Soft base
Play mats for babies: This is how you can support their first attempts at turning and crawling
Babies can develop their motor skills on a comfortable play mat
© John Alexandr / Getty Images
Babies have a natural urge to move, which they express with their first attempts to turn and crawl. So that you don’t injure yourself, a soft surface is an advantage. Not only does it cushion falls, but it also offers space to play.
There are small and large play mats for babies: Depending on whether they are used purely for entertainment or as a cushioning surface (with insulating properties), you should think about the most important purchasing criteria before purchasing. What these are and how common models for at home and on the go differ are summarized below.
Buying criteria for play mats: This is what you need to know
- Size: Depending on whether you only want to use the play mat at home or, for example, on vacation, the size is an important criterion: There are small and compact models, which babies cannot always lie on, but which contribute to the general amusement (and activity) of your child. If the pad is intended to serve as a place to crawl in the children’s room, there is one larger play mat in question. Here it makes sense to measure the free area of the floor in advance.
- Material: As with many other new purchases for babies, the material plays an important role. Not only should it be wipeable should a mishap happen, but it should also be free of harmful substances. For this reason, many play mats are made from soft to medium-hard PE foam (without plasticizers). Plastics such as PP (polypropylene), EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer) should also be free of harmful ingredients.
- Function: The weight and insulating properties of a baby play mat also vary depending on the size and thickness. There are thin models that are up to one centimeter are high, and thicker models with two centimeters strength or more. Depending on how old and agile your child is (and how cold the floor), you should pay attention to the different functions before buying.
- Construction: If you don’t want the soft surface to be on the floor all day at home or on vacation, it is important that it can be set up and taken down quickly and easily. Depending on the manufacturer there are rollable and foldable models – or play mats that just… put together Need to become. Before purchasing, think about which option is right for you.
Playmats for babies: Five popular models
1. Puzzle mat
A popular model in many households is the non-slip one Puzzle mat (tested by TÜV Rheinland): A colorful play mat for babies made of EVA foam, which is made up of 26 letters (from A to Z) and nine numbers (zero to nine). The special thing about the 3.5 square meter mat is that it can be expanded as desired with other sets.
2. Water mat
It takes up little space and still provides entertainment: this small one Haba play mat (Height: 36 centimeters, width: 32 centimeters) is surrounded by a soft fabric cover and filled with water. The model also offers lots of things for curious babies to discover: loops with crackling foil, a teething ring and movable elements such as leaves, a heart and a fish.
3. Sound mat
Babies explore their surroundings not only with their eyes, but with their ears. For this reason this offers interactive sound mat From twelve months onwards there are lots of noises that revolve around the theme of farms. The playset is even bilingual (German and English), so your child can hear more than 500 words in two different languages.
4. Game sheet
This play mat combines two functions: It serves as a soft surface for babies (from birth) and its play arch promotes motor skills. With musical elements, various lights, rings and a mirror, the mat offers lots of things to discover – and allows you to play on your back or stomach.
5. Double-sided mat
So that it doesn’t get boring and your baby gets tired of the motifs on the play mat made of non-toxic XPE foam, this foldable model has two different ones printed side: one with colorful fish and one with all the continents in the world. Both surfaces are non-slip and waterproof, making them easy to clean.
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