We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Why trust us?

Plus, experts weigh in on when it's safe to use these bouncers and activity centers.

Having a fun, noisy, colorful jumper in the living room is something most parents of babies expect to eventually acquire. While they may be big, most babies do love jumpers, which give them fun activities that can sharpen their motor skills. Jumpers also provide parents with a few minutes' break to prepare dinner or clean up while baby is occupied.

The Good Housekeeping Institute looks at a range of juvenile products, from play mats and activity gyms to safety gates and strollers. When our Lab experts review products for your baby, we look to make sure they meet the necessary safety requirements, are easy to use, well constructed and offer value to parent and child.

Our Lab experts do not recommend baby walkers with wheels — these shouldn’t be used because of the risks that are associated with them. But as for baby jumpers, they are safe, but parental supervision is paramount. You should take necessary safety precautions in advance, like making sure the jumper is in an open, level space. If a child falls asleep in the jumper, note that this is not a suitable environment for them to remain and you should move them immediately to a safe sleeping space. It’s also critical for development that your child engages in all of the important floor play that doctors and developmentalists recommend, like tummy time and other floor time activities.

"You want to make sure the child isn't able to cruise around on their own, but can support her own head before putting her into a jumper," Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping's Chief Technologist and Director of Engineering says. That sweet spot is usually around 4-9 months, but it depends upon the development and physicality of your child. "Doorway jumpers usually require even more support," she adds, "and it’s important to check the weight and any size restrictions as well, which can vary from product to product."

Our team of engineers and parenting pros have vetted over a dozen baby jumpers to find the best ones for every home and baby. Here are our picks for the best baby jumpers in 2021:

This jumper was the hands-down favorite of all our testers (and their babies). One expert noted that she loved the variety of activities and sensory toys on this jumper that kept her babies busy, entertained and safe nearby while she made dinner or got dressed. Another plus of this one is that it is adjustable, so baby can use it early (one tester noted they were able to use it starting at four months) and keep using it for a while. The seat easily spins so baby is able to pick any toy or activity he'd like to engage with. This jumper comes in a cute ocean theme as well. 

This sweet, colorful jumper comes in three different designs and is more affordable than most other bouncers, which is appealing to parents who might only anticipate using this for a few months. Reviewers loved that the plastic base is bouncy, allowing baby to really jump. There aren't as many toys as some other jumpers, and it doesn't play music or make noise, so that's one aspect to consider when deciding if it will entertain your baby. The fabric seat is removable, which makes it easy to clean.

This bouncer is very popular, due to its adorable, modern design and pretty color palette. Although it looks a little more stylish, some testers felt like the included toys and activities didn't hold baby's attention as long as some other bouncers. One plus of this model is that it has a stand, so it can convert to an activity table when baby is able to stand. If converting the table isn't something you're interested in doing, the same brand makes a similar, more traditional bouncer as well.

This jumper is the best of the bunch if you prefer one that fits in a doorway. Doorway jumpers are great for small spaces, and this one is nice in that it includes a tray to set toys (it also has two toys attached), sippy cups or other items. Testers noted that it's easy to get baby in and out of this seat as well. The height of the strap is adjustable, so you are able to change it depending on your baby's height. One downside of this and any doorway jumper (as opposed to a freestanding model) is that you have to have a certain type of door in your home to be able attach it. For instance: this jumper will not work in a frameless doorway.

This is a very cleverly designed jumper that can be used two ways! It can be used as a floor seat, where baby can sit and play, or it can be attached to a doorway when the child gets a little bigger and wants to move and jump more. This is a smaller, portable item (it only weighs about 4.5 lbs) so it's easily carried in a bag — great to take to grandma's house.

This jumper is a tried and true favorite for many babies (with almost 6,000 reviews on Amazon!). The cute and colorful animal toys and music keep tots busy and happy. (It also comes in a rainforest motif if you prefer). Our tester found this jumper easy to assemble and sturdy and liked that it was adjustable for your baby's height. This is a large item that takes up a pretty good-sized footprint in your home, but it can also be fairly easily folded (our tester stored it underneath a bed) if it needs to be put away.

This is the perfect jumper for those who want to include even the littlest member of their family on a camping trip or tote them to watch an older sibling's soccer game. This super lightweight (only 7 pounds) activity seat folds up and is easily carried in its own storage bag. It's made of durable and easy-to-clean nylon, and it even comes with a floor pad so your baby's feet will only touch a clean surface. The jumper doesn't come with toys, but it does include loops where you can attach your own. 

This versatile learning center converts from playmat to exersaucer to activity table so it can grow with your child. The height is also adjustable. It includes lots of interactive elements to promote exploration and development, making it fun past babyhood and into the toddler years. Our testers liked this jumper, but some found assembly to be a bit tricky.