuing with my previous post regarding top baby gear, this post includes my favorite jumpers, walkers and playstations. Each of these maximize play-bility with older infants who need more interactions than what a playmat or bouncer can give. I keep in mind the price, the weight limits, and of course the portability along with the look and feel of it. Infants like being comfortable. The prices on these range quite a bit, so keep in mind your budget and you will be good to go. Here we go...

Jumpers

Jumpers are fun for infants and they provide stimulation when you are away/busy with older children. The following are ones that I've personally owned and have loved for the toys and overall attractions.

Fisher Price - Precious Planet Blue Sky Jumperoo

This jumperoo is amazing! The toys around the jumper and the ones that are suspended in the air provide hours of fun for my infants. They love the ability to spin themselves around and pick and choose which toy that want to play with with the seat that swivels 360 degrees. The ability to jump around really encourages the little ones to exercise their little legs. The price for this costs around $70, pretty much the norm for a good, solid jumperoo, but I saved for this and purchased this and have been happy with it for the year or so that I've had it.

Fisher Price - Adorable Animals Jumperoo

This jumperoo is limited in toys, so this is why I use this mainly for my younger infants between 7 and 9 months who are rolling over and have 'outgrown' playmats and bouncers. This is sort of the first step into the world of jumpers where they get acquainted with using their legs to jump and 'walk'. A perk of this jumperoo is the ability to easily fold this up and store it away when the infants aren't using it. The price is around $70.

*******
Walkers

I've only ever purchased one walker, and I mainly use this outdoors when the older children are playing. For infants beginning to learn to walk, I take them outdoors and let them walk themselves around the driveway in this walker. I don't have the indoor space for a walker, nor do I have hardwood or tile floors in my room where my daycare is set up to allow for a walker to be used. As long as this walker stays out of the sun when not in use, it's great.

Bright Starts Walk-A-Bout Walker

This walker cost me $40 and I've had it for two years. The colors are bright and fun, and it's stayed very clean and useful. I use this outdoors so I have no experience for it indoors, but I suggest this because it's brought so much ease to outdoor playtime. I place the infant in this and let them ride around while I push a toddler on the swing or help a preschooler ride a trike. It has come in handy so much for me these past couple years.

*******
Playstations

My favorite amongst baby gear are playstations and/or exersaucers. They are so convenient and you can slip an infant in one in a jiffy without much hassle from their end. As long as you rotate toys and stations, their attention never seems to waiver.

Bright Starts - Doodler Bugs Baby Activity Station

This playstation is so wonderful! I love that the babies can walk around the center toy table and I've never had complaints from any of my infants refusing to get in this one. The toys are so useful and fun for them that I willing dished out the $80 for this activity center. I've never had any problems with this and I am a very happy 'user' of this playstation. A must-have.

Summer Infant - 3 Stage Super Booster Seat

This booster is a wonderful addition for a home-daycare with infants. It helps with posture during the six-month mark and encourages babies to entertain themselves. My only suggestion would be to buy additional toys that suction such as high chair or stroller toys, and place one or two different ones on the tray each day. This keeps an infant always interested in finding which toys are attached. I love that this booster works with infants AND toddlers. At $40 this is great.

*******
This wraps up my posts with my favorite, most-used baby gear in my home-daycare. With any baby gear you plan on purchasing, I highly suggest pursuing thrift stores or garage sales first. I visit my favorite thrift store every Saturday and most of the times I find amazing deals with things I can use in my daycare. Most often I find really nice, clean clothing that I use as backups and I've found two of my carseats there, too. I've found a baby corral that I continue to use because the sides are all different colors and it keeps the infants contained in one area when free-playing, and I've found small purses, wallets and coin purses for pretend play that I stuff with used gift cards. Visit a nearby thrift store if you have one, and keep a look out for gear that is in good condition and is being offered for a good price.

My next post will cover advertising. I've had a very successful business with many interested clients in an incredible short amount of time. Keep a look out for that.