Put her on her back, so she can start moving her own body (and roll to tummy time.) Floor time is SO important for brain development. Parents have been recently brain washed into thinking that "baby einstein" videos will make their babies smarter, but what babies need to integrate both sides of their brains and bodies is more movement. When my 7 year old son was a baby, I "heard" about the importance of tummy time, but didn't really encourage it because 1) he hated it (and being on the floor in general) 2) I figured since he hated it, it didn't matter. I simply did not have enough information. When my 2nd baby was born (she is 3.5 now) my preschool director lent me a video and book she got called AMAZING BABIES. http://www.amazingbabies.com/book.htm
"Video - Documented and narrated by Beverly Stokes, this video is grouped into pre-locomotion and locomotion sections to enhance the viewer's observation skills and understanding of the natural progression of the baby's movement development, preverbal
communication, and play interactions."
The video was amazing to watch... lots of slow motion video of what the baby does in stages, things that are subtle, but you can definitely see a progression of skills. I don't have much time to read these days. The book has a lot of good info, but I barely had time to skim it. The video helped me a lot. Here are 2 great articles:
Article - Foundation for Learning is Laid in Infancy
http://www.lifetimeeyecare.net/documents/birth_to_three_a...
Article - Brain Dance for Babies
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBMarApr01p44.html
The video was so much fun to watch... Miss Eilene also shared some articles with me (and attending the S'cool Moves weekend workshop class back in December 2004 helped me to really "get it.") Debbie Wilson, a reading specialist showed us simple exercises to help kids who are having trouble with school - body movements that ALL babies go through - if
they are given floor time (in particular tummy time, so they can self-direct their movement.) Learning delays years later can result if babies miss (didn't get a chance to do) certain segments. (Nobody should panic! You can always make it up later.) These movements - on tummy, reaching, rolling, creeping, crawling, etc... help integrate both sides of the brain!!! That's why play - at the park - climbing (which is similar to crawling) is still important. (And perhaps why shouldn't get too frustrated when toddlers just want to move, move, move... Exploring = Learning. and rather than feeling frustrated, we should relax and enjoy it.) Anyway, Wilson's easy program is introduced in schools with low test scores. (Actually anyone could benefit - I think this program should be in all schools). Afterwards, the kids grades shoot up!
http://www.schoolmoves.com/
The thing that was great for me - was that I really didn't have to "do" anything. (Marlena was usually in the sling (I still think the in-arm stage is important) /car seat for errands in the mornings, but when I got home, I put her right down.) I put Marlena on the floor, on her tummy (months ago) and just put interesting baby toys in her reach for her to grab. Giancarlo wants to hand things right to her, and I tell him no. "Let her reach for it. Let her go to it. She needs to use her own body." I love that she can entertain herself (G hated that... but maybe I just didn't try enough... I should have stayed with him and
helped him get past it) and I can get up and do stuff.
Now she is crawling all over the places (still slowly) but I love to see her crawl because I know it's good for her.
If possible, order yourself that DVD. It will change your view on what your baby needs. I barely used a exersaucer with my son and didn't need one at all with her.
I wouldn't get too worried if your baby isn't doing exactly what the books says "normal" babies do at whatever month. Every baby is different. I just wanted to encourage you to put the baby on the floor (a playpen/exersaucer limits movement, so I personally wouldn't use it, unless the room was a total safety hazard. Most rooms aren't.)
BTW, the link you provided for that BE seat still looks flimsy to me. Fisher Price has a Infant-to-Toddler Rocker that I used with my 2nd that goes to age 3! It's VERY sturdy and strong. I used to put my daughter in it while I was in the shower, then she went to the floor and played when she was a little older. Try it out in the store and see if your daughter will propel herself out of it.
http://tinyurl.com/3ddvoh