A baby play mat and a baby play gym are the most useful baby products that we have. You can call it anything you want the idea is to have a brightly coloured mat on which you can keep the baby while the small toys (often musical) stimulate and entertain the baby.
We got a baby play gym when our baby was 3 months old.
Unfortunately, my wife bought a cheap (Chinese) play gym and I wasn’t really happy about it.
I would have preferred a good quality play mat and play gym if I had know the role it was to play.
The Role of a Baby Play Mat & A Baby Play Gym
A mother cannot hold the baby 24*7.
A play gym allows the mothers to keep their baby engaged while they catch a breath or tend to some other important work.
A playmat is perfect for the baby to lie on his tummy and strengthen his neck and shoulder muscles.
Baby loves the bright dangling toys and the music piano. He grabs theses toys and in turn, his grasping power and motor skills develop.
A baby playmat is a handy item to have.
Read this helpful article to understand the benefits of a baby gym.
When is the right time to use a baby playmat ?
A play gym can be used anytime between birth to crawling.
My baby is 7 months old and he still loves his play mat.
His strength is growing and instead of the toys he now pulls on the round bars and tries to bite it (maybe he is teething)
So the right time to useget a baby playmat is between 0-10 months.
The top 10 baby playmats (play gym) reviewed
1. Chicco Deluxe Gym
- This Chicco play gym comes with 3 position flexibility.
- Baby can lie down and play when he is very young, at 6 months he can sit and play, at 12 months baby can stand and play
- Fun sound effects and a keyboard ensures that baby is entertained
- 3 cute hanging toys will entertain the baby
- This play gym does not come with a playmat
- A little expensive but worth it
- Check out this video to get a feel of the product
2. Shumee Baby Gym
- Shumee is an INDIAN COMPANY and this product is manufactured in India
- Beautiful and simple product with great quality
- We really like this product because of its simplicity
- The wood used in this baby gym has natural wood grain, No harmful polish is used
- The rings can be used later as a teether and the hanging toys can be used as plush toys
- Comes with a floor mat
3. Amardeep Baby Play Gym
- Amardeep is an Indian Company, Although I am not sure if this product is manufactured in India
- Cute looking gym
- Side walls help keep the baby & the toys inside ( Side walls can be collapsed I believe)
- The material of the baby mat looks foam which may not be ideal in summers
- This baby gym doubles up as a baby bed
- Comes with a head support pillow
- Amardeep products have very good ratings on amazon
4. Skip Hop
- Skip HOop’s manufacturing is done in China
- Very Highly Rated Baby Gym (4.8 out of 5)
- 5 hanging toys
- Comes with 17 developmental activities ( 13 loops for different height)
- Round mat surface
- ASTM, CPSIA, EN71 certified
5. Fisher-Price Newborn to Toddler Play Gym
- Maximum Fisher Price Items (including this baby gym) on Amazon are manufactured in CHINA
- Good design with a put and take your ball game
- This playgym has more than 10 activities and toys
- Three styles of play- Baby can lay down, sit and stand
- Develops sensory skills, gross motor & curiosity skills
- Good value for money
6. Infantino Baby Play Gym
- Infantino is a very popular play gym
- A very highly rated product which has a rating of 4.6/5 after 2083 ratings
- Lie down and sit down and play modes possible
- 4 hanging toys and a boo mirror
- Made of polyester
- Cute design, the baby will love the colours
7. Tiny Love Kick and Play
- Has a close border option which can help create a closed bed
- There are 6 cute dangling toys-lion rattle, textured giraffe, leaf teether, duck wind chime, bead rattle and a large mirror
- Kick and play response music pad which is activated by baby feet or hands. It is detachable and will be very useful
- Three use modes-Open, Open with arches and closed
- Very well rated product
- Spacious play gym
8. Playgro Play in The Park Activity Gym
- Playgro is an international brand
- BPA free material is used in this gym
- The detachable arm can be removed making the baby play mat ideal for tummy time
- Good quality materials used
- 3 detachable hanging toys
9. Mothercare Safari 2 in 1 Baby Gym
- Mothercare is an international brand
- This playgym has brightly coloured images of animals, birds and animals
- 3 hanging toys- a sun, a bird and a flower
- This play gym has a detachable arch which can be taken off and the mat can be used for tummy time
- The mat is softly padded for baby’s comfort
10. Fisher Price Deluxe Kick and Play Piano Gym
- Fisher-price play gym is MADE IN CHINA
- This deluxe gym has 4 ways to play
- The leaning content changes with baby’s age with smart stages technology
- The large piano makes for audio stimulation which the baby likes at this stage
- Very popular and highly rated baby play gym from Fisher-Price
Conclusion
A baby play gym is not only useful for the baby but also for the parents.
A play gym helps a baby by helping in
- Cognitive skills
- Fine motor skills
- Gross motor skills
- Sight
- Sound recognition
- Teething
- Touch/Grasp
A baby gym has helped us a lot in our parenting.
We hope it will help you too.
Share or like this article if you found it useful.