12 best baby play mats and gyms for babies and toddlers

Avery Row’s pretty activity mat will provide little ones with hours of fun. Plus, it's so stylish, you'll be happy to have it on display at home — a win-win!

Presented in a drawstring bag, it's perfect for gifting or ideal for travelling. It features velvet bunnies, a squeaky flower with crinkly petals, a sunny surprise mirror, carrot rattle and more. The interactive elements are wonderful at encouraging little ones to crawl; strengthening leg, arm and neck muscles as they play.

Super thick and protective, this extra-large mat is reversible and designed to grow with your baby (there's a sweet garden design on one side, and a more grown-up modern theme on the other). It rolls up easily when not in use – like a giant yoga mat – and has a waterproof, anti-slip design which is perfect for crawling and taking their first steps.

The Lovevery team are experts at making age and stage appropriate toys that challenge little ones just the right amount as they grow.

This impressive play mat is designed with newborns through to toddlers in mind, with an impressive five activity zones and detachable toys such as teethers, batting rings and squishy sound squares. There's also three sets of cards, including a mirror for self-discovery, and a play guide for parents to ensure their babes get the most out of it.

The mat itself is double-sided, with a high-contrast side for younger babies, which transforms into a cosy play fort for toddlers.

Granted, it's one of the pricier mats out there. However, everyone who has a Totter + Tumble play mat, raves about it. Parents appreciate that it offers cushioning but in designs that easily blend with your existing home furnishings.

We like this monochrome pattern, but there are lots to choose from, as well as several shapes. The mat provides great traction for barefoot babes and the rugs don't slide on the floor.

For a play mat you can roll up and take anywhere, this fabric option feels more like a fluffy padded blanket. It's got built-in toys and is big enough for two babies, yet folds down small enough to take to the grandparents house. When you fold it, there's a carry handle and it's machine-washable too.

Toys include a baby-safe mirror, shiny ribbons and peek-a-boo game, and the black and white characters with big eyes, encourage newborn vision and develop emotional intelligence. It's a great price too.

All Etta Loves products are designed with babies' vision in mind. The clever choice of colours and scale of patterns all help to support their visual and cognitive development.

This comfy, padded, organic cotton play mat provides the perfect stimulation for tummy time and playtime. The Dalmatian pattern is intended for newborns up to around four months, and when they hit the five month mark, flip it over so they can graduate to the more challenging leopard print side.

Little Dutch makes such pretty products, and we love this sweet farm-themed play mat in sage green. It comes with five hanging soft toys, which encourages baby to reach and wiggle, helping to develop sensory skills and hand-eye coordination. Like all Little Dutch toys, the quality is excellent, and it all folds up into a travel bag so you can take it with you.

Unlike other one-piece play mats, this foam tile design can be made bigger or smaller, depending on the space you're working with. The interlocking, non-toxic tiles slot together like a jigsaw puzzle, and have an anti-slip surface that's easy to wipe clean.

This set comes with 16 pieces but can be extended with more tiles, or mix and match with other colours and designs.

Done by Deer is a Danish brand that specialises in bold and colourful toys, made to last, so you can pass them down to siblings.

This soft, squishy mat is perfect for tummy time, with fun built-in toys to explore. The ocean theme includes characters under peekaboo sections, crinkle ears, a hidden mirror and rattle.

Made from super soft, 100% cotton, with a non-slip backing to ensure it stays in place, this simple mat is perfect for playtime. It comes in a travel bag, for when you're on the move, and slips into the brand's teepee to create a safe play haven as they get older.

You can ditch your living room rug and use this large, waterproof (and therefore baby proof!) floor mat instead, which is especially good for crawlers and early walkers.

What's great is that the mat has a reversible design so one side is kid-friendly, the other more grown-up. Pictured is one with roads on one side and a grey and white design on the other.

It's easy to wipe clean, durable, super-padded, and it rolls up for convenient storage.

Although not specifically designed with babies in mind, Ruggable's washable rugs are perfect for playrooms, and come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and designs.

Ruggable topped our washable rug test, and for child-centred rooms, we recommend opting for the thicker, softer 7mm tufted version with non-slip cushioned pad for extra comfort.

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