Baby Activity Centers are a great way to stimulate baby's senses and work on motor skills & cognitive development. Below are some shopping tips for finding the perfect activity center, as well as some great recommendations for those who have no clue what they are looking for!

Since baby Activity Centers are for, well, a baby - it's vital you take the viewpoint of a young child to decide what would make the best purchase. For starters, babies love bright colors, and you will find this sentiment exemplified in many of the centers available for purchase. The Whoozit Stellar Star Activity Center is a great example of this, with its imaginative design and every color of the rainbow represented on its various amusements.

Besides color, babies are drawn to sounds and lights. The Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper provides baby with plenty of sound and visual stimulation, while providing a little exercise at the same time. This all around amusement piece includes an electronic keyboard with dancing lights, attachment holders for more Baby Einstein toys, a swiveling seat, and will keep babies entertained for long stretches of time, so mom can catch up on housework or her favorite soap opera.

Outside of fun and games, baby Activity Centers should be safe. Look for ones with a stable base and plenty of leg room for baby to be comfortable. You also should never leave a child in an activity center unattended, no matter how safe they may seem. You can get an update on the safest centers around by visiting a website such as Consumer Reports To ensure a positive experience, take some time to interact with your child and show him all the fun things to explore on the activity tray and surrounding areas.

Lastly, you should consider finding an activity center that can grow with your child. Many are only one size, but more often than not you can locate a model that has adjustable height and amusements. One such center is the ExerSaucer SmartSteps Active Learning Center by Evenflo. With over 50 different stimulants for baby, this activity center will fit baby from 4 months to walking age, making it a reliable and reusable toy for quite some time.

Still not sure what to buy? Ask a close friend or family member with young children what works for them. A tried and true recommendation is the best you can get, and even if the same activity center doesn't happen to work for your child specifically, at least you can give it an educated shot. You just may find baby loves exactly what you pick out!