The Best Baby Play Mat
We looked at the top 12 Baby Play Mats and dug through the reviews from 105 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Baby Play Mats.
Our Review Process
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Our Picks For The Top Baby Play Mats
With over 70 sounds and activities, you can't go wrong with this baby play mat. In fact, it's designed to grow with your baby by providing music and toys for laying, getting in some tummy time, sitting and even carrying around the house.
Keeps Baby EntertainedJust a few of the items found within this colorful baby play mat include a piano, mirror, crinkle medallion and tummy time pillow.
Not only does this baby play mat encourage your little one to stay active, but it also provides opportunities to learn. It's made with five developmental zones and can be converted into a small fort. The mat is also machine washable, which is handy for accidents and spills.
Encourages Babies to be ActiveIt takes just two minutes to set up this baby play mat, which is made from a safe and soft organic cotton.
If you're looking for a baby play mat that grows with your child, this baby play mat is an excellent choice. Infants will love tummy time on the colorful mat, while older babies enjoy the hanging toys that provide important sensory input. There's also a keyboard that toddlers can utilize to learn their colors, numbers and animal sounds.
Stimulates the SensesFrom a musical keyboard to a toy-filled arch, this baby play mat has it all.
Your little one is sure to be thoroughly entertained when using this baby play mat. It features six removable sensory toys that each have a different texture. The set includes two mat covers that can be washed and reused many many times.
Washable Covers IncludedAn adorable moon-shaped pillow is included with this baby play mat.
This baby play mat is made up of 20 white, green and gray foam tiles. The tiles are interlocking and can be arranged in several different ways. Parents will find the mat works well in a playroom or nursery, as it provides a soft surface for baby to play and learn to crawl.
Multiple ConfigurationsWith 44 different color combinations to choose from, you're sure to find this baby play mat in a style that matches your room theme.
Buying Guide
In addition to being designed to keep your baby entertained, playmats are also created to assist with an infant’s development. There are a host of different types of play mats on the market, which may leave you feeling a little overwhelmed when you start your search. Use this guide to help narrow down the options, so you end up with the best baby play mat for your infant.
Start off examining the material the play mat is made out of. It is important to select one that has a non-toxic and phthalate-free surface. If your baby is sensitive, you’ll also need the mat to be hypoallergenic.
Determine how portable you need the baby play mat to be. This isn’t important for babies who spend the majority of their time at home, but infants that spend the day with grandma while mom works may benefit from having a playmat that easily rolls up so that it can be transported between houses. Some models even come with their own travel bag.
“Consider whether this will be a permanent fixture in your home or if you’d rather be able to store it or travel with it,” says mother and infant sleep-safe expert Kate Desmond. Desmond serves as marketing director for Charlie’s Kids Foundation, an organization that provides education about SIDS and safe sleep. “If the latter is more your style, consider one that easily folds or rolls up.”
Check the size of the play mat. Some models are as is as big as a queen-size blanket. That means your baby will have plenty of space when he or she is ready to start rolling over. The mat is also reversible. One side is decorative and ideal for infant tummy time, while the other has animals, letters and numbers for toddlers to practice on.
Look for any activities and attachments that may be included with the play mat. For example, some deluxe play mats have 18 developmental activities that help a baby with everything from cognition to fine and gross motor skills. There’s also the Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym, which has a tiny piano with five keys that an infant can kick with their feet. Toddlers can transition to using their hands to make music with the keyboard. Musical attachments are always a great choice because they help a baby learn about cause and effect.
Examine the play mat attachments to see what benefits they offer your child. For example, a mirror helps with self-discovery, while crinkle toys provide important sensory input.
Consider a play mat that grows with your baby. There are foam puzzle mats that are made using a high-density EVA foam that is comfortable for infants to lay on when they need to have a little tummy time. They are also constructed of squares that have letters and numbers on them for toddlers to practice with. Older children can even take the squares and use them like a puzzle by turning them into cubes.
Our Expert Consultant
Parenting Pro and Safe-Sleep Expert
Kate Desmond is a writer and infant safe-sleep expert. She has spent the last eight years working as the marketing director for Charlie’s Kids Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to educate families about SIDS and safe sleep. In that role, she travels around the country learning and educating caregivers and providers on the latest and greatest safe-sleep information to prevent infant death.
As mom to two elementary-aged daughters, she spends hours researching the best and safest products for her own kids. She is quick to get in the weeds with other mamas, and uses humor to cope with parenting woes from potty-training to teaching kids to read.
Why we recommend these baby play mats?
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The Best Bang For Your Buck
YIMINYUER Interlocking Foam Baby Play Mat, 20-Piece
Key Takeawy
This baby play mat is made up of 20 white, green and gray foam tiles. The tiles are interlocking and can be arranged in several different ways. Parents will find the mat works well in a playroom or nursery, as it provides a soft surface for baby to play and learn to crawl.
What to Look For
- Beware of baby play mats that are flame retardant, as they contain harmful chemicals that can enter through the child’s skin when he or she lays on the mat. If the chemicals enter the air, the little one can also breathe the chemicals in, so always opt for a non-toxic play mat. Just make sure you keep the playmat away from any heat sources or candles and that you supervise the baby while the playmat is in use.
- Make sure batteries are included along with the playmat if it is a model that utilizes sound and light. If not, you’ll want to check and see what type of batteries the mat needs and pick up a set before you put the mat together for your precious little one.
- Always check the product label before attempting to clean the play mat. Some mats are machine washable, while others, like those made of foam or those with a waterproof surface, should simply be wiped down with a little dish soap and water.
- Homes with hardwood floors would do well with a baby play mat that has both a non-slip grip underneath and extra padding on top.
- Simple baby play mats that are waterproof can double as changing pads when you’re away from home and out in the public. Just roll the play mat up and pack it in your diaper bag.
Waterproof mats provide another important benefit. “Babies are messy, so make sure the playmat you choose is either waterproof and wipeable, or machine washable,” Desmond adds.
- The price for baby play mats varies greatly depending on the material used to make the mat, how many features it has and how long the baby can use it. The Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym is made out of foam and is one of the lower-priced mats on the market. At the top of the price range are play mats which can be used from infancy all the way through Kindergarten.
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