Types of Baby Play Mats
In a nutshell play mats come down to two broad categories – foam and fabric … but, as you about to discover, there’s much more to the subject than that.
There are many types and styles of foam mat – and it’s the same when it comes to fabric mats.
There’s a huge amount of choice available to parents these days and that’s where we hope we can help by listing and discussing the various types for sale.
When you become aware of just what’s on offer, you should be able to choose the mat that’s right for your baby, infant or toddler at this stage of their young life.
FABRIC MATS
Generally speaking, fabric mats are geared towards babies and infants who are not yet boisterous and very active. They provide a deep and comfortable surface for a little boy or girl to wriggle around on and also take regular naps when play time is over.
These soft mats can be made from various materials including cotton quilt fabric, polyester and fluffy wool. They are not usually slip-proof and are inclined to ruffle up with movement, making them far from ideal for older infants and toddlers who like to jump and leap around.
Fabric mats are often deeply padded with plenty of raised cushioned areas which can support a baby’s head safely. Most baby gyms fall into the fabric category and provide a soft and relaxing environment for newborns and babies to start developing their cognitive skills.
Some luxury fabric mats are hand embroidered, with lots of detailed patterns and designs, making they an item worth keeping as a family heirloom – they can certainly be passed down from generation to generation. Check out Fabric Play Mats at Amazon
FLOOR MATS
This is a very general term because all play mats are strictly floor mats – in fact, most come with warnings not to use them in any other location such as on a table or a bed. But most people think of the typical foam mat, adorned with colourful graphics, designs, letters and numbers, when the words floor mat are mentioned.
Floor mats are available in many different sizes, ranging from small to extra large, and can consist of a single section, which can often be rolled up when not it use, to a multi-section interlocking jigsaw mat, often featuring letters of the alphabet, numbers of other images and designs.
Plain coloured foam or rubber floor play mats are available for older children who have outgrown the need for lots of eye-catching designs on them, preferring instead a large and safe non-slip mat which can stand up to plenty of rolling and tumbling. Check out Floor Play Mats at Amazon
FOAM MATS
The vast majority of infant and toddler play mats fall into this category – although some foam mats are clearly manufactured to a higher standard than others. If you have a very active little boy or girl at home, it makes sense to buy a mat that’s renowned for being hard-wearing and safe. A few reviews by other previous buyers usually offer a good guide to the quality of a mat.
Foam mats either comes as a single section which can be rolled out on the floor, or the interlocking type of mat which comprises varying quantities of tiled sections which interconnect in the same way as jigsaw pieces.
Most foam mats are slip proof and ideal for older babies or young infants to crawl around on – however, older infants and toddlers often get better use out of them as they are an ideal play space for jumping and rolling around. Their soft surface makes them safe when the occasional fall occurs.
Foams mats are available in many colours including blue, red, green, yellow, purple, white, black, beige orange and pink. And there’s no shortage of choice when it comes to mats with bright and colourful images embedded into them – numbers, letters, animals, space, jungle, zoo, traffic, sea life and dinosaurs are among the most popular themes.
Reversible foam mats are also a popular choice and usually feature a different them on each side. These mats are also sometimes used on a flat surface outside in the summer for picnics, camping and game sessions.
A downside to some foam mats is that they sometimes have an unpleasant petro-chemical smell when first taken out of their packaging. This is because foam is usually petroleum-derived. Therefore, it’s advisable to allow a new foam mat to air for a day or two until the smell goes away.
This issue is more prominent in cheap PVC foam mats – although, there have been reports in recent years of higher quality EVO foams mats also proving a problem.
There have also been questions raised in the past about the presence of formamide in some play mats, including EVA mats. A Toy Safety Directive was issued by the European Union in 2015, stipulating that any foam mat product must have a formamide limit level of 200 mg/kg.
If you have any concerns about foam mats, you should try to find a mat made with a natural material such as natural latex – this is derived from the rubber plant, rather than petroleum. There’s also plenty of information online which we suggest you consult to decide whether or not you consider it safe to buy a foam play mat.
Among the UK businesses who have given assurances their foam mats are within EU formamide guidelines, or don’t contain formamide at all, are Skip Hop, One Step Ahead and Edushape Edutiles.
Popular foam mat brands include TLCmat, Edz Kidz, Redwood, Marko, Babzm, Funky Buys, Bargains Galore and Tianmei. Check out Foam Play Mats at Amazon
QUILTED MATS
Padded quilt play mats are often very soft and cosy, however they are also usually quite delicate and not suitable for rough and tumble play from older infants and toddlers.
They are usually better suited to babies. Pastel colours and hues are mainly found on quilted mats and they add a touch of style and elegance to a nursery or baby play room.
These mats are more blankets than mats and it’s possible to buy organic cotton patchwork quilt mats and even a personalised quilted mat which is features photos of your baby and family – a great keepsake for the future.
These mats are a winner when it comes to environmentally favourable components as they rarely contain phthalates or formamide.
A negative about quilted mats is that they don’t have a washable outer cover, as some fabric mats have, and they are sometimes overpriced.
This type of mat is normally quite expensive but it will last for years if looked after properly. They are sometimes adorned with quaint images of butterflies, ducks, bunnies, pandas, flowers and hearts.
This is the perfect choice of mat for any parent who is looking for a soft, cute and stylish mat for your little baby boy or girl to play, lie and sleep on. Check out Quilted Play Mats at Amazon
PLAY GYM MATS
We have a special area on this site discussing baby play gym mats – but here’s a potted overview of some of the types available. Baby activity gyms are available in many different designs, styles, themes and sizes. Some are designed with baby girls in mind and feature appropriate hanging toys and colours including pink, yellow and white.
These gyms will be adorned with cute images of flowers, butterflies, female book and movie nursery rhyme characters and other images that would appeal to a baby girl.
Activity gyms designed for little boys are often dominated by the colours blue, red and white, and the hanging toys are more geared towards boys and include planes, helicopters, space ships and trains. There are also plenty of unisex gyms which are ideal for baby boys and girls.
Comfort and safety is the key with all baby gyms and therefore they are designed to conform to UK and EU safety standards. These gyms are made from soft and comfortable materials that are kind to a baby’s skin and the mat areas feature plush lining and deep padding to provide a relaxing setting for a baby to play – and sleep!
There are too many different themes to mention them all here, but among the most popular ones are themed on jungle safari animals, musical ocean sea life, animal paradise, Disney fun land, Amazon rainforest, caterpillar friends, light-up lagoon, baby little friendlies, pink flower party, sports start football fun, space symphony, dinosaur world and treetop friends.
Other gyms focus on a particular kids’ book or movies character including Freddie the Firefly, Winnie the Pooh, Cheeky Monkey, Jumbo the Elephant, Princess Polyanna and Tigger the Tiger.
Play gyms are great fun for babies and infants, but they also have more serious role in helping with the development of cognitive, visual perceptual, gross motor skills. Most baby activity mats also feature an attached mirror which is excellent for helping a child to develop a sense of self-awareness.
A cheap gym may only have a few hanging toys and limited features but a deluxe model will usually include other elements such as a lights show feature and a music player which has a range of soothing sounds, cheery melodies and nursery rhymes.
Thankfully most gyms are reasonably light in weight and fold down easily making them very portable for putting in your car when you decide to visit family and friends.
Gyms are normally very easy to clean with a damp cloth or a few baby wipes and many have a detachable mat which can be placed in your washing machine. Check out Baby Play Mat Gyms at Amazon
BUBBLE PLAY MAT
These are a fairly new concept and comprise a washable PVC exterior and multi-compression interior which features fabric cells, giving this style of mat a very soft and cushioned feel and an impressive amount of elasticity.
They are usually 40mm thick and come with a range of patterns, including stripes and stars, or motifs including elephants, owls and cats and trees.
INTERLOCKING MATS
These are also referred to as puzzle mats or alphabet mats. Yes, you will often find them with the A to Z letters of the alphabet on them but there are many others which feature number, or a combination of letters and numbers. They are often made of EVA foam and confirm to the obligatory safety regulations.
These mats can be connected together on the floor to form a single play area or disconnected and re-assembled again to form a variety of shapes such as tunnels, cars and dens.
Interlocking mats are not only a source of fun and entertainment for infants and toddlers, but they also serve an educational purpose as they assist children to develop their counting and reading skills.
The are available in many themes other than just letters and numbers – these include specific subjects to add to a child’s understanding of the world around them – for example, some feature different jungle animals or sea creatures, while other feature various colourful flowers or Disney characters.
Small interlocking mats with around a dozen tiled sections are ideal for younger kids but they are available with more than 36 pieces for older children who want a larger area of play on. Check out Interlocking Play Mats at Amazon
MUSICAL PLAY MATS
Music is always a big attraction for young children – whether it’s popular nursery rhymes to sing along to or soothing nature sounds to help them get to sleep. Many types of play mats have a musical element to them – it could be a series of little bells, shakers and horns on an infant floor mat to a battery-operated music player on a baby play gym.
The development or aural skills is a key aspect of early life and many play mat manufacturers have made considerable effort to embrace music in their products. It’s not just music that’s on offer – many mats come with a variety of sounds to capture the imagination of babies and infants including animal noises, vehicle sounds and nature sounds.
There’s even an electronic piano play mat where children can tap the large notes on the keyboard with their feet or hands. Other popular choices musical mats include the Leap Frog Learn and Groove Musical Mat and the Fisher-Price Kick and Play Piano Gym.
A delightful baby gym which gets great reviews from mums and dads in the UK is the Just4Baby Musical Ocean Sea Life play mat activity gym another melodic favourite is the YIMAN Children Non-slip Dance Pad Mat. Check out Musical Play Mats at Amazon
TRAVEL PLAY MATS
Travel mats are ideal for taking away from home when you set off in your car to visit friends of family. As you would expect, they are very lightweight and can be folded or rolled up, which is a great space saver for placing in the boot of your car.
These mats are available in a range of colour and styles and range from standard foam roll up mats to a baby gym type of mat, complete with hanging toys, and sound and light features.
The Encell Waterproof Baby Play Mat Travel Camping Outdoor Organizer is a good example of this type of mat and is ideal for taking away for a party at the home of one of your child’s little friends. It is waterproof so it can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
This lovely little travel mat is cleverly designed so it can be folded into a cube shape, with handles, so it doubles up as a toy carried to take some play things with you when your are away from home. You could even use it to carry picnic items in the summer. The main surface of the mat has a little village scene on it with roads, making it ideal for your little infant and friends to push cars and other vehicles around.
The Chicco Fun Baby Travel Gym Mat, for example, is an excellent mat and features a toy bar, a light show feature and plays a range of soothing melodies for your baby. It folds up to a very compact size and comes with a handy carrying case.
The Bkids Travel Discovery Gym is another excellent travel mat and, at around £25, is great value for money. It is themed on Bebee the Monkey and features a soft and comfortable mat for your baby or infant to lie on and three detachable toys.
A variation on the theme of travel mats is the Kasstino Baby Floor Crawling Play Travel Rug. This is a padded and waterproof product which is great for taking away for a picnic in the park or a trip to the seaside. It’s available in 11 different bright colours and designs and is quite cheap to buy at around £10.
JUMBO MATS
Extra large or jumbo-sized mats are a great choice for older kids. They can stand up to all the bouncing, rolling, jumping and diving energetic boys or girl can throw at them.
These giant mats are available in various sizes and thicknesses. They are usually slip proof to avoid the risk of accidents. They are available in plain colours but some feature various popular themes for boys and girls including a town scene, with roads and buildings, a city mat, a nature reserve and a zoo.
They are robust and tough, but still soft and safe for children to play on. Popular jumbo mat brands include Discover ‘n Grow, Fisher Price, Tiny Love, Playgro and MiniDream. Check out Extra Large Baby Play Mats at Amazon
SPACE FOLDER MATS
These mats a new innovation and feature several padded blocks which are interconnected to allow them to be folded into various shapes including a chair, tunnel and a tent. Sections are in various colours including pink, white, blue, green, lilac, orange and purple.
Space folder mats – also referred to as space folding mats and foldable mats – are lightweight, non-toxic and easy to clean and wash and are made of a combination of a polyurethane outer cover and layers of polyethylene foam inside.
They are around 1.5 inches deep, making them a soft and safe landing surface for young children who are rolling, jumping and tumbling around. They are available in primary and pastel colours.
SILICONE MATS
These are fairly new on the market and extremely soft, safe and environmentally friendly – but they are generally more expensive than their PVC equivalent, which have been the cause for concern in the past on the grounds of containing potentially harmful chemicals. Silicone mats are very tough and durable and are flexible, making it easy to roll them up for storing away.
ORGANIC PLAY MATS
Strict rules and regulations these days mean that all baby mats need to be manufactured to specific standards when it come comes to non-toxic materials and child safety.
However, there are also some play mats that fit the bill perfectly for anyone which a passion for all things organic – they are not as widely available as most other types of mat, but they are still out there in some shop and stores dedicated to selling only organic products.
Some mats are made from eco-friendly natural cork, while others are made from certified organic quilted cotton and are guaranteed to contain no antimony, phthalates, formamide, flame retardants or heavy metals. Another popular choice is mats made from natural, non toxic rubber.
TUMBLE MATS
Tumble mats are a variation on the play mat theme and are ideal for older children aged five and above. They are perfect for kids who love to jump, skip and roll around.
Older boys and girls love doing somersaults, head stands and other physical challenges and these safe-surface mats provide the ideal play to play. These mats are available in various sizes and colours including red, blue, black, white, grey, green, purple and pink.
They are often made of geo-foam and are normally plain single-colour mats, although some have abstract patterns and designs on them.
Tumble mats are very robust and are great for many activities including skipping, hopping and even form games such as hop scotch.
So, that’s about it – hopefully we’ve provided you with a helpful insight into the various types of play mats available to buy? Make sure you spend some time checking out a few mats before making your final decision about which one is best for your little boy or girl.