When you first bring your newborn home from hospital, you’ll be lulled into thinking all they do is feed and sleep – and you’d be right, for a while.
But soon enough they start getting more curious about the world around them and need some sort of stimulation. That’s where a baby gym comes in. These clever play mats are great ways to help your baby develop and stay entertained, while also being a safe place for you to put them down if you need a short break.
There are so many brilliant options on the market now, from traditional baby gyms that feature arches with toys attached to them to encourage your baby to reach and grasp, to ones that play music. There are also chic Scandi options and ones that grow with your baby, even lasting into toddlerhood. But with so many different options available, how do you choose the one that’s right for you?
What should you look for in a baby gym?
First, think about the space you’ll be using it in – if you need something that can be easily packed away once the kids are in bed, make sure you choose a foldable option. Next, think how many functions you’d like it to have. Do you want a larger, brightly coloured mat with all the bells and whistles? Or a more minimal design that will blend in better with your décor? It’s also worth setting a budget in advance, so you know what you’re willing to pay, as baby gyms can vary wildly in price.
Here we’ve rounded up the best baby gyms to buy now.
VTech Baby 7-in-1 Grow with Baby Sensory Gym
When it comes to creating seriously engaging toys, VTech really knows what it's doing. Case in point, this baby sensory gym, which is packed full of features to entertain your baby from birth up to 24 months. There’s a reversible brightly coloured play mat with detachable arches that is perfect for young babies as they start to develop their motor skills. But this product goes way beyond your average baby gym.
As well as the usual hanging accessories, it comes with a detachable xylophone, which teaches colours, numbers, shapes and animals, and includes eight fun sing-along songs and 10 melodies. As if that wasn’t enough, simply fold up the mat’s sides and chuck in the 20 balls that come with it and you’ve created your very own baby ball pit. No wonder this one is such a firm hit with babies and parents alike.
Buy now £62.99, Amazon
Little Green Sheep Curved Wooden Baby Play Gym
If you’re looking to steer away from some of the more garish products on the market and stick to one that’s as natural as possible, this is the baby gym for you. Little Green Sheep is known for its sustainable credentials when it comes to baby gear, and this beautifully designed play gym is no exception.
The hand-oiled curved frame is made from 100 per cent sustainably sourced birch wood, while the detachable charms are also made from natural materials, including smooth mango wood and certified organic cotton. The cute charms include a hand-knitted rainbow rattle, a wooden heart and star and a squishy giraffe rattle with a twisty tail, which are all attached to the gym using Velcro, making them easy to remove to use as standalone toys. Team it with one of the quilted play mats and it’s a beautiful choice for those looking for a sleeker, more minimal option.
Buy now £49.99, Little Green Sheep
Infantino Go Gaga Twist & Fold Tropical Gym
This baby gym from Infantino is a great option if you happen to be short on space. The clever gym features a twist-and-fold design that makes it super easy to collapse and ensures it’s really compact when packed down, meaning it can be stashed away out of sight or even taken to the grandparents’ house with minimal hassle.
Suitable from birth, the colourful mat comes with a range of cute linkable characters, including a lion, flamingo and tropical bird, as well as a musical pull-down monkey, which is great for developing your little one’s grasping skills and is guaranteed to keep them enthralled for hours. There’s also a peek-a-boo mirror and a bolster pillow for tummy time, which is great for helping them engage their head and neck muscles. All in all, this is a delightfully compact option which still boasts plenty of fun features.
Buy now £69.99, Kids Magic Land
Lovevery The Play Gym
It might be at the pricier end of the scale, but Lovevery is the cream of the crop when it comes to creating toys that are tailor-made to your child’s age and developmental stage. The Play Kits are legendary among kids’ toys thanks to the imaginative designs and educational benefits, and the brand's Parent's Choice award-winning Play Gym is a great way to make sure your baby’s development gets off on the right foot.
Designed to grow with your child from newborn to toddler, the play mat comes with a range of stage-based activities to engage them throughout their first year. There are five developmental zones with activities that promote exploration and growth, as well as four detachable toys and four sets of baby sensory cards. We love the fact that it comes with a special play guide, which features tips and activities developed by experts. And it's not just for tiny babies – toddlers will love the fact that the Play Space Cover instantly transforms the gym into a cosy fort. Genius.
Buy now £140.00, Lovevery
Done by Deer Sea Friends Activity Mat
Danish brand Done by Deer is known for its quirky, imaginative designs, and this comfortable play mat ticks all the boxes when it comes to being fun for little ones while also being aesthetically pleasing for grown-ups. The sweet under the sea-themed mat comes in three colours – powder pink, baby blue and soft grey – and is guaranteed to keep little ones happy and entertained.
The super comfy padded mat is great for encouraging babies to roll, while they’ll love the range of crinkly toys and sea creatures with tinkly bells that come with it. There’s also a cute starfish mirror to help them explore their own reflection and a detachable tail fin that can be used as extra support during tummy time. Best of all, you can remove the arches and bung the mat in the washing machine when it needs cleaning.
Buy now £131.95, Baby Mori
Aden + Anais Baby Activity Gym
You’ll likely know Aden + Anais for its much-loved range of swaddles and muslins, but did you know they also do baby gyms too? This baby activity gym is just as beautifully designed as the rest of their products, complete with eco-friendly and sustainable birch wood arches and a breathable 100 per cent cotton muslin mat, which is a great place to safely leave the littlest member of your family.
The hanging toys include a muslin and wooden grasping ring, which can also be detached to turn into an antibacterial teether, a muslin and satin squeaker to enhance hand-eye coordination, and a rattle to strengthen motor abilities. There’s also a mirror to help with visual tracking and a soft tummy time pillow. With its chicly muted colour scheme, it’ll look great in your living room too.
Buy now £72.00, Aden + Anais
Little Dutch Little Farm Play Gym
When it comes to Scandi chic kids’ toys, nobody does it better than Little Dutch. This minimal wooden play gym will appeal to those who are looking to keep their homes as plastic-free as possible when it comes to their little ones’ toys. Ideal for those aged 0-6 months, the Little Farm design includes three cute activity toys - a cheerful sheep, a plump chicken and a colourful flower.
The dangling plush toys have been designed to develop hand-eye coordination, improve motor skills and stimulate the senses every time your baby reaches for one of them. Team it with one of your own playmats or a Little Dutch mat for extra comfort, and it can easily be stored away when you’re not using it. Although it’s so lovely to look at you’ll probably be more than happy to leave it out in the open.
Buy now £49.00, Kidly
Mamas and Papas Welcome to the World 3 Piece Under the Sea Playmat Bundle
Yes, this Mamas and Papas baby gym may be one of the most expensive options on our list, but there’s a good reason for that. This bundle includes three brilliant products for your baby: a super comfy padded faux-fur play mat with raised sides (great for stopping babies from rolling away) and an inflatable interactive seat where your baby can enjoy independent playtimes and a supportive tummy time roll.
The brand has thought of everything here, including a chime, crinkle, baby-safe mirror and a rattle to provide a full sensory experience. The play mat also comes complete with adorable hanging sea creatures, a musical hanging toy and a handy textured teether. Invest in this and you’ll have the full kit to keep your little one happy and secure as they develop.
Buy now £159.00, Mamas and Papas
Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes Music and Language Discovery Activity Gym
You’ve likely spotted this baby gym in your friend’s playroom, or on social media – it’s a hugely popular option with parents, and it’s not hard to see why. Baby Einstein knows what it is doing when it comes to creating toys that enhance your baby’s development, and this activity gym promises to engage all of your little one’s senses.
There are seven detachable toys to play with, as well as a prop pillow to help make tummy time more comfortable. But the real draw here is the Magic Touch piano, which can be played with just the touch of a finger or the kick of a foot. There are over 25 minutes of music to entertain and soothe your baby, as well as over 70 sounds and activities. What’s more, the piano introduces four languages – English, Spanish, French and German – so you can get their linguistic skills kickstarted from an early age. Well, they don’t call themselves Baby Einstein for nothing…
Buy now £40.00, John Lewis
Kaloo My Scalable & Sensory Activity Playmat
French brand Kaloo has been creating stylish baby and kids’ products for 25 years and is known for making toys that look good while also appealing to little imaginations. This playmat does just that. Developed in collaboration with psychometricians, it’s suitable from birth up to 24 months and has been designed to accompany your baby's first moments of life with a range of sensory experiences.
Little ones will love the sweet cat-shaped toys and the soft colours, while parents will love the fact that the mat is made from PVC, meaning it’s super easy to wipe clean when it inevitably gets dirty. Thanks to its clever modular design it can also be laid out in a variety of different ways, to create a motor course or even a small footstool, so it’s pleasingly versatile (and easy to pack away when you’re no longer using it).
Buy now £91.01, Amazon
Verdict
For those looking for a baby gym that covers all the bases, our top pick is the VTech Baby 7-in-1 Grow with Baby Sensory Gym – with its fun detachable xylophone and the ability to turn into a mini ball pit, it will keep your little one entertained for months (and even years) to come. If you’re looking for a chicer, more minimal option, go for the Little Green Sheep Curved Wooden Baby Play Gym, which is beautifully made from all-natural materials.
