Kids love ball pits. They love playing and crawling between the balls and immersing themselves in a whole new colorful world. Instead of taking your baby to a public ball pit or waiting for special events where large ball pits are rented, there are a lot of personal ball pits that can be set up just at home.
What Age Can Babies Use Ball Pits?
The recommended age that babies can go into ball pits is 6 months old. At this point some babies can sit up without needing full support, which is required for them to enjoy ball pits safely. However, each ball pit manufacturer can have their own age specifications, which needs to be followed.
Are Ball Pits Safe for Babies?
While ball pits can provide a fun and stimulating environment for babies, it's crucial to emphasize the importance of supervised play. Keeping a watchful eye while your baby is playing in the ball pit so that you can have a quick response to any unforeseen situations. It also helps guarantee a safe and secure play experience for everyone.
Finding the right ball pit is also important. Ensure that the ball pit is tailored around the specific age and development cycle of your baby. Not all ball pits are created equal, and it's essential to choose one specifically designed for babies and toddlers. Small balls could pose a choking hazard so steer clear of ball pits with those. Try to find balls that are appropriately sized for your baby’s hands and mouth.
The materials used in the ball pit are also crucial. Choosing options that are made from non-toxic material can help prevent any future harm to your baby. First, focus on the materials used in the construction of the ball pit. This includes the ball pit base, the padding or mat, and the safety net. Additionally, pay attention to the materials of the balls themselves.
Limiting the number of balls in the pit is also important to prevent overcrowding. An overcrowded ball pit can make it challenging for your baby to move and explore comfortably. Strike a balance by providing enough balls for a delightful experience while maintaining a spacious play area within the ball pit.
Cleaning a Baby Ball Pit
A clean ball pit will keep everyone feel more secure. Look for ball pits that have removable and washable covers that can be cleaned often. Also, sanitize the balls and other surfaces of the ball pit to prevent the spread of germs. This can also have the added benefit of prolonging the life of the ball pit.
Do You Need a Ball Pit for Babies?
A ball pit can turn a boring living space into a mini adventure zone, that keeps your baby entertained. The soft surroundings of a ball pit gives a cushioned environment for exploration for your little one.
If big enough, they can also be fun play date activities. It's an ideal setup for social interaction among the little ones while affording parents the opportunity to connect and converse. The ball pit becomes a center of gravity, attracting children to shared play.
Finally, ball pits offer developmental benefits as babies utilize their motor skills. Grasping, reaching, and crawling among the balls helps development of coordination and muscle strength. The different textures and shapes within the ball pit also foster sensory exploration. Also, the act of reaching and grabbing the balls helps with hand-eye coordination.
Top Picks for Baby Ball Pits
Fulton & Ivy Baby & Toddler Ball Pit
This baby ball pit is made with memory foam. It is covered with velvet material, which creates a soft and safe environment for children. This ball pit is for toddlers between 1 to 3. It can fit upto 500 2.4 inch plastic balls. The velvet cover is removable and machine washable, making it easy to keep clean. No plastic balls are included in this set.
SROTIO
This ball pit is also made with memory foam. Instead of velvet fabric, the SROTIO uses milk silk fabric as the cover. All materials are free of harmful substances such as BPA, Lead, and phthalates. It is safe for toddlers between the ages of 1 to 3. It also comes in two colors - pink or grey. Reviewers liked how soft the ball pit is while remaining in good shape. One negative is that the sides are not sturdy enough (since they are memory foam) to support a child. No plastic balls included in this one either.
MEOWBABY
The Meowbaby ball pit comes with 200 2.75 inch plastic balls and is made with memory foam, just like the two above. It comes in three different colors: white, pink, and grey. It boasts non-toxic materials, and has a recommended age of 2+. The biggest downside on this product is the cost. There is also a smaller version that is 35 x 11.5 which can be used by smaller babies. Though the cover is removable and machine washable, a lot of people have a hard time putting the cover back as it was before.
Since a lot of the baby ball pits didn’t come with plastic balls, we added a plastic ball brand that might be helpful:
Click N' Play
These plastic balls are free from harmful chemicals like phthalates BPA, made with non-PVC plastic and is lead free to help with your baby's safety. Each ball is 2.3 inches in diameter, which is a great size for babies. Lastly, the balls are also crush proof upto 90 pounds, so they are durable and safe. A few bad reviews mentioned that they received dented balls or that the balls get dented quite easily.
Baby ball pits can make for great fun. A ball pit is a great gift option for a set of new parents or for your own little one. For similar fun presents, check out the Chunky Deli gift bundle.
