While your baby spends their formative months unable to move about under their own steam, a play or activity mat is the perfect early years toy. As your little one begins to recognise surroundings and acknowledge their environment, you should provide a safe, interesting and colourful way to stimulate their growing senses. Baby play and activity mats are a fun and exciting way to introduce them to the world.

Buying an activity mat for your baby

It is possible to create a stimulating environment for your baby using everyday objects but a purpose built mat is a far better way to safely introduce colour, sound, movement and texture. Your baby will spend most of their time lying down and being on the floor helps them to develop and strengthen muscles. They will learn to roll over and eventually crawl while on the floor so an activity mat is a comfortable and interesting place for them to be.

Many activity mats come with rattles, mirrors and crinkle toys to encourage your child’s hand-eye coordination and to help them understand how interaction with objects makes things happen. The type of activity mat you choose is up to you and you’ll find styles made from plastic, wood or fabric. Play mats can be machine washable while some can be easily folded away into a carry bag for transporting around with you.

When buying your baby an activity mat make sure it has a soft play area so your baby won’t come to any harm while rolling around but the most important factor to look for is that the mat is bright, colourful and has plenty of toys and accessories which provide textures, sounds and sights for your baby to enjoy.

Tippitoes Play Mat

The Tippitoes Play Mat is a soft textured patchwork style mat for baby to roll around on. There are tethered crinkle and rattle toys for baby to pick up and hold and the mat is fully machine washable in case of any accidents.

Littlelife Parachute Play Mat

The Littlelife Parachute Play Mat has a wide diameter which makes this mat perfect for use as a groundsheet when out and about with children of all ages. The lightweight fabric is water resistant and the mat is supplied with a carry case for easy transportation on days out with your baby or toddler.

Tippitoes Travel Activity Mat

If you’re always out and about with your baby and need an activity mat that offers all the features of a standard play mat then this Tippitoes Travel Activity Mat is the ideal solution. The mat comes with a zip up bag to make it easily transported.