The best baby activity tables in the UK 2023

You want to stimulate your child's intelligence, but you don't know which educational toy to give him? Why not buy him an activity table? As fun and stimulating as a mobile or a playmat, the baby activity table has a real impact on the sensory and motor skills of babies eager for new sensations. But which model to choose? Use this guide to help you make the right choice.

Verbaudet activity table and musical awakening multicolor TU 1
9/10

Best value for money

Verbaudet activity table and musical awakening multicolor TU

Best activity table in 2021

It's hard to resist this superb table that will introduce your little ones to the joys of music! A toy that offers a nice design and many activities to discover and rediscover endlessly from 12 months!

55,99 £ on Amazon

This wooden activity table from Verbaudet is a musical awakening table composed of a rolling drum with balls, a xylophone, a cymbal, a pair of maracas to detach, a guiro to scratch and a tam-tam. Offering a variety of activities and games, this table is just perfect for your child to develop their musical awareness, listening skills, dexterity and coordination. A small stick is also available to play music.

What parents appreciate most about this toy is its sturdiness, safety and stability. There is no risk of the toy falling when baby leans on it. In addition, all the elements of the table are firmly attached to prevent them from being lost. In short, this table guarantees many hours of fun for your little budding musician.

VTech "My Bilingual Activity Table 2
8/10

Best value for money

VTech "My Bilingual Activity Table

Best entry-level activity table in 2021

This table allows your little one to have fun and learn in French and English. Thanks to its removable legs, it can be transformed into a table or a floor model depending on the age and needs of your child.

32,79 £ on Amazon

Your little one will have the time of his life with this activity table that will help him discover his first words in English (alphabet, rhymes, animal names, numbers). It features six activity zones for optimal sensory development for toddlers ages 9-36 months and offers a variety of colorful toys to keep them entertained!

Twenty melodies and six songs, the sound of a car horn, and animal calls stimulate the child's hearing. His motor skills and tactile awareness are encouraged by gears and buttons to operate to understand the relationship between cause and effect. Finally, the toy comes with a removable phone that your little one will love to manipulate and will encourage him to engage in role-playing games to stimulate his imagination. It is recommended to put this toy on a carpet that sticks well to the ground when baby plays with it because its feet are not non-slip.

Fischer-Price DPV20 Progressive Play Table 3
9/10

Best value for money

Fischer-Price DPV20 Progressive Play Table

Best high-end activity table in 2021

Stimulate your child's curiosity with this activity table that offers over 100 melodies, 4 places to discover and many other coordination and fine motor activities in a beautifully colored bilingual toy.

103 £ on Amazon
Manhattan Toy abacus tree 4
9/10

A great choice

Manhattan Toy abacus tree

Best multi-player activity table

From 1 year old, thanks to this pretty and stimulating activity table, the little ones will be able to fully satisfy their exploratory desires alone or with others. Timeless, they can even keep this toy until 5 years.

87,20 £ on Amazon

This wooden activity center is packed with great features. This is very convenient, because the Manhattan Toy's components won't fall off and after your kids play with it, you won't have to tidy up. Plus, the toy is easy to clean. What a boon for parents! Meeting strict CPSC, ASTM, EN71 and Health Canada safety standards, this toy is completely safe for your child.

The table includes 4 quadrants to explore on the "animal" theme with a variety of activities to stimulate toddlers' motor skills. In addition to its educational and playful contributions, this fun table allows children to socialize. And for good reason, it offers enough play space and activities for a total of four children. Basically, your child won't get bored with this activity table. The abacuses can even be used as a support for learning to count later on.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best baby activity table

Any specific needs?

Best activity table in 2021

Best entry-level activity table in 2021

Best high-end activity table in 2021

Best multi-player activity table

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best baby activity tables

TOP OF THE LINE CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
Verbaudet activity table and musical awakening multicolor TU 5
9/10
VTech "My Bilingual Activity Table 6
8/10
Fischer-Price DPV20 Progressive Play Table 7
9/10
Manhattan Toy abacus tree 8
9/10
OUR SELECTION
Verbaudet activity table and musical awakening multicolor TU
VTech "My Bilingual Activity Table
Fischer-Price DPV20 Progressive Play Table
Manhattan Toy abacus tree
It's hard to resist this superb table that will introduce your little ones to the joys of music! A toy that offers a nice design and many activities to discover and rediscover endlessly from 12 months!
This table allows your little one to have fun and learn in French and English. Thanks to its removable legs, it can be transformed into a table or a floor model depending on the age and needs of your child.
Stimulate your child's curiosity with this activity table that offers over 100 melodies, 4 places to discover and many other coordination and fine motor activities in a beautifully colored bilingual toy.
From 1 year old, thanks to this pretty and stimulating activity table, the little ones will be able to fully satisfy their exploratory desires alone or with others. Timeless, they can even keep this toy until 5 years.
Age
From 12 months
From 9 to 36 months
From 6 to 36 months
From 12 months
Games and activities proposed
A maze, a stacking tower, a marble run, several musical instruments and a wand to play music
6 activity zones, 6 songs, 20 melodies, piano, interactive book, steering wheel, shifter, horn, star button and phone
4 places to discover, 9 lights and 120 melodies and phrases, sliding buttons, rollers and a phone
4 play areas consisting of animals, abacuses, wheels, mazes, small windows
Removable feet
No
Yes
Yes
No
Dimensions (LxWxH) and weight
44 x 44 x 30 cm/2.94 kg
37.9 x 50.2 x 42.7 cm/1.86 kg
56 cm x 13.5 cm x 40.5 cm/2.8 kg
45.72 x 45.72 x 57.15 cm/4.82 kg
Power supply
-
Batteries
Batteries
-

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Buying guide - baby activity table

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How to choose your baby activity table

A quality activity table will allow your child to stimulate his imagination and intelligence to infinity. Therefore, in order for your child to take full advantage of the benefits of this fun and educational tool, here are the criteria that should not be overlooked when choosing this toy.

#1 - The age of the child

Choose an activity table for your little one based on his age. If the table has games that are difficult for your child to understand and perform, he or she will get frustrated and quickly get bored. To make sure that the toy is suitable for your child, look at the product packaging. Normally, the recommended age is indicated.

#2 - The variety of games offered

To avoid your child finishing all the games and activities offered by the table in just a few days, opt for a model that offers a variety of games: gears, light buttons, levers to operate, objects to stack, musical instruments, etc. The more games there are and the less complicated they are, the more the toy will keep the child interested for a long time.

#3 - Safety

Make sure your toddler's activity table is CE certified, which is a guarantee of quality and proof that the toy is safe for the child. To be sure, the CE mark should be on the body of the toy. It would also be great if you could find a model with non-slip feet to prevent baby from slipping when leaning on it.

#4 - The scalability

Go for an activity table with removable legs that can be placed on the floor when your child starts to sit up. Once your little one knows how to stand, you can put the legs back on the toy.

#5 - The size and weight of the toy

Go for an activity table that is easily adapted to your little one's size and accessible to his little hands: not too big or too small. Also make sure it's lightweight for portability.

Choose a natural position for your baby

Early childhood experts advise against toys and childcare accessories that put your child in an unnatural or unnatural position such as hanging by the crotch. This delays walking, encourages tiptoeing, and is contrary to natural straightening. Learning to walk should only be done on the ground. The quality of the toddler's support and balance to stand up will have a significant impact on his motor skills throughout his life.

Activity table on legs or on the ground?

Activity table on legs

The activity tables on legs are mainly intended for children who are already able to stand. The games are spread out over the entire surface of the table on 4 legs for optimal stability. With their bright colors and gadgets, the activity tables are very attractive and encourage toddlers to come and play. Children become more and more confident and gradually take their first steps towards independence and the discovery of new sensations. Although there are models on legs with a special support to put a baby who can't stand up in it yet, you should know that these are not recommended by early childhood specialists. This is for the simple reason that hanging by the crotch is an unnatural position that is not good for a baby's spine and can cause foot deformity and tendon retraction.

Activity table on the floor

Floor activity tables are primarily designed for children who are not yet standing, but are crawling. As the name suggests, floor models have no legs and are therefore placed directly on the floor. The entire surface of the table is covered with equally stimulating toys. Floor activity tables are ideal for entertaining your toddler while traveling in the car or on a plane.

Verdict

The choice between a floor or standing activity table depends mostly on the age of your child. Floor-mounted activity tables are for young babies, while floor-mounted activity tables are for older children. The best choice you can make is to opt for a model with removable legs.

Tips

Put the activity table in a safe place

You should always supervise a child playing with an activity table. If you can watch your toddler, you can safely place him or her in a playpen. However, it's safer to set up the table in a spacious area where baby will have enough room to move around the table.

Let the child decide

It's essential not to force your child to play with his or her activity table. To get the most out of the toy, the initiative to play with it must come from him.

Play with other children

From time to time, let your little one play with other children to socialize a bit and familiarize him with the concepts of trading and sharing. This will also teach him to resolve conflicts on his own.

Don't abuse the activity table

Don't let your child spend more than two hours playing with his activity table. This may over-stimulate him. Two hours a day is more than enough time to benefit from the educational value of the toy.

Accompany your child in learning

Although the activity table is intended to make a child more independent, still consider playing with your toddler from time to time. Encourage him to explore the many facets of the toy and applaud when he improves. This will help build his confidence, and at the same time, you can build a strong bond with your little one.

FAQ

For what age are activity tables intended?

Activity tables are primarily recommended for toddlers around one to three years old, but there are many options these days for younger children. However, depending on the model of table you choose to buy, it can also last until the age of ten or maybe even older.

Is a battery-powered activity table safe for a baby?

There's no need to worry, as the battery place is well hidden by a plastic plate that is carefully closed with screws to prevent baby's little hands from reaching it.

Should I direct my child to take full advantage of his activity table and the benefits of it?

Let your child play as he feels. Deciding on his own what and how he wants to play helps develop his creativity and problem-solving skills.

Won't playing with too many toys overstimulate my baby?

No. Having fun with a variety of toys like a playmat, dolls, blocks, play dough, etc. encourages your child to think, imagine and move.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. Tips for choosing and using toys, parachute.ca
  2. Is your child safe? - At playtime, canada.ca
  3. Why put an activity in with your child, enjoyfamily.fr
  4. The benefits of play, naitreetgrandir.com
  5. 10 items to leave off your baby list, parents-naturellement.com
  6. How to choose the right toys for baby, canalvie.com
  7. The different types of activity tablesGames, lepaysdesmerveilles.com
  8. toys and activities for toddlers 12 to 24 months, soinsdenosenfants.cps.ca
  9. Benefits of activity tables for babies, infantino.com
  10. Activity centers-parents and baby friendly featuresActivity table, consumerreports.org
  11. 8 ways to use a baby play table, mybabymoves.com
  12. The best activity tables for babies, mamaot.com
  13. Amazon.co.uk : baby activity table, amazon.co.uk
  14. Activity table | vertbaudet, vertbaudet.fr
  15. The 5 Best baby activity tables in 2021, tictactime.com
  16. Activity table 0 - 3 years - Ideas and purchase Toddler ..., fnac.com
  17. Baby activity tables cheap at Auchan price, auchan.fr
  18. Baby wooden activity table - Table éveil - Janod, janod.com
  19. Amazon.co.uk : table d'eveil, amazon.co.uk
  20. Baby activity table with seat The comparison is here for ...., de-noel.net
  21. Table and chair for baby/child bedroom | Berceau magique, berceaumagique.com
  22. The best wooden activity tables with seats for ..., kinderspel.net
  23. Manibul activity table creation Oxybul for child from 1 ..., oxybul.com
  24. Tables of awakening and activities - VTech, vtech-jouets.com
  25. 18 games and activities for baby 3 months 4 months 5 months 6 months, les-supers-parents.com
  26. Homemade baby activity tables ideas, bombastikgirl.com
  27. Wooden activity table Janod - Table of awakening for baby ..., janod.com
  28. Tables and activity toys | Cheap discount | Dreambaby, dreambaby.be
  29. Activity toys for baby : Aubert, aubert.com
  30. Activity centers and toys for baby | Babies R Us Canada, babiesrus.ca
  31. INFANTINO 3 in 1 activity table at Auchan price, auchan.fr
  32. Ma table d'activités bilingue - Jeu d'apprentissage - VTech, vtech-jouets.com
  33. 20 activities and games to awaken baby, natureetdecouvertes.com
  34. , humeurscreatives.com
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Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
Verbaudet activity table and musical awakening multicolor TU 9
Verbaudet activity table and musical awakening multicolor TU
VTech "My Bilingual Activity Table 10
VTech "My Bilingual Activity Table
Fischer-Price DPV20 Progressive Play Table 11
Fischer-Price DPV20 Progressive Play Table
Manhattan Toy abacus tree 12
Manhattan Toy abacus tree

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