Parenthood is often a truly joyous experience. Watching your baby grow into a flourishing child really is a pleasure, so making your little one’s early life as comfortable as possible would definitely be a priority.
Preparing the nursery is a good first step. The addition of cots, baby toys, and changing bags could be a good start. But don’t forget to include the most important item - a baby playmat!
Playmats are a safe space for your baby to lie on and relax. In addition, a playmat provides fun toys that the baby can enjoy playing for hours on end.
Today, we’ll be discussing why one of these playmats is essential in the nursery.
What actually is a Baby Playmat?
A baby playmat, also known as an activity mat, is a soft, padded mat that lets a baby play and interact with their surroundings. They are usually placed on the floor, and have colourful textures and patterns for your baby to enjoy. There are 3 main types of baby playmat:
- Foam - These are made like this colourful jigsaw-style playmat.
- Fabric - These are the simplest type of playmat. Portable fabric playmats, such as this lightweight sensory mat.
- Activity Gym - Popular gym-style mats like this activity play gym with hanging toys. These playmats have the most accessories, and they are often the most popular among parents.
Baby playmats are usually quite affordable, though, depending on the type you choose, the prices vary from £15 - £60.
Key Benefits of Baby Playmats
- Supports Development: Baby playmats for newborns let your little one explore the world around them through activities like tummy-time. These activities allow the infant to develop their motor skills, such as rolling, and turning on the mat. The use of these skills will eventually help them begin to learn to crawl, and eventually stand up, marking an important step in their childhood. Also, some good quality baby playmats include arches that have interactive, sensory toys on them. When your baby plays with these toys, it develops their hand eye coordination, thus improving their reaction time and overall cognitive development.
- Safety: Quality playmats are notoriously safe and durable. Due to the organic, soft materials that they are made from, baby playmats will protect your newborn from hard floors that could injure their developing bodies. All the toys included are also completely non-toxic and baby friendly, ensuring that your little one can have as much fun as they want without the slightest chance of getting hurt.
- Maintainable: Baby playmats are surprisingly easy to maintain. Most are relatively large, but there aren’t many nooks and crannies that can accumulate a lot of dirt. Some have washable covers that can be washed, dried and put back onto the playmat effortlessly.
- Portable: Activity mats are really easy to carry around. All you need to do is fold them up, and, if you’re buying from Small Smart, you can pop it into the specially designed carry bag that is made especially for this product making transporting it much easier. With the foldable playmat’s portability, you can bring a cherished bit of home wherever you go, with ease.
- Versatile: When your child begins to grow up, you may think that it’s time to let your activity mat go. However, if you truly love it, there’s actually no need to stop using the playmat. It can easily double up as a picnic mat, a toddler play area or even as a changing mat.
- Keeps Toys Contained: When your child plays on their playmat, the toys they play with are going to either be on the arches of the playmat, or on the base of the mat around them. Therefore, loose toys are less likely to be lost and replaced, saving you lots of money.
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Eco - Friendly: Baby playmats are often made from organic cotton, which leaves a small carbon footprint. This means that they’re composed of non-toxic materials that are completely safe for your little one. Also, activity mats are biodegradable, meaning it can naturally decompose over time, and are recyclable. The materials they are made from are also very durable, so there’s often no need to replace broken or missing items.
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Style: High quality playmats sometimes come in neutral colours that will really blend in with your home. However, if you’re not too happy with these colours, a lot of them are coloured with attractive shades of red, yellow and blue, among others.
Conclusion
So, there we have it! Baby playmats are so beneficial in almost every aspect of your little one’s childhood! From portability to style, baby play mats are top notch items that truly are essential in your thriving nursery. Buy yours at the Small Smart Website today!
FAQs
Is the baby playmat fully water proof and easy to clean?
Small Smart playmats are made from organic cotton, so they unfortunately are not waterproof, but they are easy to clean! But there definitely are lots of playmats out there that are!
Can a baby sleep on the baby playmat?
Of course! The baby playmat’s softness is perfectly suitable for the baby to take a nap, though it’s more preferable if you’re close by your child, ready to check on them at any time.
When should my child stop using their baby playmat?
As said before, when your child grows up, you can give the playmat an entirely different function. However, if you’re just using it as a baby playmat, then they should stop when they begin to learn how to walk/crawl. This age is around when they turn 1.
Can I use the playmat outdoors?
Provided you’re willing to clean it! Playmats on the Small Smart website should be best kept indoors due to their organic material, but waterproof playmats would definitely still work outdoors.
Do I need to supervise my baby while on the baby playmat?
Yes. While baby playmats are very safe, it is important that you keep an eye on them at all times. That’s so that if your baby accidentally rolls off the playmat or starts crying for whatever reason, then you’re on hand to help. Also, when the baby is sleeping, it’s best if you watch them for any signs of discomfort or agitation.
