We all know that as a parent, your forever-growing to-do list is often boycotted by a very cute but very needy baby who constantly requires your attention. We also know that it can feel like you very rarely get two minutes to yourself. One piece of kit that can help with both of these things is a baby activity seat.
Often put in the same category as a baby rocker, a baby activity seat is quite simply a stationary chair for your baby to sit in once they are old enough to hold up their head. Keeping your child safely strapped in with a harness and supporting their body, activity seats typically come with interactive features and toys for them to play with. They offer you the chance to grab back a little bit of time to do whatever you need to do while keeping your baby in view.
Many also come with an easy-to-clean removable tray that can be used for your baby's weaning journey while others can go on to be used strapped to chairs as a booster seat so they can join you at the dinner table.
If this sounds good to you, here are our very favourites available to buy...
Are baby activity seats safe?
Even though some activity seats claim to be suitable from birth, you should only use a baby activity with a child who is able to hold their head up unassisted and who is not able to climb out or walk.
The seat should be placed flat on the floor and your child should not be left unattended in the seat.
The NHS say that if you do use a baby activity seat, it's best to use them for no more than 20 minutes at a time because "long periods in reclining carriers or seats, or seats that prop your baby in a sitting position, can delay your baby's ability to sit up on their own."
Best baby activity seats
Best for comfort
Description
The wide, sturdy base and soft fabrics of this activity seat from Fisher-Price help to support babies who are just learning to sit up on their own. There are plenty of activity toys that are perfect for boosting those fine motor skills like the snail and butterfly footpads where they'll be rewarded with fun squeaker sounds. It also folds flat easily for space-saving storage or comfort on the go.
Suitable from: Six months and over
Review: "My son (6 months) loves this chair and it’s been a lifesaver as he is usually very clingy. The two rattles attached keep him entertained & I also put his favourite teethers on the try. Really easy to unclip the chair material & wash (although it said it could go in the dryer I used the radiator to dry mine) and clip back in & the squeaky toy in the bottom of the seat still worked! I would happily recommend this chair to anyone."
Best for stylish design
www.argos.co.uk
Description
This soft seat has a wide, sturdy base that supports your baby in an upright position. Once in it, your little one can play with the two linking toys, have a snack on the tray or just sit and gaze at the world around them. The seat will easily fold flat so you can take it on your travels and the seat pad can be removed and popped in the washing machine.
Suitable from: Three months to 25lbs
Review: "I brought this sit me up seat for my baby boy two months ago. When we first got it, my boy fell in love with it instantly and is still in love with it as he loves to sit up and has good back support. He's very comfortable in it, it's brilliant!"
Top pick
Description
A three-in-one buy, this seat is an interactive play space, snack seat, and table booster in one. Support your little one in the seat positioner mode while keeping them entertained with six fun activities such as a light-up piano with 20 songs and sounds. You can detach the fun play pods and move them to the floor or take them with you for on-the-go fun.
Suitable from: Four months to four years (up to 33 lbs)
Review: "Bought it when my son was just about to sit (four months) and he didn’t like it at first. Now he is six months and he loves it. The set itself is kinda a DJ set I guess, with pretty nice sounding music and nice flashing lights. I found it great because the level of noise is actually adjustable. The lights are not overbearing as some toys. In fairness my sons favourite part are the little rings on the side, he’s teething so he’s starting to bite them off. The chair really keeps him occupied while I’m busy around the kitchen."
Best for colour variety
www.mamasandpapas.com
Description
This safe and supportive seat adapts to suit your baby's growth, giving them plenty of independent playtime with eight interactive features including a roller bead ball, spinning flower, twisty bendy stalk with rattle and more, plus six toy arrangements. It's ergonomically shaped with a supporting crotch post, encouraging a healthy posture. The easy wipe-clean design, available in a range of colourways, means the seat can be used in a variety of settings and can even be used for weaning.
Suitable from: Three months and over
Review: "Great chair, my chunky 4.5 month old loves sitting in it and grabbing for the toys. I like how it grows with the baby so saves me buying another seat for when she's up at the table with us. It's easy to wipe clean and seems much sturdier than the older version I had with my older children. Plus the feet extend out, and the colours are lovely. Will be great to take with us when out and about."
Best for use on the go
www.argos.co.uk
Description
As this seat is designed specifically for weaning, it doesn't come with sensory toys included. However, you can easily give them toys to play with on the snack tray. This seat is fantastic for use on the go; it folds flat and features a UPF20 canopy to protect your little one from the sun's rays. With soft fabrics and a wide sturdy base, we'd recommend this one for trips and holidays away from home.
Suitable from: Birth to 12kg
One reviewer said: "I am so happy with this seat, my little boy was just over 4 months old when I got it and so far it's helped him with his neck control and is super comfy! It's light and compact that I can take it on trips out or visits to family for easy snacking! Can't wait to try it out at the beach with its canopy come the better weather!"
Best for larger babies
Description
This activity seat provides two positions for baby; one for those learning to hold their head up, and another for those learning to sit up. Made of a machine-washable soft fabric with built-in head support, it can be folded flat for storage and comes equipped with a three-point safety harness. It has two soft, removable toys and many parents were pleased that this seat was able to fit babies who were a little more on the chunky side.
Suitable from: Four months to approx. 12 months
One reviewer said: "My 7-month-old loves it! He's on the chunky side & I was worried about his legs fitting but they fit great & have some room to grow. It has great support for his back, butt & front."
Best for longevity
Description
The Baby Einstein activity seat is designed to grow with your baby, from six months through to toddler. It comes with a dishwasher-safe tray, great for weaning or hosting toys for hands-on play. The seat itself comes with two suction cup rattles to engage your baby's senses.
We especially love that the tray can be removed and conveniently stored under the seat, so you can transform the seat into a booster. With safety straps for attaching to a chair and a three-point harness, they can sit up at the table with the rest of the family at mealtimes.
Suitable from: Six months and over
One reviewer said: "For portability and convenience this was a perfect purchase for us. It is lightweight even with baby sitting we can lift and move around. The chair itself is solid and strong with grip. You can place it on the floor, table, or sofa and it doesn't move so it's pretty safe. The height is good in terms of feeding and playing. The overall build is very good. 9/10."
Recommended
Description
Although technically more of a baby play nest, this Nuby seat is too cute not to include! Great for neatly storing away, this inflatable seat will help teach your baby to sit upright while keeping them safely cushioned with padded arms and a headrest. It comes with a sweet play tray with interactive plush toys that can also be detached if your baby wants to play with them after you've packed the inflatable seat away.
Suitable from: Six months and over
Review: "Lovely little cushion. Very good quality material, looks good and baby loved it."