baby

baby play mats have taken the market by storm over the last few years, and for good reason. Studies show that it’s never too soon for babies to be exposed to a very stimulating environment. I am a father of two, and if you’re like me you’ll also enjoy the fact that many play mats offer a clean and comfortable area for your baby to play on the ground.

Most if not all play mats are produced using soft and durable materials that are good for babies. As you’ll find they all have vibrant colors which stimulate baby’s visual senses. Another great feature is that play mats us many different textures and materials that make noises. This helps their development of tactile senses. Note: it’s important to purchase a play mat that stimulates as many of your baby’s senses as possible.

As any parent who has gone through the infant/newborn stage can attest, sometimes you just need to be able to put baby down for a bit and relax. However, a lot of first time parents struggle with the guilt of wanting to put their baby down for a while. It was comforting for me and my wife knowing when we did put our children on the play mat; it was a good healthy environment for them. In fact, it is important for babies to spend some time moving on their own instead of being perpetually attached to their parent’s hips. So don’t fret when you feel this way. Just realize that it is a good for baby as it is for you to spend some time rolling and playing on the floor. These activities help baby tremendously with the strength and coordination skills they’ll need as they grow and become more mobile.

Advice for choosing and using a play mat:

-Don’t skimp. While we all are price conscious this is a place to lay down some of that hard earned money. You should find a play mat that offers stimulation of the most senses possible. It’s better to buy one toy that does the job of many. It may cost more but you’ll get the most out of baby’s time on the mat, and you’ll save money and space.

-Buy a name brand product. Again, my advice is to go name brand here and not skimp. Name brand products usually are of better quality and have better phone customer support if you need to call them for whatever reason.

-Keep it clean. Even though your baby is the only one who uses the play mat doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be cleaned. Just like anything else that comes in contact with the ground and baby, it needs to be washed. We always used organic/non-toxic cleaners to wash the mat and I’d recommend you do too.

-Balance time. When placing baby on the mat, make sure you alternate between having them on their tummy and on their back. Our first child hated being on his tummy and spent most of the time on his back while on the mat. Because their skulls are still forming, pro-longed time on their backs can cause a flattened skull as baby grows. While the problem almost always corrects itself (as it did for our baby), it was a big concern as first time parents.

Before you head out to purchase anything for your child, take a minute to peruse your options of skip hop playspot and tiny love super mat here at the Baby Gym Marketplace.

baby