“Invest in a large, padded, non-toxic floor mat, which will give you and baby enough space to play, experiment, and cuddle together,” says Janet Weinberger, a pediatric physical therapist and neurodevelopmental early interventionist, based in Irvington, New York. “The large play mat will allow baby to roll from the tummy to the back, or to side-lying. It will also protect baby from falls as they learn to sit, or move up into higher developmental postures, such as crawling, kneeling and standing,” says Weinberger. Whether it is organic cotton or polyester material, opting for a baby-friendly material is essential so it should be easy to clean and durable. We carefully looked over material and other important features, including design, value, ease of cleaning, and size when reviewing products. Here are our top picks for play mats and play gyms that work for your baby, your budget, and your lifestyle. The Skip Hop Baby Play Gym is our top pick thanks to its simply assembly and plenty of activities for little ones to enjoy. Made out of 100% cotton, this easy-to-assemble baby gym has 17 developmental activities, hanging toys, 13 loops to hang, and exciting textures like crinkling leaves and squeaking flowers for little hands to discover. Appropriate for newborns on up, toys should be placed low to start to make grasping easier and then moved higher to encourage reaching. Plus, the tummy time pillow and built-in mirror help encourage strong baby muscles. Price at time of publication: $80 This play mat comes with interchangeable cards ranging from black and white images for newborns to faces and mirrors for older babies. Parents appreciate the two-minute setup and can use the included play guide for some age-appropriate activities. While expensive, many parents find it’s like no other play mat and well worth the cost for the longevity of use. Price at time of publication: $140 Once your newborn is able to sit up, the piano keys flip so they are flat and can be played by little baby hands. The keyboard has five light-up keys and up to 15 minutes of continuous music play. Five detachable toys get hooked on to multiple loops around the mat. Price at time of publication: $40 Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $95 Kids love the wooden train tracks, 13 on-road vehicles, four train cars, helicopter, boat, and 12 traffic signs. The mat is big enough for a few kids to play at the same time and a perfect alternative if you don’t have extra space or don’t want to commit to a train table in your house. Price at time of publication: $120 As the baby gets older and can sit up, the pop-up mesh sides are effective at both containing the baby and their toys in one small spot. Finally, toddlers will love how with the sides up, the activity gym becomes a ball pit. There are 40 colorful balls that easily get stored in the turtle’s head when not in use. Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $99 Price at time of publication: $30 Price at time of publication: $190
What to Look for in a Play Mat or Play Gym
Materials
Just like with most baby products, you want to consider the type of material your little one’s play mat is made of. Whether it is organic cotton or polyester material that can hold up to a busy toddler, opting for a baby-friendly material is essential. Babies and toddlers are definitely messy and having a play mat that can be tossed in the wash for a quick refresh is a lifesaver. Look for a play mat that’s machine washable or can be easily wiped off with a cloth to make your life easier.
Developmental Milestones
As your baby moves from infancy into toddlerhood, the right play mat can help them reach many developmental milestones, from grasping toys to sitting up and more. “Most baby gyms have easy-to-reach sensory toys, teethers, mirrors, and textures for baby to feel and focus on. This starts the learning process and will instill baby’s desire to pivot and weight shift while on the tummy. We want to encourage a lot of reaching, kicking, and pushing up to prepare baby for moving up to sitting and crawling,” says Weinberger.
Size
Before you purchase a baby play mat, check the dimensions of the mat to ensure it will fit where you need it to. There are many different types of play mats and they come in a variety of sizes. For example, if you just want a tummy time mat for your newborn, those are typically smaller than a play mat that doubles as a rug. But if you have hardwood floors and are looking for a mat that’s soft for baby to crawl on, you’ll need a larger mat that gives your baby more space to move.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 10-year-old son, 7-year-old son, and 3-year old daughter. Each of her kids has had a less and less elaborate play mat, with the third playing on a hand-me-down mat with a lot of mismatched toys. She still turned out OK. A gym mat is a great way to ensure that your baby gets as much tummy time as they need. Gym mats provide a comfortable surface and inviting space for your baby to play on. Many gym mats come in colors and patterns that your baby will find interesting and fun. Play gyms provide opportunities for your baby to engage in age-appropriate play in a safe, designated space. Gyms designed for babies offer all the things they love: toys to pull on (and chew!), colorful patterns to gaze at, and plenty of room to practice scooting, rolling, and kicking. Some may even offer lights and music—a treat for all your baby’s senses. It’s best to pick a play mat that has several different uses, and can grow with your baby. For example, in the earliest months of your baby’s life, a play mat might simply be a soft, safe surface to put your baby down on so that they can kick their legs and look around. But as they develop more, they will likely enjoy having toys to pull on and grab, and may need a larger surface to scoot and roll on. Once they start crawling (usually between 6 and 9 months), most babies outgrow their play gyms. Once they can move, they rarely want to stay in place! Still, even after this point, your baby may enjoy some of the toys that are part of the play mat.
