Make yourself entertaining by making funny faces and use interactive toys to keep them laughing. Wiggle their limbs, sing a song, look for noisemakers, and offer exciting visuals to look at.
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Best Baby Play Mat: Your Baby’s Comfort and Safety
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Last Updated: 21 March 2023
You’ve got a lot of chores to do, but your little one doesn’t want to stay alone? He/she feels boring? Or just love being close to you, on your arms? It seems like you have to carry your baby around all the time until he/she falls asleep! You love your sweet little one, but such a situation is becoming unbearable! It’s familiar almost to all moms!
Good news! There is a solution! We know how to keep your baby busy and fun! He/she even won’t notice your absence! Sounds impossible? Try a play mat! It is colorful, bright, comes with toys, music, sounds! The best baby play mat will develop your child’s skills. He/she won’t be boring, and you ‘ll manage to do all your work!
But how to choose a baby activity mat? There are so many available on the market! Here we are to help you! We’ve created this article to assist you in selecting the perfect playmat!
Here the top 10 playmats ideal for any child! Read on and find a suitable one for your needs!
Comparison Table of 9 Best Baby Playmats
Fisher-Price On-The-Go Dome
Baby Care Play Mat
Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym from Fisher & Price Deluxe
Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym
The Play Gym by Lovevery
Price not available
Price not available
$39.88
$59.99
$140.00
-
2,689 Reviews
4,840 Reviews
3,126 Reviews
918 Reviews
Material
-
Foam
Plastic
Cotton, Plastic
Wood, Cotton
Size
-
82.7 x 55.1 x 0.5 inches
27.01 x 36.02 x 17.99 inches
30.5 x 32.51 x 27.5 inches
44 x 38 x 24 inches
Weight
-
17 pounds
3.8 pounds
3.67 ounces
7.6 pounds
Waterproof
-
Yes
Yes
No
No
Batteries required
-
No
Yes
Yes
No
Fisher-Price On-The-Go Dome
Price not available
-
-
Material
-
Size
-
Weight
-
Waterproof
-
Batteries required
-
Baby Care Play Mat
Price not available
-
2,689 Reviews
Material
Foam
Size
82.7 x 55.1 x 0.5 inches
Weight
17 pounds
Waterproof
Yes
Batteries required
No
Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym from Fisher & Price Deluxe
$39.88
4,840 Reviews
Material
Plastic
Size
27.01 x 36.02 x 17.99 inches
Weight
3.8 pounds
Waterproof
Yes
Batteries required
Yes
Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym
$59.99
3,126 Reviews
Material
Cotton, Plastic
Size
30.5 x 32.51 x 27.5 inches
Weight
3.67 ounces
Waterproof
No
Batteries required
Yes
Bright Starts Disney Baby Finding Nemo
Baby Einstein 5-in-1 Journey of Discovery Activity Gym
Infantino 3-in-1 Grow with me Activity Gym Ball Pit
Bright Starts Tummy Time Prop & Play
Splashin’kids Tummy Time Premium Water Mat
$74.99
$59.99
Price not available
$24.99
$16.97
-
1,112 Reviews
1,357 Reviews
1,541 Reviews
5,793 Reviews
Material
Polyester
Polyester, Plastic
Fabric, Plastic
Polyester
Plastic
Size
32 x 36 x 18 inches
47 x 40 x 18 inches
24 x 4 x 20 inches
36 x 32.5 x 5 inches
26 x 20 x 2 inches
Weight
Polyester
1.76 pounds
3.7 lbs
15.8 ounces
11.8 ounces
Waterproof
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Batteries required
No
No
No
No
No
Bright Starts Disney Baby Finding Nemo
$74.99
-
Material
Polyester
Size
32 x 36 x 18 inches
Weight
Polyester
Waterproof
Yes
Batteries required
No
Baby Einstein 5-in-1 Journey of Discovery Activity Gym
$59.99
1,112 Reviews
Material
Polyester, Plastic
Size
47 x 40 x 18 inches
Weight
1.76 pounds
Waterproof
No
Batteries required
No
Infantino 3-in-1 Grow with me Activity Gym Ball Pit
Price not available
-
1,357 Reviews
Material
Fabric, Plastic
Size
24 x 4 x 20 inches
Weight
3.7 lbs
Waterproof
No
Batteries required
No
Bright Starts Tummy Time Prop & Play
$24.99
1,541 Reviews
Material
Polyester
Size
36 x 32.5 x 5 inches
Weight
15.8 ounces
Waterproof
No
Batteries required
No
Best Overall: Fisher-Price On-The-Go Baby Dome Review
The Fisher-Price On-The-Go Dome is a mat and napping space as well. During the outside playtime, a canopy will protect your child from bugs and the sun; it'll keep his/her skin healthy and free of bites. There are 2 removable toys. This model folds flat, it has handles, so you can easily take it along with you. The colors are bright and nice. This play dome is lightweight, and it is not a hassle to store.
Summary and Recommendations: This baby playmat is durable, safe and comfortable for your baby.
Why We Like It
- Sturdy; gives enough sun protection to rest comfortably
- Fully washable, has a removable pad
- Can fit two babies
- Easy to pack and take along with you
Great Cushioning: Baby Care Mat Review
It has the size of a queen best toddler mattress, so there is enough space for your child to move around. It is a baby activity gym with innovative cushioning: if you drop an egg from 10 feet high, it will not break. It is not hard to clean because this baby jungle gym mat is waterproof and reversible, so baby wipes will do the trick. Your child can play on this playmat all day; it is non-toxic and safe playmat for babies. This is phthalate-free, BPA-free, latex-free, lead-free, there is no formaldehyde, and EVA tested. This item comes with a 2-year warranty.
Summary and Recommendations: You need this baby playmat and gym for a baby who likes to move around a lot.
Why We Like It
- There is enough cushion to play on a hardwood floor
- Very comfortable to sit on
- Hygienic
- Cute and classy design that is easy to clean
Sale
Educatory Playmat: Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym from Fisher & Price Deluxe Review
This is one of the best baby musical playmat! The Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick Piano Gym has 4 ways to play, so it can grow with the baby and there are 4 music settings with 15 minutes of continuous playing. There are short animal songs; a child can learn colors, numbers, and shapes with the help of this baby playmat. The large keyboard in this kick and play piano has 5 removable light-up keys. 5 repositionable toys include self-discovery mirror, crinkle panda, elephant teether, monkey cymbal clackers, and lion rattle. Your child will love to spend time and learn on this baby gym.
Summary and Recommendations: This baby playmat will enhance your baby development.
Why We Like It
- A lot of toys to play with
- Sweet and cute songs
- A piano is easily detachable when the baby wants to enjoy it
- Quick to assemble, there are only about five parts to put together
Great Fun: Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym Review
The Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Light Deluxe Gym is a baby play mat with lights and music that comes with 10+ toys, activities, music, and lights that dance. The music and lights respond to your child’s movement. Music plays for up to 20 minutes so that this baby play area is not boring for your child to spend time on. The cute animal designs of this kids' mat will catch their attention. There are 3 modes: tummy time lay down & play, and take-along.
Summary and Recommendations: Your baby will like cute animals because they are interactive and enhances the kid's skills.
Pros
- There are 2 sets of loops on each crossbar so that you can hang the toy high or low
- The toucan has a beak that lights up which means your child can see it light up from their back
- Included toys are cute, and each one has an interactive feature
- Simple but very fun for babies
Cons
- The zebra and snail are hard plastic
Easy to Set up: The Play Gym by Lovevery Review
The Play Gym by Lovevery baby activity mat has removable accessories for stage-based learning, and there is a whole year of play for their cognitive development. It is easy to set up and tear down this baby play gym without any tools so you can store it right away. Actually, it takes only about 2 minutes to tear down and assemble it. The teether is made of wood and organic cotton, so it is non-toxic. The mat will teach your kid to focus, make sounds, explore their sensations, hide, find, and explore colors. The company wants to tackle all points by making this mat.
Summary and Recommendations: This kids’ playmat that is interactive and will help enhance the senses of your child, which makes it a good investment.
Pros
- The instruction has a pedagogical explanations
- Great interchangeable cards with high-contrast images
- Looks and feels amazing
- Set up quickly
Cons
- Not that easy to clean if something gets spilled on it
Sale
Easy to Take Care: Bright Starts Disney Baby Finding Nemo Gym Review
This baby play mat is bright and comes with a characters from 'Finding Nemo' cartoon. It features more than 20 mins of ocean themed melodies to keep your baby entertained. The baby gym has a teether and rattle musical toy, making it a very fun infant activity mat. Your child will enjoy its safe mirror because they can see themselves in it and see how they look like. The colors of this play gym are attractive and vibrant that will stimulate your child for hours. The mat is machine washable, and toys can be wiped clean with a damp cloth for maintenance purposes.
Summary and Recommendations: You need this adorable play mat for a child who likes to stay busy.
Pros
- Very lightweight and cute
- Well-known characters
- Toys are placed at different heights
- Great price for the quality you are getting
- Cute animal design
Cons
- Not very durable
Develops Motor Skills: Baby Einstein 5-in-1 Journey of Discovery Activity Gym Review
It is a play mat foam that is packed with grow me discovery animals. This Baby Einstein play mat has 10 balls for developing motor skills and photographic imagery for recognition skills. This product encourages hand eye coordination, co play, curiosity, and music appreciation. The ball drop canopy and storage bag are perfect for co play and gross motor skills enhancement. All four sides can be folded up to form a play pen for your child. This feature is not present in other play mat products.
Summary and Recommendations: This is an adorable mat that your child will enjoy. It can also be made into a ball pit.
Pros
- Globally-inspired music to keep baby’s sense of hearing engaged for proper development
- This baby gym mat is decorated with colorful characters, a world map, and traveling vehicles
- There is a bag where you can store the balls so they will not get lost
- Activity gym can be converted into a ball pit
Cons
- Difficult to store because it needs a big space to accommodate the entire thing
Safe: Infantino 3-in-1 Grow with me Activity Gym and Ball Pit Review
The Infantino 3-in-1 Grow with me Activity Gym, and Ball Pit is for 0 months and above. It is one of those playmats that is an activity and ball pit all in one. There are 4 linkable sea pals and 40 colorful balls in this baby activity center to keep your child smiling for hours. The teether is BPA-free, and the balls can be stored in the turtle’s head so they are all in one place. This infant play mat sea pals are all plush for more comfort when your baby grabs them.
Summary and Recommendations: Your child will enjoy this mat because of all the functions and activities it offers.
Pros
- Charming hanging toys
- Turtle’s feet have a crinkly sound
- Secure and definitive play area for your child
- This product can last for more than a year with proper care
Cons
- Putting balls inside the turtle’s head consumes a lot of time, but it is still an excellent product for your child
Sale
For tummy Time: Bright Starts Tummy Time Prop & Play Review
Bright Starts Tummy encourages tummy time because it becomes easier for your child, and there is a matching pillow for added support. It is one of the best baby floor play mat that is meant for big bear hugs and comfort. This is one of the padded floor mats that fit well in any space while you are traveling. The baby safe mirror, rattle, and toy are all great attachments that your child can play with just like other baby floor gyms, but with a cute polar bear shape. It is a lightweight mat that will teach your kid a lot of skills.
Summary and Recommendations: If your baby hates tummy time, get this one to change his/her mind.
Pros
- Your child will tolerate tummy time a lot more when laying on it
- Prop feature helps with tummy time making your child more patient with it
- Pillow makes the child feel less vulnerable
- The toys keep him/her entertained during tummy time
Cons
- An infant still needs some help even if there is a prop-up pillow
Sale
Great for Overall Development: Splashin’kids Tummy Time Premium Water Mat
Splashin’kids Tummy Time Premium Water Mat will give your kid a lot of fun time playing on it because of the sea creatures and beautiful background. Even if it is not a foam play mat, this product is inflatable and soft enough for your child to lie on. It is also a tummy time playmat that enhances the development of their neck, head, and shoulder muscles. It will also hone eye coordination, social, fine, and motor skills. This mat enhances the brain because of the sharp contrast and cute toys floating around that your little one will try to catch.
Summary and Recommendations: It is an adorable cheap baby boy play mat, especially the foam animals that he/she will try to catch.
Pros
- When your baby spits on it, wiping is easy
- Made of very strong material that does not leak
- It keeps your kid entertained and will not fight tummy time anymore
- Little foam animals inside keep your baby busy
Cons
- Takes time to dry off
Buyer’s Guide
How to Choose the Best Baby Play Mat
When you are choosing a play mat, make sure that it is right for your baby. That means it should be non-toxic, interactive, comfortable, made for skills development, easy to clean, colorful, and vibrant. The design should be attractive and preferably plush animals because your baby will grab them. Make sure that the baby gym is also a play mat foam because they need the right cushioning for tummy time. That is something babies struggle with if the surface is hard because it could hurt them.
The mat should be easy to wipe and clean because your child will most likely have accidents or spill food on it.
best Baby Play Mats types
Puzzle floor mats
Designed like a puzzle to boost cognitive skills. It is intended to challenge your child’s mind to figure out what the puzzle is supposed to be showing once all of the pieces are placed correctly.
Non-toxic mat
It is safe for babies to play on because the material is free of chemicals. So, your baby is safe even if he/she plays for a long time on it.
Water play mats
Water can be put inside the mat for more exciting playtime. There are toy floating animals or anything that fits the theme.
Baby mat waterproof
The mat can be wiped dry and does not absorb water, so even if your child spills something on it, you will not have a hard time cleaning.
Portable mat
You can take it with you anywhere because it is easy to fold, which is a special feature of that product. Great to bring during your trips and other occasions.
Our Recommendation
Our recommendation for the activity gyms for babies is Fisher-Price On-The-Go Baby Dome because it offers sun and bug protection for your child. You can easily fold it for take-along or storage; this playmat is lightweight. It is completely washable, so if your child has an accident, it is not an issue because cleaning will not take too much of your energy and time. Besides, the gray and white combination is beautiful and eye-catching. The hanging toys are interactive and will encourage your baby to use his/her skills to play with them.
After reading this review from parenthoodroutine about the best baby play mat 2023, you will be ready to choose which one to get for your growing baby. Remember, it is worth the investment because playtime is part of a child’s development.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, they are suitable for babies because it promotes tummy time and skills enhancement to advance their development. These mats come with interactive toys, music, and even lights for stimulation.
Foam play mats are for babies because they provide enough cushion for tummy time, even on a hardwood floor. If the baby is learning how to crawl, he/she must be on a soft surface that will not hurt him/her.
Newborns can use play mats, and it is actually suitable for their development because of the features that help enhance their development.
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