Baby Einstein, 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes and Language Discovery Play Gym with Piano, Mat with Detachable Activity Toys, Lights, Sounds and Music, Ages Newborn +

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If you opt for a baby gym with musical elements, prepare for some serious ear worm nursery rhymes - but we promise your baby’s smiles will make up for it. All of our Swears By articles start with research via the Mumsnet forums. We know nothing beats a real recommendation from a parent, so we thoroughly scoured the forum threads in search of the activity gyms and mats parents and their babies love. Expert opinions

baby gyms and activity mats for sensory play and 10 best baby gyms and activity mats for sensory play and

Size: L114cm x W114cm | Material: Cotton | Batteries required: None | Suitable for: 0 months+ | Skills: Best for motor skills What we love Comfort: During the early years, the whole world feels like an adventure for little ones. 'A good sized, super squishy play mat allows your baby to explore the world without stress to their growing joints,' says Lilley.

5. Best play mat and activity gym for tummy time: Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Musical Rainforest Infant Activity Gym

Size: H41cm x W50cm x D81cm | Material: Plastic | Batteries required: Yes (2x AA) | Suitable for: 0 - 12 months| Skills: Best for motor and communication skills What we love Tummy time: This is a crucial exercise for baby's motor, visual, and sensory development, but more on that below. Read next: Keep your little one's nails groomed to avoid scratches when they play with the best baby nail clippers. Why are play mats and activity gyms good for babies? A baby gym is a padded play mat with an activity arch that includes games and sensory elements to catch your baby’s attention. They often come with a selection of hanging toys for your little one to work on their mental and physical development too. Quite a few baby play mats and activity gyms are obsolete by the time your baby is six months old. However, some play mats and activity gyms have great longevity and can go up to two years of age. The Bright Starts 5-in-1 Activity Play Gym, or Large Melbourne MOD Play Mat are built to last up to and beyond your baby's toddler years. Are baby play gyms or mats necessary?

Baby Einstein | Smyths Toys UK Baby Einstein | Smyths Toys UK

Sitting up: The simple act of sitting can also be a huge challenge during the early days. 'They can help to practice sitting without getting a bruise when they topple,' adds Lilley. Bought a Tiny Love play mat with my first son. Was invaluable until he started sitting as he LOVED batting at the huge array of stuff we attached to it (he still loves watching things spin)." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user yomellamoHelly) As the baby grows, they start to reach out to grab and bat things, developing their motor skills. Musical toys help them learn cause and effect, and so on. When choosing a gym, look for one that meets as many of these development stages as possible.

9. Best for style: Skip Hop Celestial Dreams Activity Gym

We tested the most educational and stylish baby gyms on the market, looking for safety, intelligent design and value. Our little testers were monitored while playing in the gyms to see how they engaged with it, how safe and sturdy it was and how it helped all stages of development in the first year. Your baby can use an activity gym or play mat from day one, but it is best to wait until they’re at least two to three months old before you expect them to engage. How long should a baby use a play mat or activity gym for? If you’d like to add to it, Fisher-Price also offers low-cost, additional toys which you can clip onto the arches, which is a huge plus because it expands the lifespan of the gym. Although some reviewers noted that the price point was a little high for the limited size and features, this can be a great option for on-the-go or smaller homes or flats. Munchkin & Bear’s Large Melbourne MOD Play Mat is a simple but effective concept. It is a practical, one-piece, easy-to-clean, large-scale carpet that protects your baby and your flooring. Although it is expensive, industry experts highly rate it. In 2022 alone, it won the Gold award from Made For Mums, Baby Project and Mother&Baby. We love that it's an indestructible solution for anyone who doesn’t like all-singing, all-dancing baby activity gyms or has limited storage space. Fisher-Price products usually come highly rated by Mumsnet users and its Musical Rainforest Infant Activity Gym is no exception. Highly recommended by many parents, it's colourful and appealing to babies, and is comparatively cheaper than other brands.

Baby Einstein Rhythm reef play gym - Reviews - ConsoBaby Baby Einstein Rhythm reef play gym - Reviews - ConsoBaby

Baby gyms can be used from birth,' says Lilley. 'They are at their most useful from around three months to three years when so much of their time exploring and developing is on the floor and you want to protect them from those inevitable topples!'After a three-year stint on Gransnet's editorial team, Natasha joined Mumsnet in 2021, and has since carved out a specialism in all things home, lifestyle and baby. Why you should trust us We got this Tiny Love one for my daughter when she was about a week old. To start with, it was just somewhere to put her, but from about two weeks she'd quite happily stare at herself in the mirror for five or 10 minutes - just long enough for me to grab lunch . She's now seven months and is still getting use out of it."(Vetted by Mumsnet user Tangle) Our verdict Size: L66.86cm x W91.5cm x H45.7cm | Material: Not specified | Batteries required: Yes (3x AA) | Suitable for: 0 months+| Skills: Best for communication, language and numeracy skills What we love

baby gym 2021: Ball pits, toys and music | The Independent Best baby gym 2021: Ball pits, toys and music | The Independent

We had the Fisher-Price one, very bright but baby loved it and it was still in use until just before nine months when crawling round the floor was more appealing."(Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Laaalaaaa) Our verdict Size: H113cm x W52cm x D76cm | Material: Plastic | Batteries required: Yes (3x AAA) | Suitable for: 0 months+ | Skills: Best for gross motor skills What we love Size: L86.4cm x W86.4cm x H112cm | Material: Polyester | Batteries required: N/A | Suitable for: 0 months+ | Skills: Best for motor and language skills What we love Size: ‎82 x 82 x 51 cm | Material: Plastic | Batteries required: None | Suitable for: Can be used from birth | Skills: Best for hand/eye coordination and gross motor skills What we love

Size: H68.58 x W2.03 x D55.88cm | Material: Not specified | Batteries required: Yes (2x AAA) | Suitable for: 0 months+ | Skills: Best for communication and language skills What we love Think of a baby gym as an entry-level workout for little adventurers on their first foray into the big wide world of independent exploration. It’s also a great way for little people to develop the muscles they need to lift their heads and, eventually, to sit up, crawl and walk. And last but by no means least, it's a safe space to pop your little one when you need a moment's peace. The benefits of using a baby gym Features: More doesn’t always mean better. Look for activity gyms with a good balance of interactive features, with space to add to or change it up. While personal taste is always the deciding factor, consider the following tips before purchasing your baby gym: Comfort is key IKEA's KLAPPA Play Mat for children is soft, interactive and under-the-sea themed. The Swedish homeware brand has truly outdone itself with this padded play mat that looks good enough to sleep on – no wonder parents love it and it holds a five-star rating from reviewers.