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Babies grow a lot in their first year. Overnight, they seem to go from infants who sleep the day away to babies who want to engage with the world around them.
That’s why it’s important to invest in a solid baby activity gym, which will help them learn, play, and get moving while they lay on the floor. But if you’re looking for the best wooden baby activity gyms, you will find options that are not only more aesthetically pleasing to some families, but also longer-lasting in quality.
In general, wooden toys promote more imaginative play for babies and toddlers. Without overly bright colors and battery-operated sounds, little ones can make their own kind of fun with wooden toys. Wooden toys are also better for the environment than hard plastic toys because they are, in most cases, much more biodegradable.
Wooden toys, baby activity gyms included, are also usually made of more durable materials than plastic toys, even if those plastic toys are costly or from a reputable brand.
Because wooden toys are made from stronger materials, they can last a lot longer than other baby toys and add to the value. But before you choose just any wooden baby activity gym, take a closer look at some of the best options out there right now.
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1. Skip Hop Activity Gym
The Skip Hop Activity Gym not only has a durable wooden frame, but it also has a soft play mat, tummy time bear pillow, and hanging toys to stimulate your baby as he or she lays on the mat. Although the mat comes with the teepee-like wooden frame, you can also use the playmat on its own and still engage your baby as they learn to sit up and play in that way.
But the entire thing can be rolled up for easy storage or to take with you for playtime elsewhere. The four different hanging toys will help develop your baby’s sensory skills and there are more than 17 little interactive parts to the activity mat in total.
Child Age Range: The activity gym is designed for babies ages zero months old and up.
Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon or in-store at Buy Buy Baby.
The Best Part: It includes four hanging toys and more interactive toys and animals to fully engage your baby.
The Not So Great: It might be hard for little ones to grab the hanging toys from the activity gym.
Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Skip Hop Activity Gym.
Babies love lots of different activities, and play mats provide so much fun for them. The Skip Hop Play Mat is definitely my favorite, due to the lots of attached toys and softness of the pillows.
2. LanaCrocheting Tropical Baby Play Gym
The LanaCrocheting Tropical Baby Play Gym doesn’t come with a play mat to slide underneath, but that just means you can choose whatever little play mat or soft blanket for your little one to lay on as they reach up for the hanging toys.
Speaking of which, the toys that hang from the foldable natural wooden frame are hand crocheted and themed to match any tropical nursery. Or, they can just entice your baby with bright colors without being too overstimulating or over the top. You can also remove the hanging toys if you need to and the wooden frame easily folds up when it’s not in use.
Child Age Range: The activity gym is made for babies from ages three months old and up.
Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
The Best Part: The crocheted toys are soft and have light rattles inside of them.
The Not So Great: Although the price fluctuates on Amazon, compared to other similar wooden gyms, this one is a little pricier.
Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the LanaCrocheting Tropical Baby Play Gym.
3. Finn + Emma Play Gym
Although the Finn + Emma Play Gym is also made of a sturdy pleasant-looking wood, it differs from the standard natural looking wooden folding play gyms.
It’s made from birch wood and has a non-toxic finish with hanging knit toys. The toys themselves hang from the arch to allow our little one to reach for them. Or, you can remove the toys and let your infant take a closer look. The play gym doesn’t fold up like many of the other wooden baby activity gyms out there and on this list, but it has long sturdy legs as its base.
Overall, the sleek wood finish makes it pleasing to look at and the play gym doesn’t come with the risk of folding into itself and accidentally tipping over.
Child Age Range: The play gym is made for babies from three months old and up.
Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
The Best Part: The toys also make for good teethers for babies.
The Not So Great: It doesn’t have the ability to fold u for easy transport and storage like other wooden play gyms.
Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Finn + Emma Play Gym.
4. The Play Gym By Lovevery
The Play Gym by Lovevery is another unique take on the typical wooden play activity gym that you usually see. There isn’t anything wrong with the more standard design, but the three sturdy legs of this one make it a little bigger and offer a larger play area for your little one.
The legs are attached to a comfortable play mat that your baby can lay or sit upon as he or she engages with the hanging toys. The mat is large enough for more than one baby to play on it at once and you can even attach a special fabric to make the play gym a tent of sorts with one large open side. The play gym is easily one that can be used for much longer than some other ones out there.
Child Age Range: It is designed for babies from zero months old and up.
Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon.
The Best Part: It’s designed to grow with your baby for a little while as they develop.
The Not So Great: The stitching on the mat isn’t as sturdy or reliable as it could be.
Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Play Gym by Lovevery.
5. Hess Wooden Toddler Toy
The Hess Wooden Toddler Toy might sound like more of a toy than an activity gym meant to promote your child’s development, but it’s just another variation of an activity gym.
It is made of wood and designed in a horseshoe shape with hanging toys and a ledge on top. This enables babies to lay beneath the toy to play with and reach for the hanging toys and eventually use the upper ledge to walk along it as they learn to walk. The overall design makes it difficult to transport the wooden toddler toy, but it also makes it plenty unique.
Child Age Range: It is perfect for babies from ages three months old and up.
Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon at his time.
The Best Part: Babies can use this long after they have graduated from the tummy time phase.
The Not So Great: There is no way to fold up and store the wooden toy away or even take it on the go.
Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Hess Wooden Toddler Toy.
6. AWUYI Wood Baby Gym
The AWUYI Wood Baby Gym allows you to go back to the basics when it comes to wooden baby activity gyms for your little one. The gym is made of unfinished wood which is also sanded and smooth with no chemicals added afterward.
It has five hanging toys that can be adjusted in height as your baby grows and they each promote grabbing and fine motor skills in babies. It doesn’t come with a play mat underneath, so you get to provide your own mat or blanket of choice, and although it doesn’t fold up for storage, it’s lightweight enough to move out of the way as needed.
Child Age Range: It’s suitable for babies from three months old and up.
Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon at this time.
The Best Part: It’s easy to put together initially.
The Not So Great: Some of the edges aren’t as smooth as some parents might prefer them to be.
Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the AWUYI Wood Baby Gym.
7. Olpchee Wooden Baby Play Gym
The design of the Olpchee Wooden Baby Play Gym is simple enough and looks similar to the folded design of many other wooden baby activity gyms. It can also be taken apart with ease to add more hanging toys or remove some as needed.
This enables you to make playtime last even longer as you continue to help your child work on his or her reaching and grabbing skills. It comes in a variety of color schemes, but each one has a natural wooden base to start with and neutral-looking color accents that help make the play gym a welcome addition to any nursery or living room. Plus, it is plenty easy to initially put together.
Child Age Range: It is perfect for babies ages three months old and up.
Where To Buy: You can find the play gym on Amazon.
The Best Part: The natural wood is safe for teething babies.
The Not So Great: The hanging toys might be a little too short for some babies.
Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Olpchee Wooden Baby Play Gym.
8. Promise Babe Baby Activity Gym
The Promise Babe Baby Activity Gym has a smooth natural wood finish and color accents that come in a handful of options to match your tastes or your home’s decor.
The activity gym also has three hanging toys in three different lengths to give your baby some variety and promote more movement as he or she grows and can reach a little higher up. It also has an adjustable height and a sturdy rope which keeps it open. Then, when you want to put it away or move it somewhere else, you can easily fold it up with one hand. It is made with your baby’s development as well as ease of use in mind.
Child Age Range: It is recommended for use in babies after three months old.
Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon at this time.
The Best Part: It’s easy to assemble and even take apart again if needed.
The Not So Great: The longest hanging toy might still be a little too short for some younger babies to touch when they reach for it.
Has This Item Been Recalled?: There are no recent or current recalls on the Promise Babe Baby Activity Gym.
Final Thoughts
Most wooden baby activity gyms are pretty similar in design. They typically have hanging toys which promote grabbing and creative play as well as fine motor skills in babies. Since most also fold, they can easily be stored in a closet or under a bed when they aren’t in use.
But because of the sleek and modern design of wooden baby activity gyms, you might not even want to shove them in a closet somewhere since they can easily blend in with most home decor items.
Of course, that’s not the only reason to go with a wooden baby activity gym, but it can be a major selling point for some parents. If you are looking for a long-lasting and durable baby gym for your infant that promotes development in more ways than one, these wooden baby activity gyms will provide that and more.
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