The 10 Best Busy Ball Poppers

Whether you want to keep your toddler sitting still for a moment or let them scramble around the room, the Playskool Chase n Go (about $33) can help. Its tube is adjustable, so you can either let the balls cycle through continuously or launch them into the air.

The Vtech Pop and Surprise Center (around $34) features two twisting slides so siblings can play together without fighting. There are multiple tabs with cheerful animal faces that kids can manipulate to vary which way the balls travel down the ramps.

The Playskool Explore'n Grow (around $33) provides a lively sensory experience for babies aged nine months and up. They can watch balls roll down the spiral-shaped ramp or press the funny-faced button to get the bouncing action started.

Nostalgic parents who enjoy simple, old-fashioned toys from their childhood can share the Fisher-Price Corn Popper (about $41) with their young toddlers. The frenetic movement and popping sounds encourage kids to walk, and even run to keep the fun going.

The Bright Starts Roll & Pop (about $13) offers scooters and crawlers a reason to get moving. This toy rolls forward when tots put a ball in the car, pops it out of the smokestack, and (sometimes) catches it. Friendly animal faces peek out the side windows.

For a versatile play experience, consider the Fisher-Price Double Dino (about $14), which expels orbs out three different places. Your child won't know whether the next one is going to come from the mouth, tail, or belly, so they'll have to stay on their toes.

As the Tomy Pic N' Pop (about $22) rolls along, tots can launch balls out of the cannon in front, plus there's a hole on the bottom that can scoop them back up into its holding chamber, which might encourage your child to do some of the cleanup themselves.

This simple spinning popper is based on the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar (appx. $21) by Eric Carle. It's a good choice for families who can't seem to keep track of toys with lots of parts, but some babies may get frustrated that they can't get the balls out.

The Hog Wild Dino (appx. $9) is an air-powered option, so there's never any worry about running out of batteries during playtime. To ensure safety for every child, it uses foam balls so kids over four can launch them without concern for hurting anyone.

The Playskool Elefun (appx. $150) offers 4 ways to play. Rotating the elephant's trunk in a different direction delivers a new and exciting experience, like popping the ball up in the air and landing in its giant ears, or continuously dropping into its belly for young tots.