Any parent knows without being told that babies have a lot of energy. They may sleep a lot of the day. (If you’re lucky!) But when they are awake, they’re really awake. Most parents describe it as having an ‘Off’ switch and an ‘On’ switch, with no grades in between. Rather than fight nature, take advantage of it. Buy an activity gym.

Activity gyms offer the chance to work off that energy in a dozen ways. They provide several different ‘stations’ to exercise eye-hand coordination, build arm and leg strength, and – most importantly – exercise that developing mind.

Strength and coordination aren’t just for teen or adult jocks. Babies are developing fast. Their bones are hardening and their young muscles are growing to help them grip, stand and swivel. All those basic movements and many more are essential to good physical health. Even apart from muscular development, that activity helps keep all their organ systems in good shape, just as it does for adults.

At the same time, a good activity gym is a great learning toy. With knobs to twist, mobiles to move, wheels to turn and other features the baby is learning to distinguish and manipulate. That helps the mind recognize differences between, say, a push-pull and a rotation. They’re also learning different shapes and colors. All those are clues to how things behave in the world they are so eagerly exploring.

Picture, for example, a 5-in-1 adjustable gym.
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Stage 1 has colorful toys to bat and a motion activated kick pad. Great for eye-hand coordination and observing how things move when they’re manipulated. Stage 2 offers electronic lights and sounds operated by push buttons. That’s an outstanding way to develop sight and hearing, and to grow the mind when it associates movement with them. Stage 3 has a stand up bar that is ideal for those just learning to stand. Safe and practical.

But it’s Stage 4 and Stage 5 that offer something really unique. Here, the baby will find a play table that provides art projects, games and an easel. All are really safe and help the baby develop that latent artistic ability. Even for future athletes that’s incredibly important. Recognizing colors, manipulating shapes and more is tremendously helpful for developing the senses.

A Kicks and Drive gym can be of great help and great fun for your baby in other ways. With a steering wheel to turn, they learn how to make a basic movement that will benefit them right away and forever. Hanging mobiles entertain while they provide shapes to distinguish. Rollers offer still another type of movement that brings a smile as it helps that young mind grow.[amtap amazon:asin=B0016D1BZI]

Even something as relatively simple as an Animal Friends Musical Gym can be a big value to a little baby (and parent!). With a safe, comfortable pad decorated with cartoon animals, the baby feels good while they experience and explore. Dangling stuffed multi-colored animals amuse the little one while they offer a chance to make them move.[amtap amazon:asin=B000OOS9LO]

The values of activity gyms for growing babies are many and more important than you might have suspected. Entertainment and learning and exercise all work in coordination to aid your baby’s growth in every dimension.