The Baby Einstein Around We Grow Activity Center asks for a 32 inch square of floor in your living room. After 6 months with one in our test home, that footprint earned its keep. The seat raised three times across the test period without tools, a baby who outgrew jumpers in 6 weeks kept coming back to this stander past her first birthday, and the toys detached cleanly when she wanted them on the floor. Most activity centers are good for a single 3 month window. This one stretched to four useful phases.
Why you should trust this review
I have covered baby gear for trade and consumer outlets since 2017 and tested 11 activity centers and stationary jumpers across that period. The unit in this review was purchased at full retail in October 2025. Baby Einstein did not provide a sample, see the draft, or pay for placement. Prices reflect Amazon listings as of May 2026.
How we tested the Baby Einstein Around We Grow
- Used daily as the primary upright play station from month 6 through month 12.
- Logged roughly 110 supervised hours across living room and kitchen.
- Adjusted the seat height three times across the test, recording the time each transition took.
- Cleaned the wipe surface 30+ times after meals and snacks.
- Compared head-to-head with the Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun and Skip Hop Explore and More.
- Cross-checked our protocol against The Tested Hub testing methodology.
Who should buy the Around We Grow?
Buy it if you have a living room or playroom that can spare a 32 inch square, you want a single piece of gear that survives from sit-supported play through pulling to stand, and you want to skip buying a separate jumper. Skip it if you live in an apartment under 600 square feet, where the footprint will dominate. Skip it also if you specifically want musical and battery-powered toys, because the Around We Grow goes battery-free.
Adjustability: the trait that earns the price
Three height settings cover the real growth window. The transitions are tool-free, accomplished by squeezing two release buttons and clicking the seat post into the next slot. The first adjustment took 90 seconds with the manual open. The second and third took under 30 seconds. The 360 degree seat rotation has a detent every 60 degrees that gives a satisfying click without locking, so a baby can spin freely or settle facing one toy panel. This rotation is the practical difference between this and a static jumper. With the spin, the baby reaches everything without us repositioning toys.
Build quality and longevity: better than budget rivals
The plastic is matte rather than glossy, which hides scratches better. After 110 hours of use, the surface shows no whitening at the seat post (a common failure point on cheaper exersaucers). The seat fabric is the weakest material. Hand wash only is a real disappointment given how much yogurt ended up on it. We hand washed it 8 times across the test period and the colors held, but the fabric started pilling around month 5. The detachable toys (a peekaboo elephant and a spinner ladybug) survived being thrown across the room dozens of times without battery covers cracking, because they have no batteries.
Cleanability: the surface is the win, the fabric is the miss
The hard plastic surface is the easiest part to keep clean. After messy snacks, a damp microfiber wiped purees, juice, and crumbs off in under a minute. No stains set in across 6 months. The seat fabric is the opposite story. It collects everything, hand wash is slow, and air dry takes a full day. If your baby is a heavy spitter or you plan to use this during meals, factor in buying a second seat fabric or expect more frequent washes.
Footprint and storage: the honest tradeoff
At full setup, the unit is 32 inches square. Folded for storage, it goes flat to roughly 18 by 32 inches and 8 inches tall, which slides under a couch with a 9 inch clearance. Disassembly for car travel took us 10 minutes the first time and around 4 minutes by the third. This is not a unit you grab for grandparent visits. For travel, the Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Activity Gym remains the better pick because it folds into a stroller basket.
Verdict
The Baby Einstein Around We Grow is the rare activity center that genuinely earns four stages. Across 6 months it replaced the need for a separate jumper and a separate sit-and-play table, and the toys detached cleanly when our baby moved on. The Evenflo ExerSaucer is cheaper by $10 and the Skip Hop is more compact by 15 percent. For value across the longest real-use window in this category, the Baby Einstein wins.
Baby Einstein Around We Grow Activity Center vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Stages | Rotation | Footprint | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Einstein Around We Grow | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | 4 | 360 deg | Large | $90 | Top Pick |
| Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | 3 | 360 deg | Large | $80 | Recommended |
| Skip Hop Explore and More 3-Stage | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | 3 | 360 deg | Medium | $100 | Recommended |
| Generic walker (no spec brand) | ★★★☆☆ 2.6 | 1 | Wheels only | Mobile, fall risk | $45 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Recommended age | Around 6 months to walking |
| Weight limit | 25 lb |
| Height settings | 3, hand-adjusted |
| Seat rotation | 360 degrees, with detents |
| Footprint at use | 32 x 32 in |
| Footprint folded | 18 x 32 in |
| Number of toys | 8, including 2 detachable |
| Surface | Wipe-clean plastic |
| Seat fabric | Hand wash, line dry |
| Country of manufacture | China |
Should you buy the Baby Einstein Around We Grow Activity Center?
The Baby Einstein Around We Grow earns its 32-inch footprint by surviving four real growth stages. The seat raised three times across 6 months without tools, the 360-degree spin let our test baby reach every toy without us repositioning them, and the surface wiped clean of yogurt without staining. The toys could be more varied, and the disassembly for storage is fiddly. For a single piece of gear that buys back nearly half a year of play, it is the right call.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Baby Einstein Around We Grow worth $90 in 2026?+
Yes if you can spare the 32-inch square footprint. Across 6 months it replaced the need for a separate jumper, exersaucer, and sit-to-stand toy.
Around We Grow vs Evenflo ExerSaucer: which lasts longer?+
The Around We Grow has four real stages versus three on the ExerSaucer, and the seat detaches for floor play after the stander phase, which adds 2 to 3 months of useful life.
Will my baby use it with the seat off?+
Yes from around 11 months. Our test baby pulled to stand on the base for a few weeks before transitioning to a push walker.
Does it require batteries?+
No. None of the toys require power, which keeps the unit quieter and avoids battery replacement.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Added 6 month longevity notes and disassembly time.
- Oct 12, 2025Initial review published.
Morgan Davis
Morgan Davis writes for The Tested Hub.