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.
Play mats are usually constructed of soft yet durable material that is ideal for young children. They have bright vibrant colors that attract baby and stimulate their visual senses. Most play mats are also created to have different textures and make unique sounds to appeal to baby’s attention and help aid development of their tactile senses. When shopping for these items, try to find one that incorporates stimulation of as many of their 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, don’t skimp here. Name brand products usually make the best product and have a much more capable customer support department if the need to contact them arises.
-Keep it clean. Just because baby is the only one using the mat, doesn’t mean it doesn’t collect dust and dirt from the rest of the house. Just like anything else that baby touches it needs to be washed. It’s best to use organic/non-toxic cleaners when you do to limit the chances of a negative skin reaction to baby.
-Alternate baby’s time on the mat. It’s a very good idea to switch between having baby on their tummy and on his back. Our son and first child, hated being on his tummy and as a result would spend most of his time on the mat being on his back. Though because babies’ skulls are still forming and growing, spending too much time on their backs can cause a flattened head as your baby skull bones are not sealed together. While the problem almost always corrects itself (as in our case), it was very stressful period for us 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.
