The Best Baby Play Mat - 2022
We looked at the top 13 and dug through the reviews from 145 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best .
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Our Picks For The Top
- The Best
- 1. Lupantte 7-In-1 Non-Slip Baby Play Mat
- 2. YIMINYUER Interlocking Foam Baby Play Mat, 20-Piece
- 3. Fisher-Price Kick ‘n Play Piano Baby Play Mat & Gym
- 4. Skip Hop Playspot Foam Baby Play Mat
- 5. Blue Page Alphabet Rug Baby Play Mat
- 6. Baby Care Waterproof Reversible Baby Play Mat
- 7. Lovevery The Play Gym, Stage-Based Baby Play Mat
- 8. Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Baby Play Mat and Infant Activity Gym, Multi-Color Celestial Theme
- 9. Bright Starts Zippy Zoo Activity Gym
- 10. Infantino Twist and Fold Activity Gym, Vintage Boy
- 11. Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe Activity Gym Play Mat
- 12. BalanceFrom Kid’s Puzzle Exercise Play Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
- 13. Tiny Love Meadow Days Super Play Mat
Washable Covers IncludedAn adorable moon-shaped pillow is included with this baby play mat.
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.
Stimulates the SensesFrom a musical keyboard to a toy-filled arch, this baby play mat has it all.
Elegant DesignWith this baby play mat, you'll be able to add a touch of style to your toddler's play area.
Why we recommend these ?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 13 and also dug through the reviews from 145 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best .
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Lupantte 7-In-1 Non-Slip Baby Play Mat
Our Take
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.
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Fisher-Price Kick ‘n Play Piano Baby Play Mat & Gym
Our Take
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.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Overall Product Rankings
8. Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Baby Play Mat and Infant Activity Gym, Multi-Color Celestial Theme
12. BalanceFrom Kid’s Puzzle Exercise Play Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Our Findings
Lupantte 7-In-1 Non-Slip Baby Play Mat
What We Liked: 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.
YIMINYUER Interlocking Foam Baby Play Mat, 20-Piece
What We Liked: 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.
Fisher-Price Kick ‘n Play Piano Baby Play Mat & Gym
What We Liked: 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.
Skip Hop Playspot Foam Baby Play Mat
What We Liked: This baby play mat is designed to grow with your child. It’s made of soft, thick tiles that interlock, so you can make the mat as small or big as you wish. Your infant can use the mat for tummy time, while older children use the mat as a safe place to use their building blocks or play with their toy cars.
Blue Page Alphabet Rug Baby Play Mat
What We Liked: High-quality is the best way to describe this baby play mat. It’s hand woven, circular in shape and made using 100% premium cotton. In addition to being soft against your toddler’s skin, the mat is also educational and contains all the letters of the alphabet.
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. She writes about the ups and downs of parenting on her blog.
Our 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.
DWYM Fun Fact
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants are placed on their backs during nap and bedtimes, as this is one way to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Since babies spend a lot of time on their backs while asleep, it’s a good idea to plan some tummy time each day.
Tummy time offers babies a great number of benefits. It helps to strengthen neck and shoulder muscles, so your baby can learn to hold his or her head up. Consistent tummy time can even lead to your baby reaching certain milestones, like rolling over and reaching for objects, much sooner than they would without this dedicated playtime.
When you begin a tummy time routine, you want to start out slow. It’s best to give your baby just three to five minutes of tummy time at one sitting. You can repeat this another time or two throughout the day. As your baby grows and becomes a little stronger, you can increase the length of the tummy time, as well as how often you want your baby to take part in it.
While babies can be placed on a clean blanket for tummy time, a play mat is an even better choice. Playmats are outfitted with stimulating colors and developmental toys that also encourage babies to explore the world around them. It is important that you always supervise your baby during tummy time.
The Tips and Advice
- 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.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer and mother of two. As an aunt to countless nieces and nephews, Alicia spends her free time researching the latest toys and educational products to purchase the best gifts for her favorite little ones. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared in leading baby and parenting publications. When she's not writing, you'll find her gardening, spending time with her kids, cooking in the kitchen or playing with her two kitties, Flitter and Otter. Alicia loves researching the latest and greatest gadgets, products and items that help her save time, energy and money.
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