Tummy Time & Activity Gyms

Tummy time is pretty much what it sounds like: a time during the day that your little one spends on their tummy while they’re awake. Tummy time became popular right around the time the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) launched the Back to Sleep, Tummy to Play campaign. This initiative recommends that parents and caregivers place healthy infants on their backs for sleep to reduce instances of SIDS, and on their tummies while they’re awake for play to prevent flat head spots and help with muscle development. Read our expert guide to tummy time and learn more.

Doing tummy time with your little one is more than just cute—it comes with a ton of benefits. Here are easy tips for parents starting tummy time: - Muscle development and improved motor skills. Tummy time helps babies strengthen the muscles in their necks, backs, trunks and shoulders. Your little one needs strong muscles to hit milestones like sitting, crawling and walking. - Preventing a flat spot. While back is best for sleep, prolonged time on their backs can cause a flat spot on the head (called plagiocephaly) for some babies. Getting in a few sessions of tummy time each day can help prevent this.

Whether you call it a playmat, play gym or an activity gym, the idea is the same: a brightly colored and interactive mat for your baby’s play time. They come in lots of different sizes, shapes and themes and provide a safe, comfy spot for your little one to relax, play and work on their developing skills. These entertaining playmats will keep your baby busy and offer a clean space for babies to practice tummy time, develop motor skills, and engage in sensory play.

Consider features like soft and durable materials, easy-to-clean surfaces, non-slip bottoms, colorful patterns, stimulating textures and additional features like toys or hanging mobiles. The best playmats offer a variety of visuals, sounds and textures, whereas our editor’s favorite swings and bouncers may only have one or two small plush toys.

You can use a playmat or play gym from day one, but interest peaks when they are a few months old. During this stage, your baby is developing hand-eye coordination, so grasping for the dangling toys is good practice. Once your baby starts to crawl, they’ll move on to other toys (literally!). Here’s our guide to play gyms 3-6 month old babies love the most.

Most baby playmats are versatile and can be used on various floor types, including hardwood, carpet and tile. Ensure the playmat has a non-slip backing for stability. As your little one goes from cuddly baby to curious crawler to playful toddler, a larger designated for play can be helpful. Our baby floor mat buying guide can help you find durable options that stand up to playtime and look great in your home.