Best Baby Play Mat

Best For Living Room: Regalo Sensory & Learning My Play Mat

When it comes to play mats for baby, you have two basic choices—a large mat that can go into a living or playroom, or a smaller, individual-size mat that often comes with toys. Many of the latter are great for tummy time.

In the first category, we tried out several brands before deciding that Regalo’s Sensory & Learning My Play Mat is the best bet for most folks. We loved the design—white on grey—that would look good not only in baby’s room but also a living room if you choose.

Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy to clean.

• Foldable.

• Lightweight.

• Very comfy for crawling babies.

• Reversible—on one side are raised/textured numbers and letters with cute pictures:

On the opposite side is a chevron and dots design:

What Needs Work

• Alphabet doesn’t start at beginning in many cases. That is an odd quirk and it bothers some folks!

• Some words are misspelled. Yes, raccoon has two c’s, not one.

• Can be damaged if you aren’t careful.

Best For Tummy Time: Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym

Tummy time is a popular use for play mats—and we looked at seven different mats before deciding this one is best: the Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym. This mat is a reader favorite and we agree: it is well-designed and fun.

What We Liked

• Toy arch is colorful and fun.

• Easy to assemble.

• Kids love it!

• Piano at end of mat is removable.

• Bright colors and lots of textures.

What Needs Work

• Not everyone is a fan of the songs. Yes, this mat can play up to 20 minutes of continuous music . . . but some found the music rather annoying!

• Runs through lots of batteries.

Best Gift: The Play Gym by Lovevery

If you are looking for a play mat for your registry, Lovevery Play Mat is a nice splurge. Eco-touches include folding wooden legs and 24 different play activities—without plastic or electronic gizmos. At this price, however, it probably makes more sense as a gift.

What We Liked

• Sustainable design: wooden toys, toys made from organic cotton, mirrors and more.

• Muted color palette works nicely in living room.

• Machine washable.

• Large enough for twins.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Edges can fray in the wash. You may want to consider hand-washing to prevent this.

Best Tummy Time Water Play Mat: Splashin’kids Inflatable Tummy Time Premium Water mat

Water mats are all the rage today for tummy time and after testing several, we realize why: they are mesmerizing for babies! After trying out a few water mats, we thought Splashin’kids version was the best bet. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• Fun! This mat comes with six floating toys and features an inner water compartment (just fill from the kitchen faucet) and an outer ring that is inflated with air. For some reason, this thing just enthralls babies! Perhaps it is the bright colors or just the novelty/squishiness of water, but this mat is excellent at keeping baby occupied during tummy time.

• Affordable.

• Easy to fill.

What Needs Work

• Mold can grow if you don’t change the water frequently. Or consider this tip: add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water to prevent mold growth. Of course, this is an issue with all water mats—they require more care than fabric ones!

• Strong plastic smell when it came out of bag. This dissipated quickly, but you might want to air it out for a bit before baby plays with it.

• Frustration. Some babies get frustrated that they can’t grab the toys, which are inside the mat, of course. This was a minor issue, however. Most babies just loved it.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability. When we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!