Babies need a lot of stimulation as their brains develop fast, and so do their motor skills. At this time, they need a comfortable and safe-to-use baby play mat that will give them the right comfort.
These baby play mats provide a range of sensory experiences such as sound, touch, and sight. Mostly play mats come with toys, lights, mirrors, and are made up of unique colors to give the baby a happy environment and develop coordination of the baby.
Also, you can’t hold and entertain your child all the time, and for that, baby play mats become the right and dependable alternate. Setting your infant down on a safe, interactive baby play mat can be a real sanity-saver.
What to Consider Before Buying Baby Play Mat
#1. Material – Look for fabric that is non-toxic and free from chemicals, latex, and lead. Baby floor play mat differs in thickness, so if you’re placing the mat on a hardwood floor, select a fabric mat with cushion or padding.
#2. Portability – If you travel frequently taking your baby along, it is recommended to pick a baby play mat that is portable and hence can be made to fit in different places. It is vital to choose the one that folds flat. Many play mats also come with a traveling bag or carrying case.
#3. Age – For babies that are of three to six months, a mat with hanging toys will be more useful. Once your baby starts crawling, a mat with walls will keep him restricted and safe at a particular place.
#4. Size – Playmats differ in size and shape. You can also buy a playmat that is snapped together. This will help you to customize the size as per the desired area in which you want to keep your baby.
#5. Easy to Clean – Babies frequently pee, and that is why you need to ensure that the mat you buy should be easy to clean. A rug that is easy to wash in the washing machine will help you maintain the right hygiene for your baby, and at the same time, any spill or mess can be taken off effortlessly. You can also look for waterproof play mats, as they are easy to clean with just a single wipe.
8 Best Baby Play Mats Worth Buying
#1. Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym
This bright-colored playmat comes with more than ten toys and activities along with music, sounds, and lights. The most exciting part of this play mat is that it activates with your baby’s kicks and movements. Probably, this could be the best possible start in your child’s life.
Also, there is a removable purple toucan that can be detached and taken with you when you go out.
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[thrive_text_block color=”green” headline=”Pros”][/thrive_text_block]
- Three different play options—lay and play, tummy time, and take-along.
- Detachable toys, dancing light, and mirror keep baby engaged and entertained.
- Mat portion can be wipe cleaned or machine-washed.
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[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Cons”] [/thrive_text_block]
- Some parents find that the toucan comes off a little too easily.
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#2. Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym
This baby care play mat comes with five repositionable toys, i.e., a mirror, elephant teether, crinkle panda, lion rattle, and monkey cymbal clackers. The best part of this playmat is that it has fifteen minutes of continuous music, which can be used in four different ways—lay and play, tummy time, sit and play, take-along.
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[thrive_text_block color=”green” headline=”Pros”][/thrive_text_block]
- Playmat can be used from birth, and learning content can be changed with age.
- A large keyboard with five light-up keys can be removed for take-along play.
- Soft and thick machine-washable play mat.
- It comes with a battery.
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[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Cons”] [/thrive_text_block]
- Difficult to assemble.
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#3. Bammax Play Mat
This baby foam play mat offers different activities and textures for newborns and older babies to discover. This is a foldable mat and can be stored anywhere you want, thus saving much of your space. Waterproof material and can be easily cleaned by wiping with a damp cloth, this mat gives extra-large play space that can be used indoor and outdoor. Letters printed on play mat can help your baby’s learning.
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[thrive_text_block color=”green” headline=”Pros”][/thrive_text_block]
- Easy to clean and waterproof.
- Foldable and easy to store.
- It helps to train kids for crawling and walking.
- Large in size and gives extra-large play space.
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[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Cons”] [/thrive_text_block]
- Some parents believe that it is damaged easily.
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#4. Baby Einstein 5-in-1 Journey of Discovery Activity Gym
This baby play mat comes with a five-in-one adjustable play environment that grows with that baby. It comes with a unique design that features five fun ways to play as the baby grows: newborn, active discovery, tummy time, sitting and crawling. Â It has a contoured pillow that you can prop a newborn on while they listen to globally inspired music.
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[thrive_text_block color=”green” headline=”Pros”][/thrive_text_block]
- Comes with suitcase storage bag
- The tummy time mat folds out into a 47-inch jumbo world map providing ample room to play.
- Includes a contoured prop pillow that will provide support to the baby during tummy time.
- Ball drop removable canopy improves eye coordination.
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[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Cons”] [/thrive_text_block]
- The canopy is to hold the toys, and hence, it is not sturdy and secure enough.
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#5. Baby Play Gym by Yookidoo – Lay To Sit-Up Play Mat Gymotion
One of the best baby play mats with more than twenty developmental activities and plenty of toys helps in developing various skills of your kid. It comes with a large double-sided tummy time pillow with loops for easy toy attachment and a royal teething rattle. It can be easily translated from a play gym to a soft, secure, and supportive seat for upright sitting.
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[thrive_text_block color=”green” headline=”Pros”][/thrive_text_block]
- Easy transition from the playmat to sitting in a chair to keep that baby entertained.
- Folds easily and convenient for storage.
- Includes many toys and an adjustable canopy to attach those toys.
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[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Cons”] [/thrive_text_block]
- There is no support for the baby when you turn to play mat into a sitting position.
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#6. Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe Activity Gym Play Mat, Classic Animals
There is an activity center in the mat itself that features eighteen development activities which help in developing motor, visual, and auditory skills. It comes with various detachable toys that you can change to keep the baby amused. The mat folds flat and is super convenient for traveling.
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[thrive_text_block color=”green” headline=”Pros”][/thrive_text_block]
- Easy to store and travel.
- It provides extra hoops to attach more toys and change them periodically.
- Includes batteries.
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[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Cons”] [/thrive_text_block]
- The fabric of the playmat is not very comfortable.
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#7. Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Baby Play Mat and Infant Activity Gym
The baby activity gym features a soft color palette to complement modern decor along with five toys that you can hang from any of the thirteen loops on the arches. It also includes a cushion on which you can rest the baby’s arms during tummy time. The arches are covered with soft linen material and can be folded for easy storage.
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[thrive_text_block color=”green” headline=”Pros”][/thrive_text_block]
- Large, oversized play mat with multiple textures for the overall development.
- Includes a cloud-shaped tummy time pillow.
- BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free material.
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[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Cons”] [/thrive_text_block]
- Mat is quite thin and might require extra padding when the baby puts on weight.
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#8. Baby Care Play Mat – Haute Collection
This playmat provides a safe place and protects kids against hard falls while crawling or walking. This mat works well on hardwood floors and is portable, so you can place them anywhere you want. The hypoallergenic, waterproof, one-piece design makes our playmats easy to clean. You can just roll them away for easy storage.
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[thrive_text_block color=”green” headline=”Pros”][/thrive_text_block]
- Reversible play mat.
- Easy to store by just rolling over.
- Waterproof surface and can be easily cleaned by just wiping off.
- Versatile and can be used further for family yoga as well.
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[thrive_text_block color=”red” headline=”Cons”] [/thrive_text_block]
- Mat is not PVC-free.
- The mat is expensive.
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Conclusion
A good play mat will give your baby a safe and clean place to enjoy, and not to mention it will also give you some free time to engage in other activities. Toys’ texture, light, and sound develop motor and visual skills.
If you’re a first-time parent, choosing a baby play mat from the dizzying array of choices can be overwhelming. We hope you enjoyed the rundown of our favorite baby play mats and now choose the one best suited for your needs.
