For a while, I was confused about the difference between a play mat, play gym, activity mat and activity gym.
Few purchases later, I found out they all serve the same purpose. They all serve to provide a fun spot for the baby to chill or play.
They became my extension when my little ones were ready to move past my arms and needed more than skin-to-skin time, swaddling and rocking. And I suppose this is why many parents swear by their play mats and gyms as the entertainment central for their young ones at home especially between feeds, numerous nappy changes and naps.
Play mats are safe to use from birth, but it’s really babies between three to six months old that enjoy them the most. That is the stage when they’re discovering their independence as well as developing their hand-eye coordination, grasping and reaching skills.
Buying one can be an absolute minefield. There are so many options and styles. So when deciding what to go for, best to look for the one that suits your space, something that’s portable if you’re constantly on the go, durable and versatile - get a play mat and gym that can be used until the bub is eight or nine months old when they start to become more mobile.
Brands like Toddlekind and Cam Cam Copenhagen have created gorgeously-designed minimalist play mats that can be used even when the little ones get to toddler age.
The products I tried below had a good range of mat-based features with a variety of sensory extras - colours, textures, sounds - that help with developing senses from 0 and still be relevant for those who are learning to roll, sit up and crawl.
Jojo Maman Bebe Elephant Activity Gym and Play mat
It’s not just a sweet play area for little ones to enjoy, it also features toys that can be attached to detachable arches to help stimulate their senses during playtime.
We - that’d me and the bubbas - found the sun-shaped baby safe mirror and the rattling elephant to be one of the popular features.
The padded rim makes a great tummy time aid. We also found that the soft play mat provides a comfortable nest perfect for nap time.
Because it comes in folded in a zip bag, it makes it easier to pack in the car if on a weekend away from home.
Animal Selfie Activity Gym
We love the soft pastels and cute baby animals in this one-of-a-kind play mat and gym. On top of the hanging toys which help with visual, tactile and auditory development, Skip Hop’s Animal Selfie Activity Gym has a puppy smartphone holder that securely attaches to the arches. We definitely think this is perfect for parents who love to record special milestones or live for the ‘gram.
£39.99 | ELC *on sale from £69.99
2-in-1 Play Gym / Tent
This carefully designed product easily transforms a play gym into a play tent. Its makers felt that it was such a waste to throw the play gym away after the fist six months to a year especially when the baby starts crawling, so they came up with the idea to extend the its life as a tent. In that way, it can stay with the children for years to come. The main part is made from Birch plywood and the cross bars are made from birch. The tent cover is 100 per cent GOTS certified organic cotton. I love that we can customise and theme the gym toys that go on the cross bars making play time even more fun and educational. It really looks good in the lounge too.
Taf Toys Musical Newborn Cosy Gym
This musical gym makes a fantastic investment for any new arrival.
The 4-in-1 set adapts to different stages of baby’s growth from a newborn nest to a baby play gym that’s perfect for tummy time. The padded nest is a big hit with my little testers as well as the four beautifully made and designed multi-sensory toys. We thought that the drawstring edges added a nice touch as they can be released to create a full-sized mat or drawn up to create a nest-like cosy environment.
VTech Baby Little Friendlies Glow and Giggle Play mat
Vibrant colours, cheerful music and a light-up giant tree are some of the key features that make this play mat packed with fun. The beautifully padded play mat includes dangling Little Friendlies characters as well as a detachable piano activity panel where the keys can be played laying down or sitting up. My tiny testers were kept occupied learning about animals, shapes, sounds and colours in the three modes of play. There are also 20 melodies and six sing-along songs. The caterpillar teether is a big hit as it helped soothe their gums.
Baby Einstein High Contrast Play mat
This definitely grabbed my little ones’ attention with its eye-catching design using high-contrast colours and patterns. It actually came highly recommended by a friend who is an experienced maternity nurse. She said that the simple lines and patterns make it easier for babies to see. We really liked the adjustable canopy for tummy time as well as the plush prop pillow that comes with this play mat. There are more than 20 minutes of melodies we enjoyed listening to. I loved seeing them filled with wonder as we hid and revealed toys within the mat. The canopy can also be flipped to reveal a new side with bright colours and it can also be adjusted for different ages and stages.
Fisher Price Butterfly Dreams Musical Playtime Gym
This soft, comfortable play mat features a vibrantly coloured archway with a see-through porthole and five dangling activity toys which my little ones enjoyed to jingle, teethe and even bat-at. It’s perfectly sized as a spot for chilling, playing and tummy time. It also still looks good after washing. With almost 30 machine washes in, it hasn’t lost its vibrant colour and still looks as good as new.
Scandiborn Edvn Soft Baby Gym
This sumptuous minimal gender neutral Scandi style play gym is a padded nest of comfort. It’s a cozy spot for relaxing or for story time. Led by Edvn the fox, the dangling animals on the detachable arch are a moose, hedgehog and mouse. It’s just plain cool. Scandiborn sourced the best hanging toys from Cam Cam, Liewood, Roommate and Konges Slojd, which all fit perfectly with this gym. So strokable and feels luxurious. It’s light and comes in a plastic zip bag for storing away and we’ve taken this away with us to give our little ones a piece of home when on hols - pre-lockdown obvs.
Prettier Play mat
Made with non-toxic EVA foam, the Prettier Play mat range are a plush 1.2cm thick, which provides a soft space for my tiny tots. Easy to clean, we loved its limitless layout possibilities as the Nordic style tiles can be rearranged to create endless looks. Play mats are comprised of easy to assemble 60cm x 60cm tiles and include edging bonders that give a seamless rug-like look. Sets come in different sizes from standard 120m x 180cm through to playroom at 240cm x 360cm. It’s stylish, durable and practical. I loved how it was kind to my knees, too.
Verdict
For comfort, Jojo Maman Bebe's Elephant Activity Gym & Play mat is a firm favourite in the household. It has lasted us a couple of years and still looks new. Cam Cam Copenhagen's 2-in-1 Play Gym / Tent deserves a special mention in terms of longevity. The play tent element of it is a wonderful feature and so my tiny testers enjoy story time inside it whilst sat comfortably on their Elephant Activity Gym & Play mat.
