As a parent, the most crucial thing you can do to assist your child in developing is to create a stimulating and safe environment for playing and learning. The baby play mats are the first place where your baby can learn and discover. They are generally large foam surfaces that provide babies, young children, and even older children with a safe and soft surface to play with.
When the baby starts to crawl and walk, these play mats are great because they provide plenty of cushioning, especially if they fall. They protect the wooden floors but are just as useful for carpets as a smooth, soft, and padded playing surface. Also, they not only entertain and inspire your baby’s creativity but also help to develop essential skills and strengthen growing muscles.
These baby play mats have soft material, which makes the baby comfortable. Also, others have extra padding pillows around the borders to prevent your baby from leaving the mat. So, if you want the best baby play mats, continue reading this article.
Factors to consider when buying the baby play mats
Comfort and safety
When buying the baby play mat, you need to check comfort and safety first. Find a mat with additional soft padding to make your baby feel comfortable and safe. The padded mat also protects your baby from the cold. Children and infants should never play with toxic toys, like PVC or foam play mats, because they can give out toxic chemicals into the baby’s airways. Always try to get safe mats made from fabric, not vinyl, although it leans quickly.
Lights and music
Lights and music are the crucial features and accessories, which you need to consider when buying the play mat. Not all mats have these features. Some parents are happy with them, while others prefer less and simple noise. Think of your child when he/she is stimulated by music and light. Also, you can choose the play mat that allows you to turn on or off this feature if you’re not sure how the baby will react.
Well padded
The baby play mat you want to choose should have adequate padding, particularly if you plan to use it on the hard floors. This will make your baby feel more comfortable and safer, and no risk can get him or her while playing. It is always best to choose one that is easy to wash or clean, as your baby may be prone to it.
Colored mat
At first, your baby tends to notice bright colors. He or she may have the best ability to see bright colors from a distance of 24 to 26 cm. So, choose the play mat with white borders and other bright colors that will assist your baby to crawl much faster.
Mat dimensions
Do not ignore this factor because you do not want to compromise your newborn. Do not forget that your child is growing, and therefore you have to decide how long he or she will continue using the mat. When a baby is active and starts to move, he may need a large play mat because he needs more space. Therefore, consider the size of the floor for your house and purchase the correct one.
Portability and cleanliness
All kids messy and, at times, more than expected. You can have the diaper blowing or even spit it out, which may require leaning the mat frequently. If you need to take the play mat from Grandma’s house on a picnic, you require a portable mat that is lightweight and easy to fold.
Arches or not
Some parents do not like the arches with toys that swing. While it may be more fun for your child to have the mat with the arches, it’s not always good to have them. These arches free the hands, and you do not have to move the toy in your child’s face. The only downside to the arches may be the storage space required to fold when traveling; otherwise, the rest is perfect.
Top 8 Best Baby Play Mat Reviews For 2022
1. Fisher-Price Rainforest Music and Lights Deluxe Gym
This baby play mat from Fisher-Price rewards your baby’s wiggles and tiny kicks with exciting lights, sounds, and music, from the toucan pal. In detail, it comes with 10+ activities that include a soft monkey and bat-at lion, clacker zebra, and the rollerball snail. More importantly, it has removable toucan plays of about 20 minutes, starting from the gym perch to the baby-activated tunes during the on-the-go fun.
Similarly, there is the large crinkle leaf and soft, satiny mat border, which offer sensory development when the little one plays. On the other hand, it has a dimension of 30.5 x 32.51 x 27.5 inches and weighs 4.19 pounds. Also, it has batting, tummy-time play, and kicking that help to strengthen those with gross motor skills and little muscles.
Main features
- Comes with 10+ activities
- Removable toucan plays
- Large crinkle leaf and soft, satiny mat border
- Dimension of 5 x 32.51 x 27.5 inches
2. Skip Hop Foam Reversible Baby Play Mat
The Skip Hop model is unique because it has the reversible playmat flips from the colorful kid-friendly pattern to the modern décor print that is two in one. For one thing, it comes with an oversize foam floor mat, which offers a large surface, making it perfect for crawling to tummy-time to the first step and beyond. Thanks to the single sheet construction that ensure convenient travel and storage.
Besides, there is the PVC-free and phthalate-free foam, which provides the jumbo-size cushioned play space. In the same fashion, it comes with a kid-friendly pattern and a modern décor design that make it attractive to infants and toddlers. What is more, it has a thick and soft foam, which keeps the soft surface for crawling and playing.
Main features
- Oversize foam floor mat
- Single sheet construction
- PVC-free and phthalate-free foam
- Kid-friendly pattern and the modern décor design
- Thick and soft foam
3. Bright Starts 5-in-1 Fun Activity Gym and Ball Pit
If you want to keep your baby where you want with the plush barriers, then go for this product from Bright Starts. As an illustration, it comes with a prop pillow, which keeps the babies comfortable during plus toys, tummy time, lights, and music to make them amused. The model has an oversized, 48″ mat that offers enough space for both mom and baby to play.
Furthermore, there are sides, which fold up to form the enclosure as the baby grows. Equally important, it comes with colorful and flashing lights with more than 20 minutes of cheerful melodies. The convenient storage bag is also essential because it kept the balls off and tucked away from your floors.
Main features
- Comes with a prop pillow
- Has oversized, 48″ mat
- There are sides
- Colorful and flashing lights
- Convenient storage bag
4. Lovevery Play Gym
The Lovevery model emphasizes the baby’s cognitive, physical, motor, and visual learning. It provides the entire year of play, from lifting the head as the newborn to the hide-and-seek as the toddler. In the first place, it comes with five Montessori-inspired development zones that prevent overstimulation, sound making, teach focus, encourage sensory exploration, and explore colors.
Additionally, there is the age-appropriate activities guide, which promotes motor and brain skill development. Similarly, it comes with removable accessories for organic ball and teether, stage-based learning. Thanks to the sustainably-sourced wooden legs that ensure stability and takedown and 2-minute setup with no tools needed.
Main features
- Five Montessori-inspired development zones
- Age-appropriate activities guide
- Comes with the removable accessories
- Sustainably-sourced wooden legs
5. Skip Hop Treetop Baby Play Friends Mat
This baby plays mat from Skip Hop is safety tested to exceed or meet ASTM, En71, applicable safety standards, and CPSIA. To emphasize, it comes with five hanging toys, which are attached to 13 easy-to-hang loops to offer irresistible multi-sensory play for infants or babies at every development stage. In a like manner, it has 13 easy-to-hang loops that offer irresistible multi-sensory play for your baby at every development stage.
Likewise, there are built-in sounds, mirrors, and textures on a mat that add fun. It is easy to assemble or disassemble, which only takes two minutes so you can reclaim adult space. Above all, it comes with multi-sensory and friendly faces features that engage the baby.
Main features
- Five hanging toys
- 13 easy-to-hang loops
- Has built-in sounds and a mirror
- Easy to assemble or disassemble
- Multi-sensory and friendly faces features
6. Tiny Love Super Meadow Days Play Mat
The exciting thing about this product from Tiny Love is that it features exciting and fun textures for motor and tactile skill development. For instance, it comes with comfy plush padding, which keeps the parent and baby comfortable. There is a soft padded mirror on a play mat that promotes continuous engagement and facial recognition.
More so, it folds easily to form a compact size, which fits along the park, the beach, or anywhere. The model has the cute carrot teether used by the babies to soothe themselves during playtime. What is more, it comes with super-sized and different engaging activities, which encourage a baby’s development.
Main features
- Comfy plush padding
- Soft padded mirror
- It folds easily
- Cute carrot teether
- Super-sized and different engaging activities
7. Tiny Love Gymini Deluxe Play Mat
This Tiny Love model is an activity gym, which gives you different ways of encouraging your baby’s development. For example, it comes with the electronic bird toy, music feedback, and interactive lights that build vital language recognition. Thanks to the adjustable arches and multiple play modes, which allow you to customize the baby’s developmental stages.
There is the captivating mirror that encourages self-recognition and helps to extend the tummy time on a comfy play mat. On the other hand, its toys are detachable, making it easy to bring the favorite along the way. Also, it comes with 18 developmental activities that entertain your baby as he or she learns essential developmental milestones.
Main features
- Electronic bird toy
- Music feedback engage baby
- Adjustable arches and multiple play modes
- There is the captivating mirror
- Toys are detachable
- 18 developmental activities
8. Skip Hop Campling Cubs Infant Activity Gym and Baby Play Mat
If you want a product that has a woodgrain-patterned structure to ensure a whimsical outdoor feel, then go for this Skip Hop model. Notably, it has the light-up firefly and the musical raccoon, which help to develop the sensory skills of the baby. The baby play mat comes with the sleeping bear tummy time and plush pillow that encourages developmental milestones.
Additionally, there are 17+ developmental activities, including turtle mirror, light-up firefly, musical raccoon, and bear rattle with a wooden teether, which plays a twinkle, twinkle little star. Alternatively, it has the peek-a-boo felt flap that reveals a plush and skunk Minky on the bear’s belly. Above all, it comes with the pole construction with rope ties and wood grain pattern, ensuring a unique design.
Main features
- Light-up firefly and the musical raccoon
- Sleeping bear tummy time, plush pillow
- 17+ developmental activities
- Peek-a-boo felt flap
- Comes with the pole construction
FAQ
Why do the babies need the baby play mat?
Because their immune systems and muscles are not well developed, the children should not lie on carpets, hardwood floors, or tiles. By using the play mat, it creates a safe and hygienic play area.
Can one trust a foam baby play mat?
Yes, the foam child mat is made from EVA, certified safe compared with other foam options. The foam is BPA-free and doesn’t have toxins or other unsafe plasticizers.
Are the play mats safe?
The safety of the play mats depends on the manufacturer of the model. So be sure to read the customer reviews before making a final decision.
Can the newborn baby use the play mat?
Yes, the newborn can use the play mat designed for that case. You can use the play mat for the tummy time of the babies between 0 and 3 months. Then you can begin to introduce them to the toys when they grow older because they become more environmentally alert. However, know that you or the guardian must be present to supervise the baby.
How can I clean a baby play mat?
Various play mats offer unique cleaning options. Some of them are machine washable, while others are washed by hand in the sink. Be sure to use clean water and recommended soap if your baby has sensitive skin.
Conclusion
The baby play mats are a safe place for your baby to start learning the basics of life. They create a space where the baby can develop self-esteem, early recognition, and motor skills. The above play mats have outstanding features that make you choose one which you think your child will get the best out of it. For example, they fold easily and quickly with a playing surface, which is considerable, waterproof, and soft.
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