Sharon here again with another discussion about baby items. Being a parent is hard work, but some of the most rewarding times of your life.
Every parent likes a safe toy for their baby to enjoy. So, if it keeps your baby happily engaged several times, that alone is a win.
These little baby gyms, with lots of things to see, hear, play feel and grasp, is a must-have for small-baby entertainment between naps, feeds, and diaper changes.
The baby mats can add to your baby’s sensory and cognitive skills with colorful toys and delightful themes. Now that it’s established that a baby hanging toys for play mat is the perfect all-in-one toy/gym for your little one, in this review, we gathered the best detachable hanging toys that we think you and your baby will love.
Table of Contents
- In a hurry? Here’s 3 detachable hanging toys for baby play mat we picked out by the average customer review!
- 1. Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym
- 2. Infantino Twist and Fold Activity Gym
- 3. Skip Hop Treetop Friends Baby Play Mat Activity Gym
- 4. Baby Einstein 5-in-1 – Best overall activity gym and playmat
- 5. Fisher-Price Rainforest Music Lights – Best affordable play mat
- 6. Gym Play Mat with 9 Toys – Best for influencing kids’ development
- 7. UNIH Baby Gym Play Mats – Best for a better interactive outcome
- 8. Bright Starts Disney Baby Finding Nemo – Best for ocean-like experience
- 9. BABYSEATER Baby Gym and Playmats – Best for quick setup
- 10. Lupantte 7 in 1 Baby Play Gym Mat – best for safety
- 11. Baby Einstein 5-in-1 Journey of Discovery Activity Gym
- Top Playmat Brands You Shouldn’t Look Over!
- 2022 Update – Check out these DIY options
In a hurry? Here’s 3 detachable hanging toys for baby play mat we picked out by the average customer review!
1. Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym
This toy is great because it grows with your child. You can take apart the piano and they can play with their hands when the baby gets older. You love that because this toy is also an activity gym where your baby can bat the toys with their hands, and the hanging toys are also interchangeable! Tummy time is also an option for babies and the mat and piano lights and sounds are great distractions while they learn! It’s very easy to put together and clean! The mat can be thrown right into the washer!
Vannessa P. describes that her 2 months old daughter seems to enjoy this activity mat. After a couple of sessions, her daughter was able to focus on it and become engaged. The songs are sweet and cute. She finds herself singing along too. The mat is semi-cushioned. She is very happy with this product and it can easily grow with her daughter.
Pros
- These piano functions are great, very interesting, and attractive to baby
- This Play mat gym baby is functional, colorful, fun & educational, too.
- It also comes with the mirror
- It is easy to clean
- It is easy to assembly.
Cons
- Sometimes you need to changes the batteries.
2. Infantino Twist and Fold Activity Gym
Infantino Twist and Fold Activity Gym is a good play gym mat for the baby. This is one of the cheaper-priced play gym mats. It has an “easy fold” option, which is really cool when your home is has been dominated by baby furniture/toys/clutter. This play gym mat is soft. It can be washed well. This play gym mat comes with two different heights you can attach the toys to one higher and one lower on the legs. It is super easy to put together too. The little pillow that comes with it is perfect to put under your baby when they are doing tummy time. It helps because it lifts them off the ground a little making them want to raise their neck up.
One mom said that she absolutely loved this activity mat! It is a nice generous size. Her twin babies loved this all the way from the newborn stage to now (currently 8 months old). As her twins baby became older they love sitting up to play with it. The mat portion is easy to remove and through into the washer and dryer. This activity mat is a must-have for any parent to be!
Pros
- Attractive and easy to clean mat
- Portable for travel
- Movable mirror toy is awesome and captivates baby’s attention
- You can travel easily with it because it folds up and secures with Velcro
- Cool way to push down and twist the soft bars to make it curve over the mat
- You can connect toys to the mat for tummy time.
- More/different toys can be added
Cons
- Pillow can be used for tummy time but it moves around too much
3. Skip Hop Treetop Friends Baby Play Mat Activity Gym
This play mat gym baby is another bestseller play gym mat in the marketplace. There have lots of features which are very attractive and very safe for babies. So a lot of parents buy this play mat for their babies. Not only it has the modern look and neutral colors but also it is still fun and interesting to my little girl.
This activity center is packed with 17 developmental activities and also the 13 loops to hang baby toys low, high or on the mat. This baby gym takes two minutes to assemble or disassemble. So you can easily reclaim adult space. It is easy to assemble and supportive tummy time pillow. Its safety-tested to meet or exceed ASTM, CPSIA, EN71, and applicable safety standards.
One parent describes that her son loves his playmat. It’s really cute, she loves that it’s softer colors, the toys you can hang above baby are interactive, plus you could switch out the hanging toys too with others you may have to keep your little one from getting bored. It comes with a cute little cloud pillow too that you can use for tummy time. The material is nice and soft, it’s well made and durable. All in all a great playmat.
Pros
- Simple and cute. It looks great in her nursery and in my living room.
- Very plush. If the baby slams his/her head down she/he doesn’t get hurt.
- It has 17 developmental activities
- It is easy to assembly
- The mat itself is washable
Cons
- It’s great quality BUT its a bit expensive.
4. Baby Einstein 5-in-1 – Best overall activity gym and playmat
Your baby won’t remain the same always? But until your baby really grows up and leaves playing on the play mat, buying the same play mat in different sizes is a hassle. As babies tend to have rapid growth, you should get a play mat conserving that. Fortunately, this one grows with your baby with its 5 settings for development stages.
Music helps magically in the baby’s development. I know my boy Robert sure did love it!
Experts found that even when the pregnant mother listens to music, it helps the baby’s growth. Lucky you, this one contains 20 minutes of global-themed music for your baby’s incredible development.
Our one valuable mom said that when she used this play mat, she absolutely loved it because of its versatility. It saved her from a lot of trouble because of the machine-washable feature and easy cleaning facility.
Lastly, it will be perfect as a playmat because it contains puppets, prop pillows, take-along toys; everything that your kid will just love. So if you are searching for something to be the best baby gym for development, it completely serves the purpose.
Pros:
- Helps your kid’s development
- Versatile
- Easy to clean
- Comes with multiple different playing elements
Cons:
- May emit chemical smell sometimes
5. Fisher-Price Rainforest Music Lights – Best affordable play mat
If you are looking for something affordable, nothing will go beyond this one. It contains everything in one place along with such a reasonable price that you will feel surprised. On top of that, it comes with a large space; just perfect for your kid to stay here all day long without feeling suffocated.
Kids just love any sort of lighting, so this brand didn’t forget to implement the knowledge here. You will get a baby-activated light show in it to keep your baby hooked inside. Also, it contains other toys like a light-up canopy with 2 settings, a plush tummy time tool with 20 minutes of music, and 8 different linkable toys.
A kid’s mom told us that her baby loves the toys very much that whenever she used to cry, the only way to stop her crying was to let her sit inside the play mat. This is incredible cause what we noticed is, the toys are actually very versatile and help your kids’ development as well.
If your baby always insists on using your mobile, you can leave a sigh of relief because you are going to get relief! How? Well, this playmat has a detachable mobile that your kid can take anywhere. So no reason to tug over your device anymore! Honestly, because of these features, we found it to be one of the best out there.
Pros:
- Contains lighting
- Has a handful of toys
- Comfortable
- Comes with detachable mobile
Cons:
- The mobile is not battery operated
6. Gym Play Mat with 9 Toys – Best for influencing kids’ development
How good will you feel if the playmat you set your mind to buy also helps the development of your kid? As we all know, kids learn faster and develop way faster during the first 5 years of their lives. Good news for you, unlike other play mats, this mat adds a lot of value to your kid’s development as well.
The touch of nature can always put a lot of impact on your baby’s growth. So if you are a cautious parent who always feels a necessity to help your baby’s growth with a touch of nature, you cannot overlook this mat. It has trees and a branch-like design which we have not found in any other play mats.
One of the Baby Kid Care editor’s parents stated that these are incredible to let your kid have an idea about nature and love the surrounding. As she likes the idea of letting your baby have an idea about nature from the very first stages of life, it comes out to be incredibly helpful for her.
After everything, as the main attraction of a kid is to play, here you will get 9 toys. All the toys are removable so your baby can play using those even without being on the playmat. As it is built with high-quality fabrics, safety is inevitable! You cannot overlook it to be one of the best foam playmats for babies.
Pros:
- Comfortable material
- High quality built
- Includes 9 different removable toys
- Contains nature like design
Cons:
- Quite thin
7. UNIH Baby Gym Play Mats – Best for a better interactive outcome
How would you feel if you notice that your baby is just laying or sitting inside the play mat doing nothing? It’s awful when it doesn’t serve its purpose. But forget it because you will never face such disappointment if you only get this play mat. This one is known the best for its interactive activity.
This one favorably influences the baby’s sensory and physical coordination skills with the 5 detachable colorful hanging rattles and graceful piano music. As a result, it helps in the kid’s rapid development alongside providing the necessary fun time.
One of our beloved moms told us, the 5 different modes of play of this mat just helps in increasing the baby’s physical activity. Sometimes he kicks the toys, plays music, sits, and enjoys being here. It successfully improved my baby’s listening, shooting, grabbing, kicking, and playing skills.
If you have a newborn baby, consider this one to be the most amazing. It has everything that your newborn baby will just love. Alongside the material is so soft that you can be entirely sure of the comfort that your baby will have. No doubt about it being one of the best baby gyms for newborns.
Pros:
- Serves the purpose of baby’s development
- Enjoyable
- Improves 5 different skills
- Perfect for newborns
Cons:
- The toys detach easily
8. Bright Starts Disney Baby Finding Nemo – Best for ocean-like experience
Nemo is the character that brightens up every kids’ day. So if your infant is a fan of Nemo, here comes the perfect solution for you! This play mat comes out to design specific and unique because of its ocean-like appearance and the Finding Nemo theme.
Not only the toys, but it also contains 20 minutes of ocean-themed melodies. As a result, your kid will get a full-time ocean experience here. As favorite characters can influence a baby quite intensely, you will thank the theme of this play mat later once you realize how your kid just loves it!
Our fan Olivia just loved this play mat because she has never found a Nemo-themed play mat before. While her 3-year-old is a crazy fan of Finding Nemo, this one seemed to be the best choice that she made by purchasing this.
From Dory’s finger puppet to Mr. Ray’s canopy with magical lights, everything is enough to brighten up your baby’s time. We don’t want you to rely on appearance only, so let us assure you that the quality here is also top-notch to fall for.
Pros:
- Unique theme
- Comfortable material
- Enough space
- Includes lighting and music
Cons:
- Average durability
9. BABYSEATER Baby Gym and Playmats – Best for quick setup
If you are a busy parent, we understand your daily struggle. The time that you spend to make your kid happy, that is beyond appreciation. But this play mat can lessen your trouble and save you time. You can literally set this up within seconds and it will be ready to play with.
This play mat got a kick piano, rotating starry mobile with 4 detachable toys for your kid to have the most fun out of it. The main attraction of this one is mostly the star projector that it includes. It displays starry lighting which will astonish your kid.
We got to know from a user that this play mat is incredible in quality. His baby loved the starry display and whenever the baby cries, the projector helps a lot. When she notices the starry display, she just stares and everything turns out to be calm.
We just loved the way it was built with premium, BPA-free materials. As we know how concerning it is to maintain your baby’s safety, it doesn’t compromise on that. The sturdy build also adds up to the comfort.
Pros:
- High quality built
- Sturdy
- Quick installation
- Incredible light show
Cons:
- Average durability
10. Lupantte 7 in 1 Baby Play Gym Mat – best for safety
No matter how lucrative it looks, the concern should always be on the safety of the play mat. If you are a safety concerned parent who won’t consider even a little bit about the health of your baby, you are in the right direction. This play mat is incredible for ensuring your child’s safety.
The beauty of this play mat is indescribable. It comes in a subtle color that soothes the eyes. Along with that, the anti-slip particles given in this mat save a lot of trouble. In fact, most of the play mats are not slip-proof, as a result, whenever your baby starts playing in it, it moves here and there. No such annoyance will bug you once you purchase it.
Rosette, one of our babykidcare mothers’ shared her experience with us. She was tired of the annoying movement of regular play mats. But once she stuck to this one, the anti-slip feature helped us a lot. Now she can have a good time while her baby plays inside the mat!
So, if you are seeking one of the best baby gyms and playmats, it has got everything to fulfill your search. You will get 6 removable sensory toys and 1 tummy moon pillow to let your kid have the most fun with. The size is also convincing enough for us. So overall, it felt like a good choice to rely on for your baby’s safety.
Pros:
- Safe material
- Anti-slip feature
- Extra large size
- Easy to set-up
Cons:
- Little bit thin
11. Baby Einstein 5-in-1 Journey of Discovery Activity Gym
Any baby will have a blast with this play gym mat, which has a lot of toys and more activities. Baby Einstein 5-in-1 Journey of Discovery Activity Gym is perfect for the baby gym and play. This is a great mat for a baby and a great help for moms. It encourages tummy time, hand-eye coordination, music appreciation, co-play, and curiosity. Toys can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and mild soap.
The size of the mat. It is pretty large. The play gym mat is decorated with a world map and colorful characters traveling in different vehicles. You will use this mat to learn continents when your baby gets a bit older. Dangling toys are made of plastic and washable materials. You can easily wash it. The gym can be converted into a ball pit. It’s like two baby products in one.
One mom said that her twins are loving this activity mat! She has it opened up in one of their cribs (they share a crib for now) and it’s such a great spot to put them for playtime! She has been introducing the toys one at a time so they don’t get overwhelmed. Before long, they will be batting at the toys and loving the mat even more! She loves that it becomes a ball pit too! And the giraffe plays tunes that are upbeat and catchy.
Pros
- Twins baby can be played by it at a time
- This play mat gym baby is decorated with colorful characters and different eye-catchy style
- Very easy to clean, easy to assemble and move.
- You can also hang other toys when your baby gets bored.
- The mat is nicely padded, large, and the toys are cute.
Cons
- It is pretty difficult when you are traveling
Top Playmat Brands You Shouldn’t Look Over!
- Baby Einstein– The versatility and multifunctional features from the 5-in-1 Baby Einstein Playmat will blow your mind. Those cute playmats are easy to assemble, easy to clean, and make your baby feel comfortable.
- Fisher-Price– The playmats from Fisher-Price come in many kinds. They include music, lights, vehicle toys, and many attractive things which will bring a smile to your baby’s face.
- Lupantte- Lupantte presents 7 in 1 playmat which comes with 2 replaceable mats. The high-functional features, 6 removable toys, and hearing, visual, cognitive development options for infants to toddlers make this playmat absolutely amazing.
- UNIH– The design, looks, and cuteness of the UNIH playmat make everyone happy. It’s made with soft, non-toxic materials and includes cute toys and a stunning piano.
- BABYSEATER– The playmat from BABYSEATER includes toys that teach, 3 musical modes, and reliable features. The playmat is comfortable, durable, easy to clean, giftable, and pocket-friendly.
Things To Consider While Buying The Best Baby Gyms And Playmats
A playmat is a fun and safe way to ensure your toddler’s playtime is spent in comfort and safety. There are tons of different options and variants available for you when buying a play mat. The most important thing to consider is your child’s comfort. So here’s what you should look for-
- Soft and smooth material- since young toddlers mostly know how to crawl, they will be leaning on their bellies for the most time on a playmat. So you’ll need to mind something soft so he doesn’t get tired of feeling uncomfy. Also, smooth mats are preferred so that his movements are not capped.
- Colorful designs- it is no secret that children are attracted to colors. Getting a bright and vibrant playmat will assure their interest to spend more time on the playmat. There are also some educationally designed playmats with alphabets and numbers written on them so you can choose from those as well.
- Ease of cleaning- since your child is going to be on it, you’d want to keep it as clean as possible so he doesn’t catch any infections or diseases. Also, children are likely to make it unclean very quickly so a playmat that is easy to clean is always welcome. Playmats that are waterproof and have smooth surfaces are generally preferred.
- Portability- if you’re planning on carrying the playmat to different places, it is suggested to get something portable and lightweight. Get a playmat that can easily be folded and is not too heavy to carry around.
- Safety standards- the bottom surface of the playmat needs to be non-slippery. If you have tiles or a wooden floor, your baby can slip and fall on the playmat if the bottom surface is slippery. Also, the materials overall should be unharmful for the baby in case he puts them in his mouth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do toddlers need playmats?
It is not an essential or must-have item for toddlers, but rather good and fun to have around. A playmat offers a safe and comfortable place for your toddler to play in. The soft surface of a playmat is more enjoyable than a floor and you don’t have to worry about your child making it unclean as you can always clean it easily.
What is the best playmat for kids?
The best playmats for kids are the ones that properly ensure your child’s safety and comfort at the same time. There are tons of variations and different options to choose from. When it comes to playmats, it’s mostly personal preference and what you think is best for your baby.
How thick should a play mat be?
A playmat should be considerably thick since the thickness contributes to the comfort of the playmat. Through thin playmats, babies can feel the hardness of the floor which nullifies the effect of the soft materials and makes it uncomfortable.
How long should baby use activity mat?
To be real, they can stay there as long as they want. There is no real-time limit. But it is preferred to have them stay there just during play hours, as they might lose interest if they stay there too long. Also make sure they don’t start sleeping there because that will ruin the purpose of a playmat, which is to play and move around.
How old can a baby use a playmat?
Babies of any age can use a playmat but generally elderly babies don’t need a play mat. Babies that can walk also don’t need a playmat as there isn’t much use for them. Playmats are meant to be used by toddlers who crawl and lean on their tummies thus it’s a soft and comfortable design.
Do I need a padded playmat?
Depending on your needs and your baby, you might consider a padded playmat. Padded playmats are much more soft and comfortable than normal playmats. But they are not portable because they tend to be heavy and cannot be folded properly.
Are foam play mats safe for babies?
Various testing and company claims reveal that foam playmats are not harmful to babies. A foam playmat provides maximum comfort to the baby so it’s important to know if they are safe for babies. Many companies are transparent about the fact and claim that they are completely safe for the baby.
Are baby foam mats toxic?
No, foams used in baby playmats are not toxic or harmful to toddlers. There was once a conspiracy that suggested baby foam playmats release a toxic gas over time that can harm babies. But research afterward has proven that the gas that the foam releases over time is nowhere near enough to harm someone.
Why We Recommend These Hanging Toys!
There are several detachable hanging toys for play mats available in the market. When you choose detachable hanging toys for a play mat for your baby, you may get confused about which one to buy because there are similar features and a lack of knowledge on the play mat.
So we’ve made this article for you to choose the best detachable hanging toys for a play mat for your child. We think you will gather some knowledge about the play mat and can choose your best detachable hanging toys for a play mat for your baby. Also check out your local Wal-mart or Target for affordable options.