Advice on finding the best play mat

Baby play mats have taken the market by storm over the last few years, and for good reason. Studies show that it’s never too soon for babies to be exposed to a very stimulating environment. I am a father of two, and if you’re like me you’ll also enjoy the fact that many play mats offer a clean and comfortable area for your baby to play on the ground.

Most if not all play mats are produced using soft and durable materials that are good for babies. As you’ll find they all have vibrant colors which stimulate baby’s visual senses. Another great feature is that play mats us many different textures and materials that make noises. This helps their development of tactile senses. Note: it’s important to purchase a play mat that stimulates as many of your baby’s senses as possible.

As any parent who has gone through the infant/newborn stage can attest, sometimes you just need to be able to put baby down for a bit and relax. However, a lot of first time parents struggle with the guilt of wanting to put their baby down for a while. It was comforting for me and my wife knowing when we did put our children on the play mat; it was a good healthy environment for them. In fact, it is important for babies to spend some time moving on their own instead of being perpetually attached to their parent’s hips. So don’t fret when you feel this way. Just realize that it is a good for baby as it is for you to spend some time rolling and playing on the floor. These activities help baby tremendously with the strength and coordination skills they’ll need as they grow and become more mobile.

Advice for choosing and using a play mat:

-Don’t skimp. While price may be an important determiner for your purchase, you should find a play mat that offers stimulation of the most senses possible. It may cost a little more, but you’ll get the most out of baby’s time on the mat, and you’ll save money and space.

-Buy a name brand product. Again, don’t skimp here. Name brand products usually make the best product and have a much more capable customer support department if the need to contact them arises.

-Keep it clean. Just because baby is the only one using the mat, doesn’t mean it doesn’t collect dust and dirt from the rest of the house. Just like anything else that baby touches it needs to be washed. It’s best to use organic/non-toxic cleaners when you do to limit the chances of a negative skin reaction to baby.

-Balance time. When placing baby on the mat, make sure you alternate between having them on their tummy and on their back. Our first child hated being on his tummy and spent most of the time on his back while on the mat. Because their skulls are still forming, pro-longed time on their backs can cause a flattened skull as baby grows. While the problem almost always corrects itself (as it did for our baby), it was a big concern as first time parents.

Before you head out to get anything for your child, take a minute to peruse your selection of Baby Gym and Activity Gym here at the Baby Gym Marketplace.