"My Cup Runneth Over With Love" for this SUPERSAUCER….and so will yours!
Written: Nov 07 '02 (Updated Nov 07 '02)
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Pros: Hours of entertainment for baby from ages 2 months to almost 2 years!
Cons: Moves/tips if "not quite walking yet" baby pulls self up by holding onto saucer.
The Bottom Line: Evenflo Supersaucer- good medium priced exersaucer which will be of service to you and baby for almost two years; I consider it to be money well spent for quality received.
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| iwannagrowup2b's Full Review: Evenflo SuperSaucer Activity Center |
Can’t help it! Every time I look at this colorful contraption, so raptly termed a ”SUPERSAUCER” by the marketing folks at Evenflo, well…. I envision a giant teacup saucer and the tune from "My Cup Runneth Over With Love", starts running rampantly through my mind!
Now, unless you are of the 60's generation, or otherwise just a bona fide “Golden Oldies” fanatic, you probably aren’t familiar with the lyrics or melody of this syrupy love song that Ed Ames crooned way back then! I’d hum a bar, or belt out a rendition for you, ….‘cause it’s there as I write this, in fact, it just won’t leave me alone….but, alas, it wouldn’t do any good, ‘cause cyberspace walls are thicker than those adjoining walls some of you might be forced to share with a noisy neighbor!
But fair warning, if you don’t know it already, resist the urge to ask someone, or else you’ll also have to share brain space with Ed Ames every time you see, or hear the words “SUPERSAUCER”. It’s easy enough to associate the two though, because the song is a soothing one, filled with declarations of love….and when, thanks to the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER, you are able to go about your chores, confident in the knowledge that baby is happily occupied with their own busy task while safely confined within the boundaries of this fantastic activity exersaucer….you’ll be tempted to hum something while sharing your little one’s contentment!
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I provide in-home infant care for babies ages 0-18 months, and unlike those of you who will probably read reviews on several different brands/types in order to decide on only one activity center, walker or bouncer to purchase for your baby, I have the advantage of being very familiar with a variety of bouncers/exersaucers/activity centers/walkers, because I have 3 different types for the babies in my care. In my daycare situation, the change of pace that each offers helps to alleviate boredom by varying activities for each baby many times throughout the day.
I've found the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER to be the best choice for use from early infancy until almost 2 years of age. I’d like to share my experiences with you and explain why if I had to choose just one, it would be THIS ONE…the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER!
*****
The Evenflo SUPERSAUCER has proven to be a mecca for my wee ones while having quiet, individual playtime. It provides playtime activity suitable in age ranges all the way from those gingerly beginning to explore and focus on colors and objects and develop sensory skills, to those old enough to climb in and out of the saucer by themselves!
Well,…more on the subject of the older ones later!
I have propped babies as young as 2 months old in the seat by using blankets to safely pad and secure them from falling forward, and they are content for brief periods of times. The colorful objects give them something on which to focus, and offer a change of pace from a swing or crib or pallet activity for those not yet getting around.
I mentioned a baby’s “task”….well, that task is learning and developing sensory and motor skills! And it’s something they are busy at each and everyday while exploring! What better way than safely seated in the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER activity center and bouncer, surrounded by the multi options for learning and developing skills that it offers!
The swivel seat allows them easy access to explore the different activities spaced all the way around the top surface.
*****
Even before I explain some of the activities on the top, let me start at the BOTTOM!
The Evenflo SUPERSAUCER is well constructed of durable materials. The saucer part is bright red and rounded on the bottom, so that it will rock.
One of the neatest things, is that this bottom part of the saucer will occupy baby’s imagination EVEN WHEN they ARE NOT seated IN THE SAUCER and busy with the activities!
Just as they love to crawl UNDER furniture such as the dining room chairs or sofa end tables to play, they also love to crawl INTO the big bowl part of the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER and just sit….or rock…or play “peep-eye”!
They seem to think they are so hidden by being within the bowl part of the saucer, and underneath the seat and upper activity center!
So it’s crawl in,….crawl out,….crawl in,…rock,….be still,….peep out,…crawl out….all day!
The SUPERSAUCER certainly fills whatever desire it is that drives baby to be within/under/hidden.
Makes one wonder if the gentle rocking motion within the confined space is providing them with womb Deja vu?
LOL
*****
The base supports of the SUPERSAUCER have 3 easily adjustable height positions, so that's easily adaptable as your baby grows.
The Evenflo SUPERSAUCER serves not only as a learning activity center and safe haven for baby to spend some quiet individual play time, it's the ideal solution for your baby to have fun, learn and EXERCISE!
Those growing little bodies and limbs will get quit a workout in the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER because it offers double duty as a bouncer!
And BOUNCE they will…..and it can be LOUD!
And…..bouncing in the SUPERSAUCER is the one thing they don’t seem to outgrow! Even toddlers old enough to climb in and out of the saucer by themselves still love to get in and BOUNCE long and loud in this. They really give it a workout!
The saucer has three built in little legs that you can put down to stabilize it should you desire to halt the rocking motion at any given time.
I’ve mentioned the gentle rocking motion of the SUPERSAUCER…..well, older babies can REALLY make this ROCK! And ROCK they do….enjoying every minute of it!
While I only provide care for babies up to the age of 18 months, I can speak from experience in regards to the older toddlers' use and love of the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER.
I have SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN...and one on the way!
(For those of you who have read another review where I mention having an only child, Dodie, and the birth of her first of two babies being my first experience as a Grandmother just 2 years ago...well, let me explain:
I'm not that bad at math; I remarried last year, and dramatically increased my family with 3 grown stepchildren, along with their spouses, and a collective total between them of 5 grandchildren! So that's where the extras come in to bring the total to SEVEN...and one on the way!)
All the grandchildren live too far away for me to provide daycare for them, but whenever the toddler-aged ones are visiting, they can’t stay out of the SUPERSAUCER!
It can get rowdy!
The Evenflo SUPERSACER does all this while being stationary!
GOODBYE walkers!
Have you considered all the damage to your furniture and cabinets with the dents and scratches that one little baby-powered, out-of-control walker can cause?
*****
Now to describe some of the activities for baby located on the bright yellow, top tray of the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER:
Baby will be mesmerized by little nautical creatures that float within a water and glitter filled, hard plastic half dome….gently swishing back and forth, and swirling round ‘n round with the motion of the saucer as baby moves.
Other activities include a clear plastic spinning cylinder filled with multi-color tiny plastic beads; three large colorful wheel-shaped rings to spin; a blue button for touch activated musical tones; 3 little colorful choo-choo train shapes that baby can slide along a rail; a tall flexible teething ring; a twist and turn clicker with colorful pictures that come in to view….and then, disappear again…as baby turns; a red arch with multi-colored, donut shaped rings to slide back and forth or use in learning to count; and a safety mirror that provides the fun of baby seeing the ”pretty baby” in the mirror! And don’t they love to see themselves!
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Now in comparison, the SUPERSAUCER is the Evenflo version of a mid-priced item in much the same way that Chevrolet has a car to suit every budget from basic to luxury.
You can buy an Evenflo activity center saucer with FEWER activity options than the SUPERSAUCER offers at a lower cost; you can also pay more, and you can get an Evenflo saucer with EVEN MORE bells and whistles than the SUPERSAUCER!
I consider the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER to be the nice middle of the road choice of exersaucer without going overboard price-wise.
As for price, I believe the retail to be around $70 new. I was fortunate enough to come across a previously owned one in like-new condition, which I purchased for $25.
Despite having already been used with one baby, I have now had it for a little over two years in constant use with more babies than I'd care to count! This should speak volumes for the durability of this particular activity bouncer!
After this much use, the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER continues to pull heavy duty every week day, even though the fabric seat has faded a little from numerous washings. Keep in mind, that due to the daycare situation, mine is used, and thus laundered, much more frequently than an individual would find necessary!
At times,it has even doubled as a feeding chair.
My Evenflo SUPERSAUCER has taken much more abuse than a normal family situation would inflict, and I'm pleased with the way it has held up.
*****
I know that most of you will only use the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER inside your home, but I wanted to make you aware of some things that can happen if you do opt to use it, or leave it outdoors on occasion.
Once when hosing down the saucer outside with the garden hose, I made the mistake of getting the little blue music button wet.
Getting it wet gave that button a mind of it's own! Now, it sometimes hangs, and plays on endlessly; other times,it won’t play at all! So learn from my mistake, and take heed to avoid getting this feature wet!
I should also mention that extremes in weather elements can damage certain functions of the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER if you leave it outside for any length of time.
On weekends, in an effort to convert my house back to a home instead of a daycare, I store my equipment on a covered porch that is not enclosed.
Now, Texas is known for it's weather extremes; sometimes overnight! Anyway, over a period of two years, and due to being exposed to Texas weather extremities, there has been damage to one of mine and the babies' favorite activities on the tray of the SUPERSAUCER!
The liquid has evaporated from inside the clear dome, and now, the little nautical creatures lie lifeless in a dry, glitter filled dome. Babies are now no longer mesmerized by the swishing about of nautical creatures, and I have to take the blame for that one too!
Those are just some things I wanted to mention that you can, and should, avoid doing in order to protect your Evenflo SUPERSAUCER, because it will see you through more than one baby if properly maintained.
*****
A WORD OF CAUTION IS NECESSARY HERE:
When your baby starts holding on to things in order to pull himself or herself up, an exersaucer may slide and cause them to fall or possibly even tip over on the child. This applies to ANY brand of exersaucer....not just the Evenflo exersaucers!
*****
Now....remember how I referred to the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER as a giant teacup saucer? Well, in much the way that a teacup saucer aids in spills……the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER catches all that for you too!
Think about it…!
Everything from leaky bottles, to those occasional "Ooops,...overflowed-the-diaper-and-down-the-leg" type accidents that can happen if baby is having a problem; you know...the smelly kind of problem!
In that event, your “cup may runneth over with MORE THAN love” for the Evenflo SUPERSAUCER, so better brush up on those Ed Ames lyrics!
And while you hum, silently bless and thank Evenflo for the removable, washable fabric seat, and the big saucer that just protected your carpet from havoc!
At this point, I'm guessing that YOU must be the one LOL!
You've figured out by now, that I've experienced the above scenario!
I'll confess it has happened....and, more than once!
Why else did you think I was hosing the thing down outside?
Not LOL, but still humming that tune...
Connie
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
iwannagrowup2b
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Member: Connie Turner
Location: Euless, Texas, USA
Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 34 members
About Me:
iwannagrowup2b urges: "Women's heart attack symptoms are different from men's...ask your doctor!"
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