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7 Best Baby Playmats for Tummy Time (2025 Reviews)

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Tummy time is essential to your baby’s development and will help them build the core and neck strength they need to hold their head up, sit up, and eventually stand and walk. While a blanket or the carpet works, a playmat offers a safe, soft, and comfortable place for your baby to practice this skill. They also provide extra entertainment and versatility, allowing your baby to use them for more than just tummy time.

There are hundreds of playmats on the market, and not all of them will work well for tummy time. I’ve created this list of the 7 best baby playmats for tummy time to help you find the one that’ll work best for your child.

The Best Baby Playmats for Tummy Time

  • 1. Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano Gym

    (Most fun — $$)

    Why it’s great: Fisher-Price has been making engaging toys and accessories for babies and kids for decades. This playmat is adorable with a jungle theme. The mat is soft enough for your baby to lay on, whether they’re on their stomach or their back. There’s a toy bar that’ll keep your child entertained while on their back, and it’s removable to provide enough space for tummy time. There’s a little piano that your baby can kick with their feet to make their own music. As your baby gets a little older and starts sitting up, the piano can be flipped up to a horizontal position, increasing the toy’s longevity. Your little one will love banging on the piano keys. There’s also a mirror that can be moved and clipped in different places around the playmat.

    Keep in mind: The mat is relatively small, so your baby may outgrow laying on it around 6-9 months, depending on their size. However, they can still sit on it and play the piano.

    Good for: Parents who want a fun playmat that’ll keep their baby entertained.

    Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano Gym

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 2. Yookidoo Baby 3-in-1 Infant Activity Center

    (Most portable — $$$)

    Why it’s great: This mat is the perfect accessory for newborns on the go because it folds up neatly in half, with room for all the toys, and has handles for easy portability. It comes with a pillow that assists in tummy time, and the pillow has two loops to attach toys. It also comes with a mirror that your little one will love looking in and two toy bars with three removable toys/rattles. Whether on their back or their stomach, your baby will have a blast. As your little one gets a little older, the mat has supports that turn the mat into a seat where your baby can sit up and play with the toys.

    Keep in mind: There isn’t enough support in the upright position to keep your child from slumping over when they’re sitting up, but it does have a lap belt to keep them from falling out. If your little one is getting close to sitting up on their own, it’s more likely they’ll be able to stay upright when in this seat.

    Good for: Parents who need a portable playmat so they can have their baby do tummy time on the go.

    Yookidoo Baby 3-in-1 Infant Activity Center

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 3. Bright Starts Tummy Time Baby Activity Mat

    (Best budget option — $)

    Why it’s great: This adorable little mat is brightly colored with a rainbow and a unicorn. It comes with a pillow that assists in tummy time and has a mirror and a toy attached at the top. Both toys are removable in case your little one wants to play with them on their own. The mat is machine washable and is small and easy to roll up for storage or portability. You can also choose from three other adorable designs.

    Keep in mind: This playmat was designed specifically for tummy time and doesn’t have anything to entertain your child for playtime on their back.

    Good for: Parents that need an affordable tummy time mat.

    Bright Starts Tummy Time Baby Activity Mat

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 4. Skip Hop Baby Play Gym

    (Most comfortable — $$$)

    Why it’s great: This playmat will have your baby lying on a bed of clouds. The cute cloud and star design is both adorable and functional. The cloud pillow helps prop your baby up for tummy time, and the whole mat is super soft and comfortable, with one side extra plush. It has two toy bars that cross over the top, and it includes five toys, all with different developmental activities. Your child will love looking in the sun mirror, listening to the sheep’s music, rattling the bird, squeaking the cloud, or watching the light-up star.

    Keep in mind: This one doesn’t fold up very well for storage, so it takes up a good amount of space.

    Good for: Parents who want a super soft playmat for their baby.

    Skip Hop Baby Play Gym

    View on Amazon.com ➜

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  • 5. Infantino 4-in-1 Jumbo Baby Activity Gym & Ball Pit

    (Most versatile — $$)

    Why it’s great: This adorable sloth playmat will last your child into toddlerhood. It comes with a pillow to prop your baby up for tummy time, toy bars, three toys, and a mirror. It also has a huge sloth that hangs either inside or outside the mat area. Your baby can practice tummy time or have playtime on their back with this mat. Plus, as your little one gets older, the sides can be raised with the included supports to turn it into a ball pit. It even comes with 40 balls!

    Keep in mind: The mat is pretty thin and doesn’t offer much protection on a hard floor, so it’s best if you can place it on the carpet.

    Good for: Parents who want a playmat that they can use in different ways.

    Infantino 4-in-1 Jumbo Baby Activity Gym & Ball Pit

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 6. Splashin'kids Inflatable Tummy Time Mat

    (Most unique — $)

    Why it’s great: This playmat is super unique. You fill the outer walls with air and fill the inner mat with water. It has five foam toys that float around inside it that your little one will love pushing around. They also love the squishy feeling of the water mat. It offers a different sensation that babies love to explore, encouraging them to lay on the mat and work to hold themselves up so they can see all the fish and undersea life. It’s also very easy to wipe clean if your baby spits up on it.

    Keep in mind: There’s not really enough room for your baby to lay fully on this mat; instead, they would use the sides to help them prop themselves up and look and play with the mat while on their tummy.

    Good for: Parents looking for a playmat that will actually encourage their baby to practice tummy time.

    Splashin'kids Inflatable Tummy Time Mat

    View on Amazon.com ➜

  • 7. teytoy Baby Cotton Play Mat

    (Largest mat — $)

    Why it’s great: This playmat is one of the largest of the options and is made of super-soft cotton. It’s thick and comfortable for little ones to lay on and features vibrant colors, animals, and an alphabet border. It’s perfect for tummy time, playtime, and for older babies who are rolling over and learning to crawl. It also has a non-slip bottom, so it stays in place whether it’s on the carpet, wood, or tile floors. It folds up easily for storage or portability, and it’s machine washable for added convenience.

    Keep in mind: This one doesn’t come with any toys or accessories.

    Good for: Parents who want a large mat that’ll work for tummy time and beyond.

    teytoy Baby Cotton Play Mat

    View on Amazon.com ➜

Best Overall

Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano Gym

The Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano Gym is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..

Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano Gym

View on Amazon.com ➜

FAQs about Baby Playmats for Tummy Time

  • 1. What surface is best for tummy time?

    A firm, flat surface works the best for tummy time, but you also want your baby to be comfortable. That’s where a soft blanket or playmat comes into play. They’re easy to set up on the ground and give your child a safe place to practice their tummy time.

  • 2. Why should I get a playmat for tummy time?

    Playmats typically have toys or other activities that will keep your baby engaged and enthralled when they’re practicing tummy time. There are many different types of mats, but all of them provide a safe and comfortable place for your child to work on this skill.

  • 3. What age do I start tummy time?

    According to the AAP, you can start tummy time as soon as you bring your little one home from the hospital. The earlier the better, as they’ll get used to it faster and tolerate it better if you start right away. However, it’s never too late to start, and this is a great way for your baby to strengthen their muscles and begin learning neck control.

  • 4. What are the safety concerns with using a playmat for tummy time?

    When you bring a new baby home, they need constant supervision, no matter what they’re doing. During tummy time, it’s imperative that you make sure they aren’t smashing their face into the ground and blocking their airways. This is something you’ll need to do whether they’re on a playmat, blanket, or just the carpet. Other than that, check the toys that come attached to the playmat and make sure they don’t have sharp edges or anything that could potentially pinch little fingers.

  • 5. What should I look for in a playmat for tummy time?

    The playmat you choose is all up to personal preference. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time out or at other people’s houses, you may want to consider one that’s easily portable. If you’re going to separate tummy time from playtime, choose a basic, comfortable mat. If you think your baby needs entertainment to keep them engaged during tummy time, find one with toys or something that’ll catch their attention.

Conclusion

A new baby brings a lot of joy into parents’ lives, but also a lot of worry and stress. Finding the right accessories and equipment can help to make the newborn stage easier for everyone. This includes finding items that have multiple uses to save you money and space.

That’s where a playmat comes in. These mats are the perfect place for babies to practice tummy time, play with toys, engage in interaction, and even relax. This list offers a variety of choices with unique features, so you should be able to find one that suits your baby’s needs.