Baby Playmats

Baby playmats (or play mats) haven't been around that long. I sure never had one when I was a kid and I doubt you did. I gotta say, I didn't know too much about baby playmats until I became a mom. And it only happened because mu sister said she wanted to my one for my little guy. It was then that my education into the world of playmats for babies began.

What exactly is a playmat?
At its simplest, a playmat is somewhere baby can play or lie. What's wrong with a floor, you may ask? Or a blanket or quilt? Well, a playmat does have a few advantages. For starters, your baby is less likely to come to any harm on a play mat. He or she will also find plenty to stimulate the senses and promote early development. Playmats are nearly always brightly colored and have fun designs. And they usually come with an array of toys. These range from rattles and texture swatches to teethers and music-makers. There are two types: fabric playmats and foam-tiled playmats

Fabric playmats
Fabric playmats are like souped-up quilts. Made of soft padded fabric, they vary quite a bit in size. The IQ Baby Busy Bee Playmat is only 14 inches square, whereas the Tiny Love Supermat measures 59 x 59 inches. Designs range from garish to prissy, from 'designer' to adorable. Which one appeals will depend on your tastes. They're easy to move from place to place and are best for really young babies.

Foam-tiled playmats
With interlocking foam tiles, you create a safe, cushioned play area. It's easy enough to dismantle a tiled mat and move it to another room or pack it away, but it's not as instantly portable as a fabric playmat. Tiles come in bright colors and often have pictures or letters that help your baby's learning. Tiled mats are better for growing babies as they allow space for crawling. And, as baby gets more mobile, you can add more tiles – and even cover an entire floor.

More on Baby Play Mats
Choosing a play mat should be fun. But like most things these days, with so many to choose from, it can be overwhelming. It also takes a while to spot the differences and work out what matters to you and what's not important. For a shortcut, you might want to visit www.babyplaymatsandgyms where you'll find a guide to the best playmats for babies and more tips on choosing a playmat.