Which large play mat to buy? Opinions needed.

Starlight32 · March 2016

We are looking for a large play mat to put down on our carpet for play and tummy time. I found two that look good and hoping you guys can give me your opinions on which one looks best (or if you have had experience with either).

1. Softzone Patchwork Playmat
https://www.walmart.com/ip/20397143?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227014779711&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=t&wl3=42530736032&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=81187675112&veh=sem

Thoughts:
I'm sure if it would be good for younger babies or if it's suitable for tummy time.
The mat seems good for crawling/walking because it doesn't look like it would slide around and also provides ample padding.
It's not machine washable but wipes clean.
It's Greenguard certified, although the someone on Amazon mentioned a slight smell at first.
It's less expensive than panda mat.

2. Panda Mat
https://www.pandamat.com

Thoughts:
It looks like it would be good for tummy time.
The mat may be a bit slippery for babies learning to crawl or walk.
The cover is machine washable but doesn't wipe clean easily.
The site says there's no off gassing or smells.

If if anyone has any thoughts or opinions on which mat would be better, please let me know!

tdart14 · March 2016

For the prices. I doubt I would buy either. Once they take to Rollin and crawling they don't stay on mats. We have laminate, an just let the baby go where she goes. There is a mat in on spot and she rarely goes on or stay on it.

To us anyways, play mats weren't worth the money we spent.

splsmama2016 · March 2016

H and I are waiting to get a play mat until baby is actually old enough to really use said play mat. We don't have the storage space for stuff she won't use for several months, and some babies don't like them. We have carpet in the living room and all bedrooms, and we have a few friends that are willing to let us borrow some of their stuff to see if she will even like them.

Starlight32 · March 2016

They are expensive!

What age do babies usually start using play mats? I thought they had a start doing tummy time relatively early on?

mmemartinez · March 2016

IKEA has a great one for $25, a little different but would be good for tummy time. Has a mirror and some attached toys. They don't come off but they can move a little or make noise. I got it because it was so large compared to others and we have wood floors everywhere.

meg_2006 · March 2016

Why do you need a play mat for carpet? If it's just to keep the carpet clean invest in a carpet spot cleaner and plan to get new carpet when you're done having kids, cause it will get messed up no matter what you do to protect it.

Starlight32 · March 2016

@mmemartinez can you link to the one you bought if you know it?

I want to keep my baby off the gross carpet for tummy time lol

taysun · March 2016

mmemartinez said:

IKEA has a great one for $25, a little different but would be good for tummy time. Has a mirror and some attached toys. They don't come off but they can move a little or make noise. I got it because it was so large compared to others and we have wood floors everywhere.

We have this one but DD is 13 weeks and doesn't care for it yet. I honestly think she's too young for it right now but maybe it's just her.
We also have the fisher price rainforest activity mat and she loves it because it has over head stuff to look at and gives her incentive to raise her head and push up on to her arms. We also have wood floors and I thought I'd need more cushion than it offered so I put a folded blanket under it. After a while it seemed like she was struggling to push up on such a soft surface so I removed the blanket. Within the week she was rolling over.

KateLouise · March 2016

I just used a towel, or a fleece blanket. Something easy to clean, just throw it in the wash because my babies were vomity, and it was easier to just throw towel in wash than worry about carpet. Now we're in a house with wooden floors, I wanted something softer than just putting baby on the floor, so again a towel worked for that.

Once they get mobile, mats aren't worth it.

tdart14 · March 2016

A blanket will also work.

Starlight32 · March 2016

A large blanket or towel is a good idea!

cmjenkies · March 2016

^ yes, that. Unless somebody hands you down something it's not worth the expense for the amount you're likely to actually get use out of it. A soft blanket with some toys scattered on it works just as well and can be tossed in the wash if it gets drooled/spit up on.

Ceridwen77 · March 2016

Get a tummy time mat or activity mat for tummy time; you don't need to invest in a large playmat. Also you can put your baby on your chest for tummy time for quite a while, and it works well because they have an incentive to look at mom or dad!

kde4 · March 2016

We have the Baby Care Play Mat and love it. We ended up buying 3 of them to put together to make a large safe play area. It's easy to clean spit up off of the mat since there aren't any nooks and crannies (like the puzzle mats). Before getting this particular mat, I researched the safest ones in terms of the chemicals used and this was on many of the best safety lists. We got ours from Amazon, who had the best price for it. I'd recommend it!

Starlight32 · March 2016

@kde4, thanks! I looked at those mats but I read Amazon reviews that said it smelled strongly of chemicals, so I took it off the potential mat list.

RMLandy · March 2016

I'm shocked at the price of these! I personally would not spend the money because a blanket works just fine and once they start moving, they won't stay on a play mat anyway.

Starlight32 · March 2016

Yeah now I'm thinking we don't need a play mat lol. We are trying to limit costs! I think I just like the idea of one but a blanket or towel sounds like a good alternative.