It’s not surprise to learn that baby play mats have become very popular over the last few years, you can probably find them in any house with young children. Childhood development studies have shown that it’s you can’t be too early to the party when exposing your baby to a stimulating environment. Being a father of two young children I have enjoyed the fact that play mats offer a clean and comfortable environment for your baby to play on the floor.
Play mats are often made of soft and durable material that is appropriate for young children. They are adorned with bright colors which excite baby and stimulate their visual senses. For the most part all of the play mats on the market are made using different and unique textures and patterns which helps aid development of their tactile senses. It’s important to buy a play mat that incorporates stimulation of as many of their senses as possible.
It helps to know that it when you do put baby down that you can relax knowing baby is in a safe environment but as any parent will tell you it’s not easy to get used to that idea. Many first time parents have a tough time dealing with the guilt of putting 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 healthy place for them. You must realize that it is just as important for babies to spend some time moving on their own instead of being tied to their parents hips. Don’t worry if you feel this way, know that it is a good for baby as it is for you to spend some time rolling and playing on the ground. These activities will help baby gain the strength and coordination they’ll need as they 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. Even though your baby is the only one who uses the play mat doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be cleaned. Just like anything else that comes in contact with the ground and baby, it needs to be washed. We always used organic/non-toxic cleaners to wash the mat and I’d recommend you do too.
-Balance time. When placing baby on the mat, make sure you alternate between having them on their tummy and on their back. Our first child hated being on his tummy and spent most of the time on his back while on the mat. Because their skulls are still forming, pro-longed time on their backs can cause a flattened skull as baby grows. While the problem almost always corrects itself (as it did for our baby), it was a big concern as first time parents.
Before you head out to purchase anything for your child, take a minute to peruse your options of Baby Gym and Activity Gym here at the Baby Gym Marketplace.
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