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8 of the best baby playmats 2024

Two babies on a playmat

WHAT IS A BABY PLAYMAT?

A baby playmat is some kind of padded flat surface. They differ from activity gyms, which typically have an overhead arch and many more features to stimulate and entertain.

Now that so many homes have hard floors rather than carpets, they have become popular as a way of making the floor softer and warmer to the touch for a baby.

There is also a new generation of beautifully designed playmats which match your home’s aesthetic in the same way a rug would. They are so nice you can have them down permanently instead of packing them away at the end of each play session. These also have a life beyond a baby or young child and can be used for yoga, pilates and other types of exercise.

Do you need a playmat?

No, they are by no means essential. Especially if you have carpet or rugs. And if you have pets with claws, it’s worth considering that they can damage playmats.

But they are a nice item to have and can be used for:

  • a play area for older babies.

  • somewhere for placing a newborn baby.

  • doing tummy time.

  • a soft, cushioned space for a child when they are starting to crawl and when they are learning to sit up and may often wobble and fall down.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLAYMATS?

There are two main types:

  • Puzzle playmat: These are foam tiles with interlocking tabs like a jigsaw. They come in sets so you can build a play area and extend the size if necessary. These are easy and quick to store as you just dismantle the mat and stack the tiles up. They also give you more flexibility with the size and shape of the mat.

    Some puzzle playmats come with a warning that they are not suitable for children under three. This is due to the concern a small child may chew off a tab and choke. So if you use this type of playmat with a younger child, ensure they are always supervised.

  • One-piece playmat: These are like rugs so can be rolled up when not in use. Occasionally they are foldable instead. They can be made from soft fabric or foam. There is also some variation in the type of foam used. It is usually EVA, PVC or PU (polyurethane). Sometimes it’s also memory foam.

Baby on the floor

Which material is best for playmats?

A foam playmat will suit many as it’s waterproof and wipe clean. However, they are made from plastic, which is derived from crude oil so obviously not great for the environment.

EVA is phthalates and BPA-free. It does contain formamide though, which is a reproductive toxin so could affect fertility. For this reason, ensure you are buying formamide-free EVA. If the mat has been certified as complying with the British Safety standard EN71, it will either be formamide-free or have very low, safe levels.

It is not particularly eco-friendly as it is hard to recycle and most will end up in landfill and is not biodegradable. There is, however, an additive called EcoPure® which helps to speed up this process.

PVC contains BPA, which has been linked to several health issues. BPA is only banned in the UK in baby bottles and any packaging for baby food and drink. So it’s important to check that your mat is BPA-free. The Totter + Tumble playmat is made from PVC but is certified toxin-free, including BPA.

PVC is not considered to be an eco-friendly material as the manufacturing process releases toxins into the environment, it is hard to recycle and is not biodegradable.

PU (polyurethane): Like the others, it is hard to recycle and not biodegradable. However, less toxins are used to make it.

For all these materials, if you have any concerns check their safety certification. Look out for EN71 parts 1, 2 and 3.

THE BEST PLAYMATS TO BUY

This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:

  • Consumer reviews

  • Best-seller lists

  • Recommendations from industry experts

  • Award-winning products

  • Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.

The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 30 January 2024.

If you buy through a link, we may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.

 
 

1. Totter + Tumble

Credit: Totter + Tumble

 

Perhaps the best known of the new breed of stylish playmat. These are one-piece memory foam mats, which are reversible.

They come in the following sizes:

  • Standard - 210cm x 140cm

  • Compact - 185cm x 125cm. 

  • A limited edition round mat with a diameter of 138cm

  • Runner-style mat measuring 180cm x 65cm

Here’s everything else you need to know:

  • 1.3cm thick

  • Made from PVC memory foam.

  • Wide variety of designs from geometric to nature-inspired. The colours are all muted tones

  • To help you decide which one to get they have a design guide and a swatch service.

  • Tested to British and European Toy Standards EN71 and are so safe and toxin-free that they have passed the same level of testing as a teething toy.

  • Prices are from £80 to £160.

  • Free standard delivery

 
 

2. Rock Stepper

Rock Stepper playmat
 

This is unlike anything else on the market. It is a reversible memory foam playmat which has educational elements on one side. It comes with flashcards and an app to introduce numbers and phonics to your child.

Here’s everything else you need to know:

  • The mat measures 140 x 190cm and is 1.3cm deep.

  • Made from non-toxic PVC memory foam with no BPA, phthalates, lead, latex, formamide, formaldehyde, EVA and flame retardants.

  • The reverse of the educational side has a lovely, neutral pattern.

  • Waterproof and wipe clean.

  • Fine to use with underfloor heating.

  • The mat has passed the European EN71 Toy Safety Standards and has the CE mark.

  • It costs £195.

  • Free next working day delivery.

 
 

3. Skip Hop Reversible Playmat

Reversible world map playmat
 

Skip Hop is an American brand selling a range of reliably good baby products. This is a one-piece padded foam playmat.

Here’s everything you need to know:

  • Comes in one size: 218 x 132cm.

  • It is 1cm thick.

  • Reversible with one side being a modern, neutral design and the other side being more child-friendly with a map of the world.

  • PVC-free and Phthalate-free.

  • They have been tested to meet or exceed EN71 safety standards.

 
 

4. KIDOOLA Large Baby Play Mat

Baby and toddler playmat
 

Reversible memory foam playmat made by a British company. What makes this one different is that it is folded for storage instead of rolled. This means it can be quickly and easily stored and doesn’t have the rolled-up curl when re-laid.

Here’s everything else you need to know:

  • It measures 197 x 177 cm and folds down to 89 x 40 x 15 cm.

  • 1 cm thick.

  • Comes in three double-sided designs: A giraffe height chart/road with animals, a bear height chart/number and animals and fish/road.

  • Made from non-toxic foam.

 
 

5. Gus + Beau

Gus + Beau jigsaw foam play mat

Credit: Gus + Beau

 

Puzzle playmats in a lovely range of colours and patterns including Miffy, the very popular rabbit from the Dick Bruna books.

Here is everything you need to know:

  • Each tile is 60 x 60cm. They’re available to buy in sets of 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24, giving a surface area from 120 x 180cm up to 240 x 360cm.

  • They have a good thickness of 1.4cm.

  • Made from EVA foam, which is BPA-free, phthalate-free and lead-free.

  • There are five designs: stars, triangles, confetti, crosses and Miffy.

  • The main background colour can be white, sand, mint or grey.

  • It’s possible to buy extra single tiles as a replacement, which is very useful if one becomes damaged.

  • A storage bag is available for £12.

  • EU and US safety certified.

  • Prices range from £70 to £280.

  • Free express delivery in the UK.

 
 

6. TLCmat Soft Foam Play Mat

Puzzle playmat
 

A traditional, very brightly coloured, good value puzzle playmat from a UK business. They are not recommended for children under three years old because of the risk of choking if a baby pulled an interlocking tab off. Some of the tiles also have pop-out items which could be chewed. However many use them with constantly supervised babies.

Everything you need to know:

  • Each tile measures 30.5 x 30.5cm. They are available in packs of 6, 10, 12, 18 and 36.

  • The mat is 1cm thick.

  • There are a variety of designs available: alphabet, number, animal, transport, shapes and plain.

  • Made from EVA foam.

  • The mats have been tested to the standards of EN71: Part 1, 2 and 3.

7. Tiny Love Super Mat

Tiny Love Super Mat
 

This is a fabric mat which is a cross between a play mat and an activity gym. There are no overhead activities but the mat has a mirror, a crinkly texture, a teether and rattling sounds. They are all attached to the mat.

Everything else you need to know:

  • This ‘Meadow Days’ mat is brightly coloured and features animals, insects, houses, hills, lakes and trees.

  • It is 150 x 100cm.

  • Suitable from birth.

  • It can be folded and secured and has an integrated carry handle.

  • Machine washable.

  • Also available is a black and white ‘Magical Tales’ mat.

8. BAby Einstein tummy time Water play mat

Water playmat
 

An inflatable water mat designed to encourage a baby to do tummy time.

Everything you need to know:

  • It’s small at 24 inches wide but it’s only really designed for tummy time and it is relatively cheap.

  • Fill the outer ring with air and the inner ring with water.

  • Six brightly coloured floated creatures inside which can be moved about.

  • Can be used from newborn upwards.

  • There is a plug for refilling and emptying the water.

  • Can be folded when empty.

  • Comes in two different underwater designs.

 
 

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