It can be hard to take care of a baby. Especially during the first few months, you need to be careful about everything. Even what toys your child is playing with. This is why activity mats are a great option for babies. They can be versatile and used in many different ways and they are great for these developmental stages. Let’s take a look at the best activity mats for babies.
In my opinion, the best activity mat you can buy is probably the Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick and Play. It comes with a wide range of activities for your baby and it looks adorable and is also comfortable and durable. Perfect for all genders, this mat will help your baby develop their senses with lights, touch, music, and more!
However, which mat works best for you depends on your baby and their age and needs. So let’s take a look at the 5 best activity mats on the market right now and you can make your own choice. Here’s a little comparison table for you to look over the products at a glance.
5 Best Activity Mats for Babies
There are a lot of different activity mats on the market for your baby. With so many different choices it can be hard to select which one you should get. But don’t worry, that’s why I researched for you and came up here with some best options!
Here are the top 5 baby activity mats out there. You can choose the one which works best for you.
1. Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Activity Mat
The Fisher-Price activity mat is a crowd favorite. All babies love this mat and are amazed by the bright colors and accessories. It provides something for all of the senses including touch, sight, music, and even lights.
It’s great for newborn babies and you can use this mat to keep them entertained while you can do work nearby. Don’t leave your baby unattended though, activity mats are only a distraction.
The mat will also last you for a long time, as there are different ways to use the mat as your child matures. The Deluxe Piano is the best part of this mat. It can play music and teach your baby cause-and-effect. You can even detach the piano, once your baby is older so they can play with it on their own.
It comes with hanging toys and you can also add accessories to it to keep your child from being bored. It works great for tummy-time as well, as your child learns how to raise their heads and this is also greatly encouraged for neck strength development.
With bright colors, a variety of songs, and lots of toys this activity mat provides you with everything you might need from one. It’s very helpful for the child to develop these senses while also having fun learning.
- Bright, primary colors great for kids
- Lots of different accessories to add to keep your baby entertained
- Sounds and lights features
- Affordable
- Compact and moveable
- Light
- Machine Washable
- Might be difficult to assemble
- Very bright colors might contrast with your home decor
2. Skip Hop Baby Play Mat
If you don’t like the bright colors that seem to be everywhere when it comes to baby items, you might like the Skip Hop Baby Play Mat. It has a more soothing, muted color palette that is calming for the babies. Your baby can not only play but also sleep on this activity mat.
The Skip Hop Baby Play Mat comes with 5 different toys hanging from the criss-cross bar on top and they’re all very beautiful and colorful, but they won’t clash with your decor. There are plenty of textures and shapes for your child to enjoy. One of the toys also plays lullabies, so you have music as well. And you can always add more if you want.
With soft cloud-like pillows, and a cushiony surface this play mat is very comfortable and will make your baby feel safe and warm. Once your baby is a little older you can even remove the top bars and use the mat on its own.
You can even remove the top bars and attach them to your baby’s stroller. So you get multiple uses out of a single purchase. The only drawback perhaps of this activity mat is that some of the raindrop toys are a little small and can be swallowed by the baby. So be careful not to leave your baby unattended.
- Aesthetic color palette
- Comes with cloud-pillow for tummy time
- LED light star toy
- Musical sheep toy
- The mat can be used alone
- Machine washable
- Soft and cushioned
- Expensive
- Not portable
- Toys are not washable
3. The Play Mat by Lovevery
Lovevery Activity mats are designed by child specialists who focus on curating various toys and accessories to help your baby in each stage of their development. It’s made with completely eco-friendly materials like wood and cotton and doesn’t use any plastic at all.
This option is great for more environment-conscious parents and the quality is amazing. Though this mat is slightly more expensive than others in the market, the build quality and materials make up for it.
You will also find many versatile uses for this mat, starting from when your baby is a newborn to when they are toddlers. The wooden frame that it comes with is strong and sturdy and holds even heavier toys, for older kids. It can even be used as a fort, once your baby grows up.
The Play Mat also comes with a very detailed guide for you to get the best out of your baby’s play mat, without having to read through multiple developmental books. Each activity is curated by experts and explains how they will help your baby grow and develop. You can even hide certain parts of it, to not overstimulate your baby’s senses.
- Organic materials
- Machine Washable
- Solid wood frame
- Can hold heavy toys
- Soft cotton fabric
- Neutral tones
- Expensive
- Takes up a lot of space
4. Taf Toys Musical Newborn Cosy Mat
If your baby loves tummy time, then the Taf Toys Musical Newborn Cosy Mat is perfect for them. With padded, raised edges it’s safe for your kids to lie on their tummies. The raised edges make it perfect for a sleeping station as well. There’s no chance of your baby rolling over the edges.
These sides can also be lowered as you wish so that you can create a Mat as well. This allows the baby more room to move around and play and with the toys hanging from the arches. The arches are also fully removable. So you have plenty of options to use it according to your needs.
The toys this play Mat comes with are detachable and great for sensory development. They have 4 different toys each with either music or light attachments. You can also add your toys to the mix.
Each of the toys also comes with two sides: one colorful and one black and white. This is great for much younger babies when they might feel overwhelmed with too much color. So you can just flip them over as your child grows.
- Thickly Padded
- Removable High Edges
- Multi-sensory toys
- Light toys
- Music toys
- Mirror toy
- Removable arches
- Pastel colors
- Not machine-washable
- Easily stains
5. Infantino Twist and Fold Activity Mat
This twist-and-fold Mat is perfect for storage and travel. It easily collapses and you can fold it with velcro and store it away at a corner or even take it with you on a trip. It doesn’t take up much space when open either and is perfect for smaller homes.
Comes with a vintage quilt-like design with colorful patterns to stimulate your baby’s senses. It also has 4 linkable toys and even a tummy-time bolster perfect for training your baby to lie on their front. The toys are soft and textured and they rattle as well.
You can also detach and remove these toys and use them on the stroller too! The frame or arch is adjustable and you can move it to make a tepee or a dome shape. Your kids can even use it as a tent when they’re slightly older by draping the cloth on top.
This one is simple, effective, and affordable, and gets the job done. You can use it when your baby is bored and tuck it away in a corner when you don’t need it. It’s also very easy to move, and you can take your baby around with you as they play, and you can work. Though it’s designed for boys, it will work just fine with girl babies as well.
- Compact
- Travel friendly
- Collapsible
- Colorful design
- Teething, rattling toys
- Affordable
- Large mirror toy
- Washable
- Might not look aesthetic
- Twist and fold might be hard to work
Why Should You Get an Activity Mat for Your Baby?
You might be thinking about whether or not to even buy an activity mat. Why not use a blanket and some toys instead? Well, these mats are designed to be entertaining to babies while also making them learn about the different senses, often designed by child specialists. A plain blanket is simply not the same.
With the versatility of activity mats, they are great for learning a whole range of different things, in the early developmental phases of children. The texture in the toys, the sounds, and the lights are all great sources of stimulation for the baby and encourage cognitive growth.
They help develop motor skills and teach the babies cause and effect. Tummy time on these activity mats also helps strengthen their necks and shoulder muscles, so they can learn to eventually sit up on their own.
And let’s face it, it’s not easy entertaining a baby 24/7 and they do need attention all the time. So, these activity mats are a great way for your baby to entertain themselves, while you can do small work on your own without leaving the baby out of your sight.
So while playmats might not be an absolute necessity, they are a great purchase that both you and your baby will love.
When Should I Start Putting My Baby on An Activity Mat?
You can technically use an activity mat for your baby from day 1, to lie them down and use it as just a regular mat. But when your baby grows to be a little older starting from about two to three months, that is when your baby will enjoy this activity the most.
The time frame from 3-6 months is when the baby is developing hand-eye coordination, and they will reach out for toys or anything to grab and play with. This is when the hanging toys and arches are great and enjoyable. They will keep your baby entertained for 15-30 minutes at a stretch at least.
You can get more use of it even as they reach toddler age, by using it as a fort or a playmat for other activities. But chances are as your child starts to walk, they won’t need to play with the hanging toys and the arch anymore. They will move on to newer toys. But you can still get them to use it as long as you are creative.
Conclusion
All of the mats on our list of best activity mats for babies are great options and you and your baby will love the experience. Whether you are preparing to welcome a baby into this world or already have a newborn, you should get an activity mat for these early stages of development.
It is also a great idea for a gift to an expecting loved one. Thanks a lot for reading till the end and have a nice day!
