Flexible baby gym (with parent-friendly music toys!) from Tiny Love

Product name: Tiny Love Gymini Monkey Island (Tiny Love Gymini Monkey Island Activity Gym)

What is it?A very flexible baby gym with four different toys designed to stimulate eye-hand coordination, a mirror and a bean-shaped cushion made for tummy time. The arches are soft and full of holes that allows for the flexibility to attach different toys and objects and makes it easy to move the baby gym without having to disassemble it

Why did it catch my attention?Due to flu, I and my son had to stay an extra week at his grandparents’ house far out in the Scandinavian countryside and we needed some toys to keep him entertained during the extended visit. I liked the bright colors, the animal theme and the flexible solution that allowed to attached a few of his favorite toys that we had brought along from London

How old was my baby when I bought it?He was 4 months, but this baby gym is suitable from birth until the baby is able to sit up on his/her own

What value does it add for us?In addition to being as entertaining for a 4 month old baby as anything bright-colored with toys that makes funny noises, this toy serves as both a traditional baby gym (with baby lying on his back) and a tummy time toy – which is great with a 4 month old who easily gets impatient and wants to change positions. It is easy to move around in the house without disassembling, to use in combination with other toys that easily attach to the flexible arches and the toys can be removed and brought along to a bouncer or buggy. The cushion, intended for tummy time training, has proved especially useful and serves both as a head cushion in the travel cot and the buggy, behind his back to make it more comfortable to sit in places like car seats and bouncers and as support for a wobbly back when practising to sit up on his own. The toys have softer and less parent-annoying noises than many equivalent alternatives – for example the smooth, light bell-sound of the lion mobile that kept my baby entertained this morning while I slept next to him to catch up after a sleepless night!

What does it replace?Other baby gyms and tummy time toys, baby cushions, baby mirrors and toys designed for practising eye-hand-coordination

How did my baby respond to it?He loves it! It enabled his mother to sleep for 2 hours this morning while he kept himself busy with the soft-bell-sounding lion

How much does it cost?In the baby store far out in the Scandinavian countryside where I bought it, the full price was SEK 799 (but discounted to SEK 599)

Can I see any drawbacks?This is without doubt the best one of the 3 baby gyms we have tried so far, the only thing I can think of is that he will miss it when we come home to his good old Fisher Price Precious Planet baby gym that has some but not all of the advantages of Tiny Love

A rolling tivoli to make baby want to crawl!

Product name: VTech Crawl and Learn Bright Lights Ball (www.vtechkids.com)

What is it?A rolling ball full of buttons to press to make it do different noises and movements. It is designed to make babies want to crawl after it

Why did it catch my attention?I had noticed the start of something that looked like crawling when my son was lying on his tummy on his playmat and wanted something that would get him going

How old was my baby when I bought it?3 months, but the manufacturer recommends it from 6 months

What value does it add for us?It makes tummy time fun and I can see how the tendency to crawl gets stronger every day. It is also a very enjoyable toy to play with when sitting on a parent’s lap or lying in the cot. Like many VTech toys it is full of buttons to press and different shapes and lights to be fascinated by

What does it replace?Other toys that are made to help encouraging a baby to start crawling are mirrors, animals that move and rollers – this is the only one I have tried so far

How did my baby respond to it?He reaches out for it and wants to touch all the exciting buttons and shapes

How much does it cost?£11 on Amazon UK

Can I see any drawbacks?There really is a lot of stuff on this ball, and I would not be surprised if babies easily get overstimulated by this toy

Tummy time fun with Lamaze Spin & Explore!

Product name: Lamaze Spin & Explore Sea Gym  (Lamaze Spin and Explore The Sea)

What is it?A mat with bright-colored funny figures and a spinning ‘surfboard’ to make tummy time training more fun! For me this was a very good buy – one of our favorite gadgets!

Why did it catch my attention?I found it heartbreaking to watch my son rub his face in the mat when lying on his tummy and was looking for a toy that could stimulate his need to strengthen his neck and back muscles and give him an enjoyable experience at the same time

How old was my baby when I bought it?3 months

What value does it add for us?It makes tummy time fun and also provides somewhere to put my son down that actually calms him when he has a tummy ache

What does it replace?Watching a poor little person rub his face in the mat. It also supplements ‘flying’ with an 8kg heavy baby on my forearms when he has a tummy ache

How did my baby respond to it?He loved the figures on the mat, started spinning around like crazy and burst out in one of his first belly laughs. A little bit later when he got better at grabbing things with his hands  he grabs the mat instead of spinning, but still seems to enjoy the tummy time

How much does it cost?I paid £35, but I see that Lamaze has a promotion for this item and the similar Garden Gym right now Lamaze Spin & Explore Garden Gym

Can I see any drawbacks?It has already lost the spinning effect (not because of the toy but because of my son grabbing the fabric). I am not sure how well a baby who can roll over would stay on the ‘surfboard’