What you will find in this guide
Most popular play mats for 2024
It’s fun celebrating your little one’s milestones with age-appropriate learning toys and activities. If your child is learning to crawl unaided and is ready to reach for the stars it’s the right time to introduce a play mat or play gym so bubba can start exploring. From padded and portable play mats for infants to interactive wooden play gyms for toddlers, the most popular play mats for 2024 are learning toys you and your child will love. Here are three play mat styles available at Metro Baby, Australia’s favourite baby product retailer.
1
Maxi Circle by Gathre
A play mat, high chair mat, picnic mat and beach blanket all rolled up into one. Slim and foldable, the Maxi Circle is also wipeable, water resistant, and free from toxins.
2
Organic Quilted Playmat by Susukoshi
Beautifully designed to match subtle decor tones and with its own carry case, the Organic Quilted Playmat is made from super-soft premium cushioned cotton for an extra layer of comfort.
3
Mini City Rug by Ivy Rugs
Featuring an airport, marina, parks and more, the Mini City Rug has lots going on and plenty of space to play with toy cars, farmyard animals, boats or planes. It’s time to explore this city!
4
Treetop Friends Activity Gym by Skip Hop
This much-loved activity gym is a baby best seller with lots to keep curious and active babies occupied. Nature-inspired activities, graphics and hanging toys all add to the sensory excitement.
Difference between a baby play mat and play gym
When searching at a leading baby product retailer such as Metro Baby, you’ll find a fantastic range of high quality, certified safe play gyms and cushioned baby play mats for little ones. Play mats are a safe hygienic space for your little on to relax, while play gyms include the mat plus lots of interactive entertainments that babies and toddlers love. Here are a few of the most popular play mats and play gyms in 2024.
Features to look out for
Every new parent’s wishlist for a baby shower includes a gorgeous baby play mat. If you’re starting with a simple luxe floor mat for your newborn, important features include:
- Non-toxic, chemical-free materials
- High quality non-slip surfaces
- Machine washable and easy to wipe clean
- Soft cushion mat material
- Reversible
If you’re considering a padded play mat with a built-in play gym, you might want to consider:
- High quality, non-toxic, chemical free materials
- Safe and versatile design such as hanging plush toys which can be moved about
- Baby-safe removable accessories so the floor mat can be washed
- Quilted or foam mats for comfort and protection
- Interactive developmental activities to stimulate baby
With dozens of play mat products from leading baby product brands, the choices are all yours to find the ideal play equipment for your baby at Metro Baby. Every family is different so it’s important to have choices that not only encourage playtime fun, but also assist with learning and development so your baby can flourish.
Top mats for newborns
With dozens of play mat products from leading baby product brands, the choices are all yours to find the ideal play equipment for your baby at Metro Baby. Every family is different so it’s important to have choices that not only encourage playtime fun, but also assist with learning and development so your baby can flourish.
Beautifully cushioned for baby’s protection, soft mats are perfect for family homes with hard floors and new babies. Choose from square, rectangular or round play mats made from non-toxic, sustainable materials. Look for reversible play mats in different colours so you can turn the play mat over for a change of scenery. Baby play mats made from natural organic fibres are some of our bestsellers. These play mats are foldable, machine washable, and the safe way to have a clean play area anytime.
Top mats for older babies
Older babies and toddlers love interactive play mats and play gyms. The Vibrant Village Smart Lights Activity Gym is a great first step toward to world of soft rugs, soft mobiles, and other interactive accessories and developmental activities. For older kids, if you’ve got the floorspace, Ivi Rugs has the activity Traffic Rug of any child’s dreams, with features that include a soccer field, homes, a roundabout, a parking lot and more. With the addition of toy cars, trucks, and maybe a few animals, your child can have an entire interactive town to play in.
Tummy time on a play mat
The first few months of raising your little one will include lots of feeding and nappy changing, then before you know it your baby will begin teething, rolling over and reaching for things that catch his or her attention.
Just as we consider all safety aspects when we buy car seats, prams, strollers, bouncers and change tables, a padded baby play mat helps to keep your baby safe during the inevitable tumbles as he or she becomes more curious and mobile.
Until your newborn bub starts reaching for things, a soft cushioned play mat specifically designed for comfy tummy time could be the perfect baby accessory. Check out the Silver Lining Cloud Activity Gym for interactive decor inspiration with a focus on cushiony comfort. Baby can lay on their tummy or their back on cloud-like softness while you relax nearby.
Best play mat designs for 2024
Play mats and activity gyms are for babies and toddlers during various early learning stages. As your child develops, grows, and begins to explore his or her surroundings, you can upgrade the play mat or activity gym and take playtime to the next level. More play mats for 2024 worth discovering include the Skip Hop Camping Cub Activity Gym with a woodgrain-patterned structure for a whimsical outdoor feel, the classic Nevada Teepee by Nobodinoz, and the Treetop Friends Activity Gym by Skip Hop.
Play mat designs and colours
Many Metro Baby deluxe activity mats have gentle pastel colour palettes for colour coordinating. On the other hand, you may prefer bright colours and accessories the pop out and stimulate your little one’s senses. Baby activity mats grow with the baby and can include dozens of interactive entertainments and learning opportunities.
Explore options that include play mats made from 100% natural organic cotton for easy care. Follow manufacturers cleaning guidelines to keep your play mat in as-new condition.
Top brands to look out for
An advantage of shopping with a major retailer is that you get the widest range of products for best available prices. The purchasing power of Metro Baby means the company can partner with major Australian and international manufacturers, and pass the savings on to you. Exceptional baby brands to look out for at Metro Baby include Done by Deer, Skip Hop, Purebaby, PlanToys and Susukoshi to name a few. Shop for your favourite baby brands, purchase online, and save!
What baby mat accessories do I need?
The baby mat itself is more-or-less and accessory, although an extremely useful one and a great baby shower gift idea. However, there will be many more baby products required; another reason to shop with an unbeatable and extensive product range. While at Metro Baby, take a little time to explore bassinets, sleeping bags, swaddles, prams, liners, car seats, teethers, high chairs, rockers, playpens, wooden toys and more.
Buying online at Metro Baby
Metro Baby is Australia’s trusted online one-stop baby shop offering an extensive range of deluxe and specialty baby gift products from trusted local and international brands. We hand select the best baby products to cater for your little one’s needs, from new arrivals to teething toddlers and beyond.
Our customer service includes easy shopping, fast checkout, payment options including gift cards, and free delivery on standard orders over $99 to most postcodes across Australia. It doesn’t get any better than that!
What the best play mats and play gyms offer
The mat that you choose should be well padded, particularly if you have hard floors. It’s important that your baby is comfortable as long as he or she is playing, laying, sitting or crawling. Look for a washable or wipe-clean mat. Moving towards toys on the gym areas of the mat will help your baby develop muscles, cognitive skills and dexterity required to shuffle, roll, and eventually crawl and walk.
Look for a play gym or activity centre that includes a tummy time cushion. These are a great play gym addition, as your baby should have some tummy time in the early days. Tummy time helps to strengthen arms shoulders, neck and back so your baby will be able to sit and balance in no time.
What the best play gyms offer:
- A well padded mat
- Colours that catch baby’s attention
- Toys that your baby can look at and move
- Toys that can be removed to play with
- Add and swap different toys
- A baby-safe mirror
- A border that has strong or mono patterns
- Additional sensory areas such as crinkly and jingly parts, music and sound effects
- A travel bag to pack it away neatly and take it with you
- A washable cover
- A tummy time cushion
With more high-quality baby products than ever before, Metro Baby is ready to share the love with families all around Australia. If you’re looking for playtime gear, nursery furniture, prams, feeding equipment or bath time fun, you and your little ones are in for a treat in 2024.