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Top Pick Baby Play Mats
- Infant activity gym with extra-large, machine-washable playmat that becomes a vehicle mat for toddler play
- Jumbo playmat reaches almost 4 feet long for plenty of space for lay & play, tummy time, and vehicle zooming
- Motion-activated ice cream truck plays 25 minutes of music and lights when baby bats it or pushes it along
- Comes with 7 toys, including 3 vehicles, 2 animals, and 2 role-play pieces
- Play grows with baby from infant to toddler
- Deluxe newborn gym with 10+ toys and activities and a removable, take-along toucan with music and dancing lights
- Three ways to play: Lay & play, tummy time and take-along
- Responds to baby’s movement with music and lights in short-play setting
- Up to 20 minutes of music in long-play setting!
- Removable, take-along toucan – press its wing or give it a gentle shake to activate tunes & lights
Last update on 2025-04-22
What are Baby Play Mats?
A baby play mat is made up of a thick padded blanket and is designed for your baby to lie down on. Sometimes bows, with toys hanging from them, may surround the carpet. This way your baby can touch them with his hands and feet. Hanging objects can be mirrors, small stuffed animals, musical toys, and other sensory items that keep your little one busy. This allows him to play with the different functions of the play mat and to be able to react to colors, lights, textures, and sounds. A play mat is generally used from 2 weeks after birth until the baby is 12 months old.
Why Should You Buy a Good Baby Play Mat?
The baby play mat helps your child to discover his environment. Placed on the ground, a good baby play mat allows them to be able to wriggle without difficulty and to develop their movements and muscles. In this way, this mat contributes to the good physical and sensory development of your child. Finally, it helps to entertain your child!
How to Choose the Best Baby Play Mat?
There are a couple of play mats for children to choose from on the market. You can consider types such as:
- Play mats with arches: From the first weeks after birth, the play mat with arches allows your little one to familiarize themselves with colors and sounds. It features hanging toys to promote stimulation of the senses and motor skills.
- The play mat without arch: The arch-less play mat is composed of a quilted mat on which you can find shapes and toys. It is often more affordable than the play mat with an arch.
- The evolving play mat: The evolving activity mat allows different parts to be modulated to adapt to the child’s evolution. It thus accompanies the different phases of development and postures of your baby (playing position on the back, on the stomach, etc.).
What Features Should You Consider When Buying a Baby Play Mat?
Some of the features to consider while choosing a play mat are:
- Design: Under this criterion, you can find different patterns, shapes, and colors. To promote the visual awakening of your baby, we advise you to opt for contrasting colors.
- The shape and texture of the mat: A large majority of play mats are square but there are also rectangular or round ones. Here it is mainly about your personal preferences! Ideally, the mat is flat because this will allow your child to develop his muscles and movements while supporting himself on the floor.
- The dimensions: From about 3 months old, your child will start to roll over. For these reasons, we recommend that you choose a mat of sufficient size. The thickness of the mat is also important for the comfort of your baby. A model with a thickness of 4 cm and a homogeneous density is optimal.
- Safety standards: When buying a play mat, it is essential to check the safety standards. The model must be CE or CPC labeled which ensures that European or American standards are respected.
How Much Does a Top-Rated Baby Play Mat Cost?
You can find high-end play mats from recognized brands on the market in a price range of $50 and above. Thankfully, however, you can still find cheap play mats that are sold for under $20 up to $50. These affordable play mats will of course differ a bit from the high-end ones in terms of features and quality. But sometimes, even high-end models contain features that may not be a priority for you. So, the choice is up to you.
Final Verdict
The play mat stimulates your baby’s senses. A good play mat is useful for your baby to discover his environment with his hands and feet in complete safety. This activity helps them develop their psychomotor abilities. Your little one will thus experience the different functions of the carpet as it evolves and react to the different colors, lights, textures, and also sounds.
