Baby Gyms and Play Mats Buying Guide
We've all been to the gym 
and most of us go grudgingly, but for baby, the gym is a completely different experience. From birth, babies are learning and exploring textures, sights, sounds, movement and even how their bodies function. Every toy or object or food placed in front of them is a brand new phenomenon about which they can learn. Baby gyms and play mats are created to help introduce babies to new feelings and sights, and toys that hang off the gyms help improve hand eye coordination as well as develop large muscle movement. Most play gyms have similar features. Your baby's preferences can help you find the right gym.
Gym Must Haves
You must have these features when it comes to a baby gym and play mat:
- Foldable: There is nothing more annoying then trying to pack some items when leaving the house and finding that the one thing that entertains your baby won't fit in the car. Make sure your baby gym is easy to fold.
- Washable: Forget anything you can't throw in the washing machine. Your baby will be spending a lot of time on these mats, and you never know what kind of mess they'll make.
- Durable: If it isn't durable, it will fall apart, and that is the last thing you want to have happen to your child's favourite toy. It may take weeks or months to find something to replace it.
Baby Gyms
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Basic Baby Gym
Most, if not all, basic baby gyms include similar features such as: - A soft colourful mat upon which baby can lay.
- One or two plastic arches which hold visually-stimulating toys.
- Several dangling toys which can be removed or added as needed.
Special Items for which to look: - A mirror toy. It will fascinate baby.
- A toy that can play music so baby is entertained for more time.
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Convertible Baby Gyms
Convertible baby gyms are characterized by their ability to change size for different aged babies. They usually do not come with the soft mat upon which baby can lay. |
Play Mats
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Play Mats
A play mat is simply a cushioned mat made of colourful, soft materials. It still stimulates baby's mind due to the texture and colour, but it does not come with toys.
Advantage: - There are no noises or lights which can scare baby.
Disadvantage: - Mum or Dad needs to be actively entertaining baby.
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Related Buying Guides
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Baby Toys - There are many many baby toys being produced every year. Which are good? Which are bad? Find out here.
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Nappies - Nappies are a necessary evil to raising children, but they don't have to be scary. Here is some advice.
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Prams - Getting from one place to another is no longer an easy task now that you have a baby. But a pram might help in the process.
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