This one arrived much like a rug or a roll of carpet, and we were excited to unroll it with the help of our four-year-old tester, whose first instinct was to lie down on it – a sure sign of how inviting it is. Soon enough, we joined her, equally relishing in the comfort of this play mat. Made from 1.3cm thick memory foam, it’s well cushioned and gently moulds to you, which makes it great for yoga or exercise, too.
Beyond its practicality, we were swooning over the attractiveness of this one. The keeper play mat features hexagon patterns in honey yellow. Flip the mat over and there’s a complementary blue pattern – both are effortlessly stylish and we still can’t decide which pattern we prefer.
The play mat feels incredibly tactile, making a soft, stylish space for babies, children and adults. The “compact” version will cover 185cm x 125cm or you can upgrade to the “standard” which is a whopping 210cm x 140cm. Of course, unlike the tile options, this isn’t easily portable but, trust us, it looks so good you won’t want to hide it away.
This circular quilted playmat from Little Green Sheep is the perfect size for those early months. Made from super soft 100 per cent cotton, at 120cm diameter it makes a soft surface on which babies can chill and kick their legs out. There’s a non-slip backing to ensure it stays put, and you also get a cotton travel bag, which is handy for taking it outside in the garden or to the park.
While it will only be used for the first few months when baby is happy lying on their back or during tummy time, it is the perfect size to place in a teepee once the baby days are over. It’s also machine washable for when those inevitable messy baby moments take place.
