Play mat, or take home with you

They say it isn’t worth becoming attached to things. There is certainly some truth in that—perhaps quite a lot—but there are indeed objects so closely connected to important periods of our lives that, whether it is worthwhile or not, we become very attached to them.

These include our children’s first things: their first outfit, first toy, blanket—and even their first play mat. It will always appear in the photos taken during that period, and when we put it away, we will feel as though a piece of furniture is missing from the room; somehow, it will seem empty.

At first, we may not even realize how many ways we can use it. We’ll tell you about our five favorite activities to do on our play mats, and why we love having them with us all the time!

 Safe

As long as our baby is so tiny that, apart from turning their head, they cannot do much else, we can safely place them on our bed or sofa (strictly surrounded by cushions, of course). At this stage, we may even be able to take our eyes off them for a minute or two; it is quite likely that they will stay put. (They should never be left alone in a high place, such as on a changing table, even if they are a newborn and asleep. The chances of anything happening may be small, but it is not impossible, so don’t take the risk!) But the moment we see that they are starting to roll around, it is better to begin using the mat more often. It is very soft, so they can roll around comfortably without bumping into anything, and if we happen to have to dash out of the room for something, we can be absolutely sure they will not fall off it!

The smell of home

Fortunately, we can easily take it with us anywhere where we plan to spend more time. (We can even use it outdoors; just put something underneath it so it does not get dirty and can be used indoors again afterward.) We cannot say that it fits into a very small space, since it is larger than an average baby mat, but it is not difficult to pack up and will be very useful when we want to put our baby down for a while when visiting someone. Its smell and texture will be familiar, so the baby will spend that time more peacefully while their parents also relax and chat a little.

Playing together

Especially when there is an older sibling, the play mat can become their own little world, where the older child first shows the younger one how to play with blocks, stuffed animals, or anything else. At first, the little one will only watch, perhaps trying to chew on one or two pieces, but before they know it, they will get used to being together while playing—and, as an added bonus, they will entertain each other wonderfully.

Of course, there is easily enough room for the parents to join them, making it a great place for family reading or relaxing. It will also reassure the baby that, although they are lying separately rather than in someone’s arms, they are still close to everyone important to them.

Builds strength

We recently read that a play mat is the equivalent of a baby gym, which is adorable on the one hand—just imagine babies “working out”—and completely true on the other!

It is not the mat itself that makes the baby stronger—although it would be wonderful to have such a magic exercise mat for adults, one we could simply lie on and become muscular…—but rather the fact that we try to place the baby on their tummy as often as possible, so they have to lift their head and thereby strengthen their neck and back. At first, this will only be a few minutes a day, and we should be careful not to let them overexert themselves.

Encourages rolling, crawling, and creeping

There is no safer place for our baby’s first rolls from back to tummy, or vice versa, than the mat. If they notice a toy they cannot reach but really want to grab, sooner or later they will figure out how to get it—the only thing they have to do is roll toward it. From there, using a similar method, it is a straight path to creeping: if there is a colorful, exciting object in front of them, they will keep struggling until they reach it. Then they will realize that this movement earns them a family celebration: everyone rushes over, applauds, and cheers, while they proudly clutch their prize.