A baby jumper is a device that can be used by infants to exercise and play in. The original baby jumper consists of a hoop suspended by an elastic strap. More elaborate baby jumpers have a base made of hard plastic sitting in a frame and a suspended fabric seat with two leg holes, often with trays holding toys. The door jumpers lack the tray. There are also mobile play centers ( baby walkers), which look very similar to baby jumpers, but which have wheels.
The Jolly Jumper brand refers to a Native American origin, where mothers used cradleboards to keep their infants in when travelling or working. When working outside, the mother could attach the cradleboard to a tree limb using its straps. By pulling the limb, thus causing a bouncing motion, the baby would be soothed. [1] Jolly Jumper claims to have invented the baby jumper in 1910, using an axe handle for the spreader; however the baby jumper existed long before that. In the 1880s, various patents were granted for a “new and improved” baby jumpers, [2] [3] [4] while in the 1930s, Goodyear foresaw the use of latex for baby jumpers. [5]
Some professionals[ who?] warn against potential safety issues when using a jumper for prolonged periods of time, claiming that it could cause muscle imbalance if the child is placed in a sitting position before they would be able to on their own. [6] Choice, an Australian consumer organization, warns against the use of door jumpers because of the risk of the door clamps breaking. [7] The Government of Canada also warns about the head injuries linked to the use of suspended baby jumpers. [8]