My son will be 4 months on Aug. 6th. I was wondering when I can start him in an exer-sacuer? I've only really worked with children who were past this stage!! He's starting to get bored with the floor mat, the swing, and the bounce chair I wanted to switch it up. Any Hints?
I put him in the saucer today. He seemed to like it he got tired after about 15-20min though which was fine it's a start. He's now napping like an angel...he needed some new stimulation!! Thanks for all the help!
The exersaucer is the best invention since...well it's the best invention EVER!!! Go ahead and start him in it. If the seat is too big then fold bath towels and put them in front and in back of him so that he won't slump down in the seat.
Hi A.,
Once he is able to hold his head up unsupported without bobbing, you can give it a try. However, he also needs to be able to touch the floor of the exersauser with his feet flat. For my little guy I had 2 exersaucers. One was height adjustable and at 4 months he was able to enjoy that one with no problem at all, with his feet flat. The other one though, was one that converts to a push walker and was not height adjustable. At 8 months, he is just now able to touch flat footed in this one (and he's tall for his age!). Of course that one is the more "exciting" of the two and I didn't want him to outgrow it developmenally before he was able to physically fit in it, so I put a firm pillow under his feet so he was able to stand with flat feet, and that worked great for him! You should also note, though that although the exersaucer is good entertainment for your baby and can help him to develop cognitively and motorically, you shouldn't leave your baby in the exersaucer for more than 20 minutes at a time, because the position that it brings the hips into isn't a natural position for standing and walking. Generally, it causes the legs to be spread wider apart than is natural. Give him time in supported standing, holding your hands as well as just standing in the exersaucer.
Hope this helps!
B.
My son went in at 4 months. You just need to make sure that your child is tall enough for the device. His feet need to touch the bottom in order to avoid injury.
Hi I am definately not an expert but I have been a licensed daycare provider for 19 years and have 3 children of my own (23, 18 & 13) each child is different. If your child is bored with the normal things and he can handle standing weight on his little legs then I would start with short intervals (10 - 15 minutes), you may want to stick a blanky around him in the seat to secure his body from flopping around. Enjoy.
hi A., i think i just wrote to you on another blog...i swear we are living similar lives...i just started my 4.5 mos. old in the exersaucer...she loves it but only for short periods...plus doc. says to only keep her in it about 20 mins...reports show that spending too long a time in there could mess with their muscle development...
My son is just over 5 months and loves his Baby Einstein saucer. He didn't seem to like it at first but now loves it. He has been using it for about 3 weeks and doesn't get bored with it like he does with other things. I am a stay at home mom and I feel safe with him in the saucer (and in my eye sight) while I eat or get some chores done.
My advice to you is that you try it and if he doesn't like it at first, keep trying.
If is head is steady now than he should be able to go in it. If he is too small put blankets around him to support him.
put him in it as soon as he cansit up unassisted . he'll love the new view!
As soon as my daughter was stable and comfortable sitting up I put her in the walker and she loved it!!! prior to the walker I used a Bumbo seat which helped to support her body while she learned to sit up. She absolutely loved that too because she had some independance and could sit up while being very supported. God Bless
I think I started my daughter about that time. Just use some extra blankets to make sure he is propped up and supported.
I put both of my kids in an exersaucer. They both LOVED it! I also had a Jumperoo for them. They loved both.
Hi try it my daughter was a big baby and sat there you may have to put something behind there head or around him but may love it try it and if all falls try again in a few weeks never leave him alone until he can sit by himself good luck
Hello,
I started my son the the saucer at 5mths and it was a life saver! He could spend up to a half an hour in it and i could get some housework done.
I know that with my daughter I was told that once she could hold her head steady and started to sit with little support than I could use the exersauser.
good luck
If he can hold himself up go ahead! It also helps to put a folded towel/blanket between your baby and the seat for support so it will kind of keep him in place! I bet he will love it!
A.,
The exersaucer should say on it what your baby should be able to do before you use it. I think your baby should just have good head control. I put my daughter in hers just as she turned 4 months and she LOVED it. We still use it for taking showers and such on occasion and she is now 12 mo, although she doesn't love it anymore.
Have fun! At 4 mo, it just starts getting really good!
My husband and I started our son in the saucer at about 5 months. We had to put it on it's lowest because of his short little legs, but he loved it!!!!!! He was actually sad the day we put it away when he was too big/advanced for it. What's funny is, he has a cousin who is visiting this week and we brought it up for her to play in and he remembered it!! He was showing her how to work aoll of the toys on it. Just remember that the little guys can't be in it for too long a time. An hour or so is ok, otherwise they can have circulation problems from being upright and not holding themselves up. We had one from Graco I think that had fish on it. It was about $70 or so, but totally worth the investment. It could be folded up really easy too.
Good Luck!!!
i didnt put my daughter into anything until she was 6 months but you can try it and just put a folded blanket in front for support. good luck hope it works
I put my son in an exercauser around his 4th month. He used to love it. I also started using a walker around this time and he loved the independence.
As long as his neck is strong I don't see why not try. You can prop him up with a blanket or pillow so he doesn't bobble around in the seat too much. He may not do too much but he may like being upright and looking at the toys.
A., I think 4 months is a perfect time to put your son in the saucer. The sooner the better because he might not end up liking it the more you put it off. I put my son in one once he could hold his head up (of course I stuffed a few blankets in front of him because he was not quite big enough)! You will really enjoy having a saucer as it gives you time to do things while he's enjoying himself! Take care! :)
