TikTok's Beloved Skip Hop Baby Activity Center Is My Baby's #1 Place to Play—Here's What I Think About It

• Aesthetic: 19/20
• Functionality: 20/20
• Value: 20/20
• Quality/Ease of Use: 19/20
• Entertainment Factor: 19/20

Total: 97/20

When I was pregnant, I registered for a ton of toys and baby containers that I thought were going to be a total hit with my little one. Of course, 80 percent of the items I stocked up on ended up getting totally tossed aside. The Skip Hop Baby Activity Center ($117), i.e., TikTok's favorite activity center, however, is consistently one of my son's playtime staples. Thankfully, I was influenced by moms and pediatric professionals on social media to add this to my baby registry due to the engaging benefits of its colorful toys, swivel seat, adjustable footplate and more. Even developmental physical therapist Dr. Olivia Reyes, aka @thebabypt on TikTok, has given it a thumbs up. After four months of my child using it, here's my honest mom review. 

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In her TikTok video, Dr. Reyes explains that because the Skip Hop Baby Activity Center is a container, its "PP&A" (position, posture and alignment) is important to consider. "Now this is a container so we have to be diligent about that PP&A. I like that this footplate adjusts to promote better [position, posture and alignment]," she says. She also likes the discovery window, which allows kids to see their feet to develop spatial awareness, and notes that the nature of the toys should keep babies entertained, "but not overstimulated."

The Pros

Ah, the level of gratitude I owe this sweet play table is substantial. My baby skipped right from colic to needing to be entertained at all times to avoid getting fussy. Popping him into the swivel seat is an instant party in his mind. He goes from slapping and pulling on the stars to whipping around the sun rattle to chewing on the lamb; I mean, he just has a blast. Once he's bored in one spot, he spins around and focuses on another toy. On that note, the swivel seat does a 360-degree turn both ways, and twists smoothly so he isn't straining himself to move around. 

He is pretty refluxy and also eats fruit in his taster toy on here, too, so the toys, seat and surface (and even the footplate) get messy very quickly. Thankfully, literally everything on this activity center is removable and washable, including the seat cover. All of the toys click right off and on so I can clean them individually, and the smooth plastic surface of the table is incredibly easy to wipe down and doesn't hold any stains.

Luckily for both of us, the toys are also very durable. He pulls, bends, slaps and chews on everything on the table and it still looks brand new after four months of use. Like I mentioned, all the toys are removable and can be placed wherever you want on the table, so if your little one isn't swiveling just yet, you can put all the toys near each other and they can reach them without turning.

As for that versatile, adjustable footplate? My son loves to tap his feet on it, and I love that the light up, musical piano board can be moved to the bottom slot, so he can step on the buttons and look through the little peekaboo window to watch himself do it. It's important for your baby's feet to be well supported; you don't want them on their tiptoes or floating their legs around, so the fact that the plate can adjust to grow with their height at three different levels is a key feature on this activity center. Not to mention the fact that it'll transform into a tabletop, extending the life of the play center well into toddlerhood.

The Cons

The table is ultimately a stellar product, but there are a couple of things I would change about it if I could. For one, while the seat cover may be washable, it's tough to get stains out of it. Whether it's spit-up or berry residue, I have had no luck getting a few stains out of the polyester material.

I also wish there were more toy addition options for the foot rest. My little one loves to scrunch his toes on different textures and move his feet around on things that make noise, so if there were Velcro or magnetic floor toys that could be added to the bottom, it would make this activity center even more enjoyable for him and his sensory development.

We all want to be the best parents we can be and get our children toys that they'll enjoy, but if you're going to invest in something pricier, you probably hope it'll last longer than the newborn diaper stage (IYKYK). Because this toy has the capability to grow with your baby, as well as keep them stimulated without too many sensory items being thrown at them all at once, you really get a lot for your money. While I cannot stand the defeat of not being able to get out stains (knowing it will lose resale value on Facebook Marketplace), I can live with some discoloration if it means my kiddo is having a blast and learning motor skills all at the same time. Plus, I can fold laundry, make him breakfast or pick up his toys while he's sufficiently occupied in this thing. Once again, the For You page has come to the rescue, and I definitely agree with all the MomTok influencers who've given the Skip Hop Baby Activity Center a stamp of approval.