JumpStart Baby

As lapware, this was not a fun program to use. With lapware, the child sits on the parent's lap while they both attend to the game. It's a way for the parent AND child to interact together so that the computer doesn't act as a babysitter per se. However, I found the graphics very stilted and unappealing. Teddy was much too talkative and the animals were downright scary-looking. The baby performing fingerplays and dancing in the song section was nightmarish. I don't know what the JumpStart team was thinking when they released this version of JumpStart Baby.


Too much talk, not enough of interest.   September 4, 2001
H. Rivers (MA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

We got this for my son when he was about 1.5 and have tried it on him every month or so to see what he thinks. He is totally uninterested. There is much too much talking and too little time where he can do things. And the games provide him with very limited stuff he can do, and poor feedback for what he's done. He much prefers Read Rabbit for Baby over this.


not enough interaction   July 30, 2001
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

My 18 month old is very bored with the program. He loves Reader Rabbit Toddler and was used to the rich graphics and having lots of input into the activities.

When we tried Jump Start Baby he liked some of the activities, and the cute bear, but was frustrated that he couldn't choose the sequencing of events. For example, he liked the idea of putting clothes onto the bear, but he wanted to pick what to put on next and the program forced him to go in their order. This type of program flow frustrated him in all of the games.

The graphics are disappointing as well.


Didn't like   July 15, 2001
Elizabeth Hawkins (Soldotna, Alaska United States)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

I tired several times to get my grandbaby to play with the game but it never kept her interest for more than 3-4 minutes. She has other games that she plays and I have a hard time getting her off.


Do yourself a favor, Check it out first   May 14, 2001
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I would strongly urge anyone to check this product out before buying it.... This is one of the first we bought. It is very slow. Our bright enough baby was unable to establish any relationship between mouse movement and what happens on screen. The characters talk to the baby and tell her or him what to do. Babies do not get it. Our baby is now a toddler and this softwere is still useless. I suggest Reader Rabbit Baby, Reader Rabbit Toddler, or Sesame Street Baby and ME. Stay away from Sasame Street Toddler. It is very old, probably a Windows 3.1 progrem that needs a lot of updating.