Do You Need A Baby Play Mat? Not Really But…

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If you’re anything like me… I’m sure that you have found yourself staring at your wood or tile floor and thought to yourself that it might be a good idea to get something that will help make that hard floor softer. Just something that would provide some sort of cushion for when your baby starts walking and inevitably falls. And, they will fall many many times (by the way). So, you find yourself asking yourself do I need a baby play mat? Well, I’ll be upfront and say…

No, you do not need a baby play mat. While they do foster cognitive, visual & gross motor development, you can get the same benefits and save money by using a colorful thick blanket instead.

“Reese in the Baby Jail” by Donnie Ray Jones is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Baby Play Mat Benefits

You probably thought that a play mat’s only benefit is to cushion your baby for when they fall. And, their colorful designs we’re just that… designs. But, that’s not quite the whole story. Their primary role is to provide a safer environment for your child to play. But, they also have benefits for your child that are equally as important.

#1 – Cognitive Development

First off, they assist in your child’s cognitive development by teaching them primary circular reactions and the basics of cause and effect. Primary Circular Reactions involve coordinating sensation and new schemas¹. For example, your child may hit their toy xylophone on accident and then later intentionally repeat the action because they found that the sound it made was pleasurable.

By engaging with new stimuli and seeing what happens… they learn the basics of cause and effect. And, a baby play mat is a perfect environment for this to happen. They provide a large safe space where your child can explore on their own at their own pace.

#2 – Visual Development

What’s even more interesting is that while your baby is crawling around… they are improving their visual development. Most babies start crawling at about 8 months old. And, the more they crawl, the more they develop (through repetition) their eye-hand-foot-body coordination. Early walkers who do minimal crawling may not learn to use their eyes together as well as babies who crawl a lot².

#3 – Gross Motor Development

But, crawling like crazy isn’t only good for cognitive and visual development… it also speeds up gross motor development. In other words, your baby develops their core muscle groups. Their arms, legs, hands, torso, neck and more start to build muscle. And, it’s through the development of these muscles that enable your baby to hold his/her head up, sit, crawl and eventually walk, run and skip³.

So, if baby play mats provide all of these benefits for your child… why am I not telling you to run out and get one as soon as possible? That’s because I’m pretty sure you have one already. Well, technically you don’t. But, I guarantee you that you have a perfect substitute for one somewhere in your closet.

Baby Play Mat Alternative

What’s this perfect substitute that you already have? A nice thick blanket! Preferably one that is brightly colored. And, it is even better if it has a contrasting pattern. And, if you don’t have a thick blanket you can always use a thinner one and just fold it in half to make it thicker. See, I told you that you already have one ready to go.

What If I Want To Buy One?

I’m all about showing you ways that I save. But, I know that there are people out there who went shopping and found the cutest baby play mat and they just have to buy it. Well, there’s nothing wrong with that either. I mean the concept of a baby play mat is so simple that it’s hard to mess it up. Just make sure it will provide impact cushion for your child. And, that it’s big enough to allow your child to crawl till their heart’s content.

How Do I Clean My Baby’s Playmat?

If you do end up buying a play mat and you’re wondering how to clean it… here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way. If the mat is made of foam or plastic… you have two ways you can clean it up. The first (and easiest) is just to spray disinfectant on the surface and wipe it clean. To make it even easier, buy those Lysol disinfectant wipes and use them to clean it up. But, this method of cleaning won’t work if your playmat is made a fabric. For these, wipe the surface down with a sponge dipped in warm soapy water and try to get as much dirt off as possible. Then let it dry completely before using it again.

Which Baby Play Mat To Steer Clear From?

If you have your heart set on skipping the thick blanket and buying an actual playmat… there is one specific one that I’d advise not to get. Whatever you do, don’t get the one pictured up above with the interlocking alphabet with removable letters. I know it looks cute. And, the bright contrasting design will match pretty much any nursery decor.

But, remember when we talking about primary circular reactions up above. Well, the first thing your child will do is accidentally pull up a letter. Then they will purposely pull out all of the letters. Finally, they will just tear the whole puzzle apart. All because doing so will provide them the greatest pleasure. So, you will no longer have a “cute” play mat. You end up with a stack of colorful foam pieces that your child will never put back together. Trust me, I speak from experience. OK… don’t say I didn’t warn you.

In Conclusion

You should allow your baby to roam free now and then. Regardless if you end up buying a baby playmat or use a brightly colored thick blanket. The benefits to their cognitive, visual and gross motor development can’t be ignored. And besides, it’s pretty fun when you join in on playtime with your little one.

By Grace – Child Development Associate Teacher in California

My husband Mark and I have been blessed with two beautiful, smart, positive (I can go on and on) girls… Kenzie & Kayla. And, we have learned many tips and tricks while raising them. Tips and tricks that we felt would be useful to other new parents out there. So, we started WAYISAVE as a website built by parents for parents to share the best baby deals, coupons, tips, tricks and the occasional piece of advice.