Best Baby Play Mats and Gyms for Tummy Time and Sensory Exploration

Creating a stimulating and safe environment for your baby to explore helps foster their development. The ultimate playtime powerhouse for babies? Baby play mats and gyms! These engaging spaces provide a comfy place for tummy time, playtime, and sensory exploration during those precious first months.

Learning specialist Rebecca Mannis, PhD, says that “play mats and activity mats are examples of handy tools that engage kids and let parents bond with their children using safe, colorful, and sensory-rich items.” They help kids feel comfortable moving and starting to develop a sense of cause-effect. “Building language and strong relationships with their parents starts with infancy and enriching experiences with the world and people around them,” she adds. But with a vast array of options available, choosing the perfect one can feel overwhelming.

Our guide to the best baby mats and gyms shares expert insights, navigates the features and benefits, and offers things to consider when selecting the best play mat and gym for your little one. Let’s get into what’s great about these playtime powerhouses.

Our top picks for best baby play mats and gyms

How I selected the best baby play mats and gyms

The baby test

To choose the best baby mats and gyms, I had my two-month-old son test out a number of the items on this list, in addition to researching reviews of various types of toys that received ratings of at least 4.6 stars.

Expert advice

I spoke with a pediatrician, a learning specialist, and a baby toy specialist and baby massage founder to glean their insights and recommendations regarding the types of mats and gyms that are beneficial, engaging, and entertaining for this age group.

What to consider

The main considerations when shopping for a play mat or gym are quality and safety of materials, size, and ease of cleaning.

Quality and safety of materials

Board-certified pediatrician David Berger, MD, founder of Wholistic Pediatrics & Family Care and health education company Dr. David MD™, says that it’s good to ensure the surface and other elements themselves are free from toxic ingredients. “Many are made from PVC, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), or polyurethane foams that contain toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and microplastics,” he explains. “Look for products made from natural rubber or organic cotton.”

Elina Furman, baby product expert and founder of baby massager Kahlmi says, “Preferably, the cover should be organic cotton and the insert must have EVA non-toxic foam, but I would be careful and make sure to ask for certifications to see if the foam was tested for other chemicals.”

Size

Size is an important factor when it comes to shopping for a play mat or play gym. “Do you want a big size to keep on the floor and that can be wiped down or something smaller that you can take with you while traveling?” Furman says to ask yourself.

Ease of cleaning

Large foam mats can only be spot cleaned, but Furman likes mats that have removable covers for easy laundering.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between a play mat and an activity gym?

“Playmats are soft, cushioned floor coverings that are designed to give your baby/toddler free reign to play and explore while providing a comfortable, cushioned experience to protect their knees and other body parts so they can do tummy time and prepare for crawling, sitting, and other motor developmental milestones,” Furman says. She adds, “Play mats can be used well into the toddler years.”

An activity gym usually consists of a round play mat with arches made of wood or foam with sensory toys, mirrors, and other developmental tools attached to keep your baby's attention. “Babies usually outgrow these by the time they are 12 months old, but the mat can be repurposed as a small play area once the arches are removed,” Furman notes.

The main difference is the size and stage of each. “Play mats can grow with your baby as they get older while activity gyms are wonderful for encouraging sensory development for babies 0 - 12 months old," she explains.

Are baby activity mats worth it?

“If compared to hardwood or tile flooring, it is a safer landing. Carpets can also serve this purpose,” Dr. Berger says. The activities and elements on the mat can be good for promoting child developmental skills, he notes. “But it should not be used as a ‘babysitter’— the baby should still be supervised as they may roll, crawl, or meander off of the mat,” he advises.

Furman says baby mats are worth the purchase, especially as some come in larger sizes for walkers and crawlers and provide additional cushioning if they fall and need more support. “There are so many stylish options that come in modern, decor-friendly designs that many parents often leave as floor coverings in the main play areas for many years after the baby phase is over,” she says. “Smaller size mats can be transported to serve as picnic and beach blankets and fold up small for easy transport.”

When should I start using a play gym?

Dr. Berger says play mats can be used as early as the first couple weeks of life. “We want to promote tummy time from a very early age, and a safe play mat is an ideal surface for this,” he says.

Furman says that a play gym with multiple attachments can be used from 0 - 12 weeks and provides sensory stimulation for your baby, including graphic black and white cards, mirrors, and toys that allow them to enhance tummy time play. “The toys and accessories are often stage-based and can be interchanged to encourage cognitive and motor development,” she explains. “The gyms also offer accessories on the mat, so when your baby is engaged in tummy time play, they can develop their core, motor tone, vision, and grasping abilities while enjoying different toys,” she adds. In addition, activity gyms help prevent flat head syndrome since they encourage tummy time play and frequent shifting and tilting of baby's head as they view items overhead, Furman notes.