The Best Baby Activity Tables
- Gary B.
- UPDATED August 5, 2019
- in Toddler & baby toys
Best Overall
Manhattan
Toy Tree Center
Do you want a smarter child? Of course, you do. Take advantage of the many educational opportunities in activity tables where babies and toddlers can teach themselves even if you’re busy. In the days before the activity table was introduced, parents themselves provided this very early education. Now, babies and children have more opportunities for important skill building with the right activity table. Preschool seems like it’s a long time away, but that time will be here before you know it. Here are our picks for the best baby activity tables. You might find one that will perfectly suit your baby or toddler.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Manhattan Toy Tree Center
Upgrade Choice
Fisher Price Sit and Spin Activity Center
Best Budget Buy
Baby Einstein Music Activity Table
How to pick the best activity table
While all the reviewed activity tables are excellent, your child is an individual. Some kids like music, other colors, and some prefer hands-on action. There are tables for every taste and ability. Here are some important factors to consider before you buy an activity table.
1. Recommended Age
Some of the products reviewed below have age limits. Whatever the age of your child, be sure that they are developmentally able to use the table safely. The sit-and-spin tables may require a child to be able to sit by themselves. The regular activity tables often have removable legs so you can put the table top right on the floor. This will help a young baby learn to lift their upper body and reach for objects, important developmental milestones. A child should not use the seat in an activity table until they can hold their heads up unassisted but who is still not able to crawl out of the seat or walk.
2. Number of Activities
Some babies and toddlers will focus on one activity for quite a long time. Others get easily bored and want to switch from one to another at a rapid pace. You know your child best. Look for tables that offer a variety of different learning elements to keep your toddler interested but not overwhelmed.
3. Batteries Required
Lights, music, action…batteries are certainly required in many activity tables. Some companies ship the toy with batteries included but warn that those batteries are for demonstration only and should be replaced when you receive the product. There’s never a wrong time to stock up on a needed power source.
4. Maximum Weight/Height
Some of the sit-and-spin activity tables have a maximum height or weight limit for safety purposes. It is always a good idea to heed the warnings of a manufacturer, so if limits are posted, it’s the best policy to do so.
5. Dimensions
These give the measurements in inches of height, width, and depth of the activity tables. This may be important if space is limited where the baby will play. Also, this will give you an indication of whether your child is too small or too large to play in the table safety.
6. Product Weight
Activity tables are usually light-weight, and one parent can easily handle the lifting and moving. The other consideration is shipping costs if you must pay.
The Winners
Here are 11 reviews of some of the best activity tables for infants and toddlers on sale in 2019. Check out the links to see some of the tables that seem best suited for your child.
#1
Manhattan Toy Tree center
Best Overall
The Manhattan Toy Top Center comes with four quadrants of unique activities. The sections include six tracks with gliders that have animal themes, six bead runs with wooden beads, a Spring flower, and even more. The table is solid wood so it can last through several subsequent children with no trouble. Adult assembly is required.
- You'll love: High-quality wood construction
- Great for grasping skills development
Recommended Ages: 1 – 5
Number of Activities: 14 +
Batteries Required: No
Maximum Weight/Height: NL
Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 22.5 inches
Product Weight: 10.63 pounds
#2
Fisher Price Sit to Stand Activity Center
Upgrade Choice
A baby jungle is the theme of the Fisher Price Sit and Spin Activity Center. There is a winding slide on the table that can send toys sliding down to a waiting baby. A child has two different ways to have a blast in this activity center. A non-walking infant can sit in the washable, removable padded polyester fabric seat and play by reaching out to the toys. Once the child can stand and walk, you can remove the seat. The toddler then uses the center from the outer rim. Music is the prominent feature of this activity table. The table includes a take-along musical alligator holding 20 minutes of songs that play on the table or away from home. The removable legs have three different levels so the table can adjust to the child’s growing height.
- You'll love: Soft, washable polyester seat
- Fun slide chute for toys to ride
Recommended Ages: 9 months – 3 years
Number of Activities: NL
Batteries Required: 3 AA (not included)
Maximum Weight/Height: 25 pounds
Dimensions: 24.2 x 24.2 x 21.9 inches
Product Weight: 14.5 pounds
#3
Baby Einstein Music Activity Table
Best Budget Buy
This Baby Einstein Music Activity Table features piano, drum, guitar and French horn for kids who really love music. Your child can discover seven classical melodies. The piano keys even give your child an introduction to numbers and colors. The table has options for three languages, English, Spanish, and French.
- You'll love: Three languages available: English, Spanish, French
Recommended Ages: 6 months – 3 years
Number of Activities: 8
Batteries Required: 3 AAA
Maximum Weight/Height: NL
Dimensions: 6.1 x 2.2 x 8.8 inches
Product Weight: 4.89 pounds
#4
Bright Starts 3 in 1 Activity Center
The Bright Starts Around We Go Activity Center is a sitting-to-standing walker and activity center that will delight babies. The walker seat rotates around the inside of the ring. After the child is walking on his own, you can remove the walker seat, and your new toddler can play at the center from the outside of the ring. The center features an incredible 15 separate activities. All the surfaces can be wiped clean and sanitized, so their activity center will always be bright and friendly.
- You'll love: Fun center for infants and toddlers alike
- 15 separate activities that prevent boredom
Recommended Ages: 1 – 4
Number of Activities: 15
Batteries Required: 3 C cell
Maximum Weight/Height: 30 inches
Dimensions: 27.9 x 13.7 x 21.7 inches
Product Weight: 20.1 pounds
#5
Evenflo Exersaucer Learning Center
Best baby activity center
The Evenflo Exersaucer Learning Center can be used as a playmat, an exersaucer, and an activity center, so its usefulness will extend from birth to toddlerhood. There are 11 age-appropriate activities and even music to entertain baby for months. The legs are adjustable to three heights for growing children. The toys on the exersaucer are interchangeable with all Evenflo toy products.
- You'll love: Take With Me Toys can be removed and used with all Evenflo products
- Fun Amazonian theme
Recommended Ages: Activity mat: 0 – 4 months;
Table: 4 months – walking age
Number of Activities: 11
Batteries Required: 9 AAA
Maximum Weight/Height: 30 inches
Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 31.5 inches
Product Weight: 23.2 pounds
#6
LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table
Look, already your baby has formed her own band, and she’s the composer and conductor! This is not a sit-and-spin activity center, but rather a table. The LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table has a book of composition that she can use to choose her favorite songs. Her band consists of instruments on the table that she can use to experiment with different sounds and more than 70 tunes. The table also introduces shapes, colors, letters, and numbers. Bilingual options for English and Spanish make this toy even more valuable.
- You'll love: Bilingual options for English and Spanish
- Music academy for the wee ones
- Legs detach for use on toddler’s lap or on the floor for non-walkers
Recommended Ages: 6 months – 3 years
Number of Activities: NL
Batteries Required: 3 AA (included for demo only; replace for home use
Maximum Weight/Height: NL
Dimensions: 14.5 x 18 x 17.4 inches
Product Weight: 5.4 pounds
#7
Melissa & Doug Jungle Wooden Activity Table
Best wooden activity table
The Jungle Wooden Activity Table provides eight jungle-themed activities for toddlers. The table’s activities help develop fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The pieces turn, flip, roll, slide, and more. Melissa & Doug has scored another hit with this very sturdy and colorful table. This table could take a classroom of toddlers with ease.
- You'll love: Sturdy wood construction means longevity
- Parents report babies less than 1 year old love the toy
Recommended Ages: 1 – 2
Number of Activities: 8
Batteries Required: No
Maximum Weight/Height: NL
Dimensions: 12 x 11 x 17 inches
Product Weight: 6.2 pounds
#8
VTech 2-in-1 Discovery Table
The VTech 2-in-1 Discovery Table has two sides for two very different activities. One side is a learning center with gears and buttons that lights up and makes sounds. This side introduces a toddler to numbers, shapes, and colors. Flip the table over, and it’s a drawing easel. The art side of the table can play more than 80 different melodies while your child draws.
- You'll love: A real first easel
- Entertaining lights and sounds
- Watch for: You must use a dry board eraser to remove art work.
- Parents report the product is not sturdy enough for child to use to pull up to standing.
Recommended Ages: 1 – 3
Number of Activities: NL
Batteries Required: 2 AA (included)
Maximum Weight/Height: NL
Dimensions: 15.7 x 16.1 x 18.1 inches
Product Weight: 7 pounds
#9
Baby Einstein Curiosity Table
The Baby Einstein Curiosity Table has a lot going for it. More than one child at a time can play simultaneously. There are two modes of play on this table. One side has art activities, and the flip side is a science table. The science table contains circuits and flashing lights to discover different colors. Children can watch while a light bulb turns on when the gears connect. On the art table, kids can experiment with no-mess paint pots. You can remove the legs for an on-the-floor or lap experience. The middle panel of the artistic side removes so that there is more storage space. There are also 65 different melodies and sounds for which you can select high, low, or no sound.
- You'll love: English, Spanish, and French modes
- Volume adjusts to high, low, and off
- Watch for: Parents report children’s fingers being stuck in the red gear.
Recommended Ages: 1 +
Number of Activities: NL
Batteries Required: 3 AA (included)
Maximum Weight/Height: NL
Dimensions: 23.5 x 17.5 x 27.6 inches
Product Weight: 7 pounds
#10
Gleeporte 5-in-1 Wooden Play Cube
The Gleeporte 5-in-1 Wooden Play Cube has different activities to keep a toddler occupied until nap time. Those activities include a bead maze, wooden insects, wooden blocks, insect sliders, and rotating gears. You can remove the activity cube for your child to play with the maze separately. If you flip it around when storing, the beads will have a happy home snug inside the cube.
- You'll love: Plenty of activities for a toddler to love
- Maze is a useful developmental tool
Recommended Ages: 2 +
Number of Activities: 5
Batteries Required: No
Maximum Weight/Height: NL
Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.6 x 6.5 inches
Product Weight: 1.95 pounds
#11
VTech Magic Star Learning Table
The VTech Magic Star Learning Table has six activities that help babies to toddlers develop the skills they will need in school, even though that now seems far, far away. On the table is a steering wheel to drive the bear around. There is also an electronic learning book where the child can turn the virtual pages to hear nursery rhymes. A little phone has numbered buttons that call animal friends. There are even light-up buttons on the gear toy that plays music and introduces colors. Non-walking babies can play on the floor if you remove the legs. You can select either English or Spanish languages.
- You'll love: English or Spanish language selection
- Good variety of very different activities
- Watch for: Sent in Frustration-free packaging, a plain brown box
Recommended Ages: 6 months – 3 years
Number of Activities: 6
Batteries Required: 2 AA (included for demo only, replace for home use
Maximum Weight/Height: NL
Dimensions: 14.9 x 19.8 x 16.8 inches
Product Weight: 4 pounds
FAQs: All you need to know
Q Why should you buy an activity table for an infant or toddler?
A Education begins right at birth. An infant’s first impression is that of light, sounds, temperature changes, damp cleansing cloths, a first feeding, and cozy swaddling. Those imprints build on themselves every hour of every day. Children take in these stimuli and gradually begin to learn how to manipulate everything they can reach, listen to, or see. By using an activity table suitable for your baby or toddler, you give them greater opportunities to build early learning skills.
Q Is it a good idea to put an activity table in a playpen or crib?
A We all know that young infants should never sleep with any objects. Although safer, an older baby will have a hard time settling down to sleep after being stimulated. Play excites children. Excited children don’t go to sleep as easily as calm ones. Putting your activity table top in a crib is probably the wrong idea.
Q Can you put an activity table in water?
A An activity table in a kiddie pool or the bathtub might seem like a good idea for lots of water fun. Of course, you would never put an activity table powered by batteries in water. A wooden table place in water would be damaged. If the toddler is old enough to manipulate their bodies and the table in water, you might use your own judgment. Never, of course, leave the child unattended.
Q What are the best ages for activity tables?
A Many activity tables can be used on the floor if the table’s legs are removable. As soon as a child can hold her head up off the floor is a fine time to introduce the toy. When a baby can sit alone without support, they can use the sit-and-spin models. For activity tables, the child should be able to stand with little support. The tables are great for walkers to about three years old. A reference to the normal developmental skills will help you decide when and whether to buy an activity table.
Quick Decision
Manhattan Toy Top Center – Best Overall
With the unique quadrant feature gives plenty of play for any child.
Fisher Price Sit and Spin Activity Center – Upgrade Choice
Offers great music for the little ones with removable legs and a take-along musical alligator
Baby Einstein Music Activity Table – Best Budget Buy
An interactive musical education toy as well as a ton of fun.
BEST WATER TABLES FOR TODDLERS
Gary B.
Gary is a father of two, self-identified RC fanboy, and part-time guitar plucker. When he's not racing his collection of remote-controlled vehicles or strumming away, we bend his arm and get him to write with precision and expertise on a range of mechanical and electrical toys.
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