Bright Starts, 5-in-1 Your Way Ball Play Activity Gym and Ball Pit with 40 Balls - Totally Tropical, Play Gym with 20+ Minutes of Lights and Music, 7 Detachable Activity Toys, Ages Newborn +

Product Information

Size: H106cm x W45cm x D115cm | Material: Plastic | Batteries required: No | Suitable for: 0 - 12 months | Skills: Best for motor skills and cognition What we love

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. Look for non-toxic materials, says Lilley. 'Your little one will have their mouth on it after all!' she explains. 'Definitely think about how easily you can clean it too – popping one in the washing machine is great, but frankly the washing pile is huge when you have a newborn and then it still has to dry before you can use it again.' Storage Includes 7 tropically cool take-along toys: elephant musical toy, crinkle toy, mirror, flash cards, hanging leaf toy and bead rattle. Grow with me from infant to toddler, ages newborn and up. Machine washable mat and easy-to-clean wipeable toys. The manufacturer claims that its innovative cushioning is so soft an egg wouldn’t break even when dropped onto it from a 10 foot height — though we don’t recommend testing this unless you’re prepared for the cleanup! Price. Baby gyms and mats come at many different price points, so choose one that you find is good value for money and fits your budget.

The manufacturer claims that this gym provides a whole year of play, with age-appropriate activities to help promote brain and motor skill development. Another claim is that it’s easy to set up and take down. Although this was voted as the best play mat among Pampers Parents, they were divided about the quality of the product, with a few saying that they found the Skip Hop Camping Cubs Baby Play Mat to be of good quality, while others said they found that it fell apart easily. Skip Hop is a nice brand if you want something that has a bit of an adult aesthetic to it." (Brand recommended by Mumsnet user EssentialHummus) Our verdict

A baby needs love and three things – somewhere to sleep, a way to eat and somewhere to play!' says Sophie Lilley, Founder or Munchkin & Bear UK and The Baby Show exhibitor. 'A good play mat or baby gym creates a safe space to develop their muscles, learn how to move, practice balancing and have fun!'

Which baby play mat or activity gym is best?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that playtime should begin on the first day a newborn comes home from the hospital. The AAP states that babies should have two to three periods of tummy time spent playing with parents per day. While this playtime only needs to last for three to five minutes for newborns, this amount should increase gradually until a little one spends about an hour per day enjoying time playing on their tummy. Cheerful elephant toy lights up and plays 20+ minutes of music (and detaches for on-the-go fun). As baby grows up, he can practice motor skills by dropping the balls himself!

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 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

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

This large, one-piece baby mat offers a comfortable place for your baby to practice tummy time, but will also work as a spot for your toddler or even preschooler to play or read comfortably later on. Pampers Parents liked the size — which is comparable to a queen-size mattress — and its softness. Playing with your baby is a wonderful way to teach them about the world while bonding. Point out interesting parts of the play gym. Say the names of objects and describe them, such as, “Look at the yellow sun. The sun keeps us warm and helps things grow.” Although your little one might not understand everything you say, doing so helps their brain develop. It also teaches about important subjects such as social skills, vocabulary and body language. Colors, pattern, and texture. Many Pampers Parents said that bright colors were a priority for them, while others also said that patterns and textures were also a deciding point for a baby activity mat. Keep in mind that while pastels and muted colors are fashionable and can look great in your baby’s nursery, your little one might prefer to look at bold colors and patterns. Some Pampers Parents mentioned that they liked that it followed the Montessori methodology to help foster their baby’s cognitive development. They also liked that it was made from sustainable materials—like sustainably sourced wood—and praised the design.

Plus, when your baby is a little older and more active, we've also compiled a guide to the best baby walker to help them toddle along further than their play mat. Although some Pampers Parents liked its compact design, most said they wished this baby gym were wider, especially since it had been designed to grow with their baby. Others also wished it had more counterweight for enhanced stability. 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? Think about what you need, and what features you’d like in your baby activity mat or baby gym, and you’re sure to find the perfect one on this list. Recall Notice Aesthetic: You have to like the look of it as much as your child, as you could be staring at it in your living room for quite a few years, especially if you are planning on having more, so ensure that it appeals to you as much as your baby.The gym comes with a baby-safe mirror, rattles, plush toys, and a pillow. But, that’s not all! It also plays 20 minutes of what the manufacturer calls “global-themed” music — just remember you’ll need some batteries for this feature. 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. As baby grows up, she can practice motor skills by dropping the balls herself! For younger babies, the jumbo playmat lays flat for tummy time (psst, we even added in a tummy time prop pillow). The cheerful elephant toy plays music and lights up to catch and keep baby’s attention. You’ll love the Rainbow Tropics fashion complete with colourful confetti patterns, unicorn pals and more. Playtime is all around with 6 additional toys: bead chaser, unicorn crinkle toy, baby-safe mirror, flash cards, hanging leaf toy and bead rattle. Who’s ready to have a ball with Bright Starts.