At what age can babies use jumperoos?

There's no 'official' guidance on this - the NHS said they weren't able to comment - but we haven’t seen any jumpers that are recommended for babies under 4 months, so we think that’s a sensible guideline to follow.

(Check out our pick the best jumperoos and their recommended ages.)

What’s the best age for babies to use jumperoos?

Always check the age recommendation for your jumperoo of choice, and make sure you’ve got the right one! A couple are suitable for 4 months+ while others say not to use until they’re older than 6 months.

Fisher-Price also has some helpful guidelines for deciding when your baby’s ready:

• Your baby should be able to hold their head up unassisted for more than a few minutes
• For optimal use, make sure the balls of your baby’s feet are touching the floor and they’re not flat-footed on the ground, or unable to touch the ground
• Stop using the product once your baby tries to climb out of it, or starts walking.

Once they're the right age for your chosen jumper, play it be ear. Is your baby LOVING bouncing around in their new toy? Or do they look uncomfortable, or like they’re not getting much out of it?

If it’s not a hit, it probably means you might want to wait a bit longer – so they can get the absolute most out of bouncin’ around and exploring the jumperoo’s colourful, textural and musical features.

If they’re clamouring to get out of it and go for a toddle, it probably means they’ve outgrown it a bit and want to try crawling or walking.

What our mums said

Most of our forum mums waited until the 4 – 5 month mark, though their answers did vary a bit.

“I think Aaron was 4/5 months when we got it. Phoebe was 10 weeks,” says MFMer CKB.

“S has been in his a couple of weeks. He's 17 weeks,” adds workinghard.

Little Madam played it by ear – and found it useful to figure out what was best for her baby:

"I tried E in it at 14 weeks and she didn't look right. She had excellent head and body control, could roll both ways etc and push up on her arms but I thought she was bouncing around too much.

“At 17 weeks she really was able to enjoy it. Though by 26 weeks she was out of it as she could crawl very well and just didn't want to keep still.”

When is a jumperoo most beneficial for a baby’s development?

Jumperoos can be super fun for babies – but they’re also great for stimulating their brains with bright colours and fun sounds, as well as all that movement.

We've reached out to a couple of experts to find out if there's a prime age for this kind of development. We've basically asked: is there a perfect time to get your baby bouncing?

Educational psychologist Naomi Burgess told us: "Jumperoos allow babies to experience some stimulation in a number of ways.

"It can provide the opportunity for using their gross and fine motor skills, and provide them with a micro-environment where their motor responses and sensory curiosity can seemingly, and randomly, be combined.

"It is quite random, as at an age of around 4 months when many babies might be ready for this, they don’t have the control and intention to plan and carry out the movements in a purposeful way.

"So, really, many babies are ready at around the age of 4 months, when they are able to hold their bodies and have control of their legs and trunk.

"Please remember to follow the instructions to be sure that your baby does not experience too much time bouncing up and down on their toes, which is not good for muscle development in their legs."

Have your say

When did you put your baby in a jumperoo? Did you try trial and error, like Little Madam? We’d love to know, so get in touch in the comments below...

Images: Skip Hop

Read more:

• 12 of the best baby jumperoos and activity centres
• The toys your 6 to 12 month old will LOVE
• We reveal the best toys for newborns to 6 month olds