2021 - Best Play Mats/ Activity Gyms

One of the best ways to give your tired arms a rest, while engaging & stimulating your baby is through time on a play mat. Play time can be challenging if you aren’t equipped with an engaging & safe space, which is why we love baby play mats and activity gyms.

The best baby play mats will be soft enough for them to do everything from learn to roll over to take a nap. The best activity gym mat will have toys that are engaging enough to keep baby’s attention as they grow and develop through stages. 

It can be tough to narrow down all of the options when you’re actively shopping for a new play mat. To make the decision a little easier, we did some research to come up with the Top 5 Best Baby Play Mats of 2020.

Skip Hop Baby Infant and Toddler Camping Cubs Activity Gym and Playmat

 

We love the adorable look of this whimsical nature inspired play teepee and it’s also one of the best overall activity gym mats for babies. This playmat offers a safe-haven for your babe and tons of opportunity for developmental activities, such as overhead play, tummy time, & seated play. This gym also comes with a sleeping bear pillow, which is perfect for tummy time, a light-up firefly, a turtle mirror, a bear rattle and musical raccoon with wooden teether that plays Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. It’s also machine washable which is always a win.

Bright Starts Disney Baby Finding Nemo Play Mat & Activity Gym

Your baby is sure to enjoy an under the sea adventure with this activity gym by Bright Starts. It’s packed with many thoughtful features to stimulate your infants senses and help develop hand eye coordination. This mat has 20 minutes of different ocean themed melodies and also an option for just relaxing under water bubbling noises. It also has two volume settings which parents applaud. Babies are enamored by the light show projected from Mr. Ray’s canopy. Other bells and whistles include several detachable sensory toys, a mirror, a Dori finger puppet, and a little seaweed pillow which is perfect for tummy time.

Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Baby Play Mat and Activity Gym

This beautiful Silver Lining Cloud baby play mat seems like the creators had mamas in mind. The natural color tone features pops of colors that are intended to match modern decor, which already is reason enough to love it! One review pointed out that the high contrast of bright colors over neutral ones are also good for stimulating baby’s sight and capturing their attention. We like the sound of that! This baby activity gym mat isn’t just a remedy for run-of-the-mill baby play mat eyesores, but a wonderfully plush mat (and tummy time prop pillow!) that nestles under a canopy of hanging toys. Though it doesn’t branch out much further than a cushy mat and some toys, the beautiful design and safe materials make it one of our favorite play mats.

Infantino 3-in-1 Grow with Me Activity Gym and Ball Pit

We’ve already seen what Bright Starts could do with 5-in-1, and Infantino may sound like it’s coming up short with 3-in-1. On the contrary, Infantino’s impossibly-cute activity mat and ball gym is shaped like a turtle whose foam-rod arch shell functions to hold hanging toys. The mat can be enclosed with optional walls, or opened for baby to freely come and go. What’s really wonderful about this great baby play mat is that it’s a true grow with me style. The baby walls help transform the mat into a ball pit which is pure happiness for toddlers. It’s a great buy to go the distance slow and steady.

 

Tapiona Newborn Play Mat, Kick and Play Piano Infant Gym

For the more musically-inclined babies and mamas, this play mat is a cushion, activity toys, and piano all in one! The soft plush mat, light-up hanging toys, and interactive pianos stimulate all the senses for baby. It will grow with your baby a bit but bigger babies may grow out of it a little quicker.

Finding the right baby play mat or gym is as much of an important decision for baby as it is you. If it’s coming home, you’ll want to love it and be able partake in playtime with your baby or have peace of mind when you let your little one play alone. With both of these aspects in mind, we’re sure that you’ll fall in love with one of our picks for best baby play mats and activity gyms!