Bright Starts Zippity Zoo 3-in-1 Around We Go activity center

As a working mom of two boys, having a hands-free moment when they are entertained is a rarity. With the littlest one, the entertainer is a must to try and get through the morning rush, and a necessity to get dinner on the table in a timely manner. Our first time around, we had a stationary entertainer. We found that it was really frustrating for our son, so with our second child, we wanted to make sure there was some kind of self-propelled motion. The Bright Starts Zippity Zoo 3-in-1 Around We Go was a great choice. The toy is designed to grow with your child, so in the early months you have a detachable seat that rotates 360 degrees around a table that houses four different entertainment stations. Once your child enters the toddler years, you can remove the seat, and voila! It’s an activity table! It’s a big piece of gear that doesn’t quite fit in any closet, but it’s very entertaining and will grow with your child. To me, that’s worth the trade off.

So, first thing’s first: the unboxing. As I mentioned above, it’s a large piece with moving parts, so it is a bit intimidating when you get all the pieces laid out. However, the directions are very clear and all the pieces are packaged logically, so it isn’t overwhelming. The only tool you’ll need is a screwdriver and then three C batteries. It took me about 45 minutes to get everything put together, and I was pretty proud I did it all by myself. It seems easy to clean, too. The removable seat can be washed, and all the pieces can be easily removed to do a heavy cleaning, or you can just wipe everything down.
Next, it was time for a test drive. My little one is 5 months, so safety and comfort are No. 1, and this activity center fits the bill for both. It has a soft, cloth seat with a built-in buckle that attaches to a secure base. The toy is very stable overall, and all the pieces seem secure. I’ve been impressed with the overall quality as it’s held up nicely. From the first moment my son sat in the seat, he had a huge smile, and he just has so much fun playing in it. It’s so cute to see him hop/walk around the activity table. He is still trying to master walking, but he’s getting the hang of it.
There are four distinct play areas, and I think his favorite is the little piano. He especially gets a kick out of his older brother coming over and playing the songs. There are three different song modes: Fun Songs, Piano Keys and Silly Sounds. My older one thinks the Silly Songs is the best; the little one doesn’t have a favorite yet. He hasn’t figure out how to turn the page in the flipbook, but he does like staring at the pictures. Another thing that is great are the bendable butterfly stalk toys that he loves to chew on. Great for teething! This toy is really great if you help your tot interact with everything. However, once my son gets a little older I know he’s going love playing with all the interactive parts like the frog popper and the spinning ball toy by himself.
My only complaints really only stem from his age/size. Because he’s on the younger side, there is a limitation to how involved he can get. I know as he grows, he’ll get more and more use out of the other features. But at his age right now, the max time he enjoys is 15-20 minutes, but that’s still a pretty long period of time for a 5 month old. This center is just such a fun toy not only for him but for me as well. My husband and I love watching him light up when we set him in the toy, and it’s non-stop action until he wears himself out. I can’t wait for this toy to grow with him as he discovers what these cute features can actually do when he plays with them. If you’re looking for a toy to entertain your tot and free you up for a moment or two, then this is it!
Price: $90
Where to buy: walmart.com