Why Won't 5mo jump in Johnny Jump Up??

[october]

My daughter is 5 and a half months old. We've been putting her in her Johnny Jump up at least once a week since she was 4 months old, and she still won't jump in it!

I cannot find directions on exactly how much of baby's foot should be on the ground, or where her arms should go or anything. This information did not come with the packaging. I've tried looking at videos on youtube and see that everyone does it a little different.

But WHY WON'T SHE JUMP?

How can I get her to?

:/

[pacificbliss]

My son, who is now a normal running, jumping, climbing 3.5 year old never did. We would put him in there and he might kick or sort of swing around but he never jumped up and down. You can try getting her to imitate you or bouncing it gently yourself but I would not worry about it.

[wombatclay]

Maybe she doesn't like it? Of my three kiddos dd2 was the only one who enjoyed the "johnny jump up" style bouncy toys. She would bounce for 10-15 minutes a day when she was around 7mo (she got it for christmas, but didn't show any interest for a while even though she loved "jumping" on laps).

Since jumper toys can actually interfere with a child's motor skill development it may not be a "bad" thing that your little one isn't interested, though I know some kiddos really seem to get a kick out of jumpers.

[JudiAU]

She is still pretty young to be using it. She might just not be developmentally there yet. Not all babies like them.

Jumpers aren't all equal. We found the graco bumper jumper a vastly better design than some others, but haven't tried. For that model, her toes are supposed to just touch the floor. Too low and it creates stress on the foot.

[bec28]

We bought a jumper for DS when he was about 5 months and he didn't jump in it either, even though he loved to jump on our laps. So I returned it. When he was about 7 or 8 months old, we were given another one, and he loves it! so I think he just wasn't ready for it. Maybe try again in a few months?

[Knitting Mama]

Her toes are supposed to just touch. But even so, she just might not like it. My 5 month old does like it, but doesn't jump much, she just turns in circles and plays with toys.

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by JudiAU

She is still pretty young to be using it. She might just not be developmentally there yet. Not all babies like them.

Jumpers aren't all equal. We found the graco bumper jumper a vastly better design than some others, but haven't tried. For that model, her toes are supposed to just touch the floor. Too low and it creates stress on the foot.

[Abraisme]

Some kids just don't jump in those things. My DD never jumped in hers much, but she started walking at 9.5mo, so it wasn't for lack of muscles. My mom said that I also never jumped in mine as a baby.. Who knows.

[Aufilia]

My son couldn't care less about jumping, which disappointed me because I was sure he'd love it. He loves to play "jump" on my lap, and he's on track for physical milestones. We have a Baby Einstein jumper thingy with a frame but he really just treats it like another exersaucer.

On the other hand, my daughter, who is gross motor delayed, loved to jump. She jumped in her jumperoo until she was nearly 2 (which her PT encouraged). So I would say desire/interest in jumping isn't necessarily a sign of physical competence, just a hobby they may or may not care for.

[Sfcmama]

Is she sitting independently yet? I've read that jumpers and exersaucers are best used once a baby can already sit so that they don't place too much pressure on the tailbone if the baby is not ready.

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by Sfcmama

Is she sitting independently yet? I've read that jumpers and exersaucers are best used once a baby can already sit so that they don't place too much pressure on the tailbone if the baby is not ready.

This. I think they need to be able to support their own spine standing up before they are truly ready for anything like that (or the excersaucers) - though that's not what the product marketers will tell you. I really think she is a little young for it.