10 Best Tummy Time Mats & Cushions for Babies in 2024
Ana
Angeline Mirenda
Tummy time is one of the most important activities that you can do with your baby. It is essential to their development. The time they spend on their tummy develops their shoulders, arms, neck, and upper back muscles. It gets them lifting up their head and ready to face the world. It is always a great time to practice their motor skills. It allows them to reach and pull preparing them to sit up, roll over, and crawl. Most often babies are not huge fans of this activity at first. That is why tummy time mats have been created. They provide encouragement with engaging scenes and toys to provide the stimulation that they seek. Below are the vest tummy time mats and cushions for babies.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 15 hrs of research
Is a super-sized mat for play and tummy time
Has activity toys, mirror, and teether on the mat
Fold easy for travel and on-the-go
Includes different textures for baby to feel
Two color schemes are available for parents to choose
10 Best Tummy Time Mats & Cushions Reviewed
1. Tiny Love Meadow Days
Is a super-sized mat for play and tummy time
Has activity toys, mirror, and teether on the mat
Fold easy for travel and on-the-go
Includes different textures for baby to feel
Two color schemes are available for parents to choose
A few parents say that it is not made of cotton as the description says – more of a nylon material
Some reviewers claim that it is thin and could be bigger
Tiny Love Meadows Super Play Mat is a large, lush playground for Baby! This mat measures 35” x 59” and is full of fun, varied textures that provide safe opportunities for children to develop their motor skills. A peekaboo tree and crinkly-tailed fox stimulate little ones with cute, interactive features. The removable mirror teaches facial recognition and an attached teether will soothe your little one all throughout playtime.
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There are two color choices available for the parent to choose from and the super mat has plenty of fun activities attached to it. Several different textures are part of the fabric that covers the super mat, so baby’s motor skills are exercised by just feeling around. This mat is so colorful and adorable, and its versatility makes it a valuable item to have for tummy time anywhere, anytime.
Accessories
The play mirror on the mat will excite your infant when they look into it, and the teether can help when he or she needs to chew on something. It comes with a travel bag, so it can be used on the go too.
Ease of Use
It works well outside or inside and is very easy to clean.
2. Baby Care Haute Collection
Padded but not too soft
Soothing design and color
Highly portable
Great for teaching your baby how to walk
Might not lay flat immediately after unboxing
Baby Care’s Haute Collection Play Mat is a chic addition to any room! For tots that are trendy and fashionable, this is an elegant playmat that can stay unfurled all year. It comes in fifteen different designs, all of which are reversible so you’re getting two playmats for the price of one! These mats are roughly the size of a queen mattress and don’t require any assembly. The innovative cushioning keeps your child comfortable and the easy wipe-down materials are safe and free from nasty chemicals and toxins.
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The Haute Collection by Baby Care provides super clean, hygienic, and padded but firm mats for babies to play on while they’re learning how to crawl and walk. This may is perfect for playtime since it fits multiple people on it, and it’s also a great starting place to help your baby stretch and exercise his or her legs. Not to mention, the design of this mat is calm and will soothe your baby every time they’re on it!
Accessories
It provides support without being too squishy and pads a fall in the event that there is one.
Ease of Use
There is a reversible side to this mat for your baby once they’re older and it features a plethora of colors and shapes that they’ll love looking at.
3. Infantino Prop-A-Pillar
Convertible between two modes of play
Adorable caterpillar design
Unfolds for tummy time, curls up for sit and play
Two interactive toys included
Helps ease colic and reflux in little ones
Toy Velcros together when stacked, and sometimes will come undone under too much weight and pressure
The Infantino Prop-a-Pillar is one of the best sitting playmats on the market. This creative little guy provides proper support for babies to sit up and view the world. The adorable caterpillar can then be unfurled to provide a squiggly playmat with cushioning for tummy time. A detachable mirror and teething ring provide textures and activities to engage Baby’s growing mind and keep them stimulated as they play.
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The Infantino Prop-a-Pillar is made up of two detachable and adjustable toys. Position them in an interlocking position with their base to make a cute, cozy little cubby for baby to sit and play in. Or spread them out like a curly caterpillar to give your little one a comfy play mat to prop themselves up on for tummy time.
Accessories
A mirror allows baby to play peekaboo with their own reflection. The “C” shaped sit-and-play mode provides ample support and cushioning. The prop pillow encourages baby to engage and grow their head and neck muscles. And two fun interactive toys attach to the set, giving baby something to reach, grab, shake, and play with.
Ease of Use
This cute, cuddly caterpillar will give the baby back support when they want to sit, and happy stomach support when it’s tummy time. They‘ll love the bright, engaging colors and the attached toys meant to develop motor skills and finger dexterity, along with head and neck strength. Not to mention it is super easy to position
4. Snuggle Me Organic Patented
Made of 100% Organic Cotton and filled with virgin polyester fiberfill
Provides a unique hugging, wedging, snug feeling for baby
Has a light-weight design
Perfect as a tummy time mat or travel mat
Includes a washable cover and travel bag with zipper
Sheets are not tight fitting and the flop around
Baby outgrows the pad quickly
The Snuggle Me Organic Sensory Lounger is a plush upgrade from your regular tummy time mat. This little guy cradles Baby with a slightly raised perimeter and cushy middle. Since it’s so compact, it’s a favorite among families on-the-go, as it’s lightweight and easy to travel with. Made from 100% Organic Cotton and virgin polyester fill, it’s as safe as it is snuggly!
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This lounger is perfect for letting the baby relax in the most possible comfort. He or she will have the most restful experience in this super soft cushion. Several colors and pattern choices are available for the sheet covering to best fit your infant’s room or wardrobe scheme. It is also made out of 100% organic cotton and it is filled with the best polyester fiberfill.
Accessories
It comes with a zippered bag perfect for travel and a washable, softcover. The cover acts like a sheet that adds comfort to your infant’s experience.
Ease of Use
What is so amazing about this thick lounger is that it hugs your baby, holding them in place for safety and ultimate comfort. It is completely machine washable and dryable.
5. Skip Hop Silver Lining Cloud Baby
Soft oversized tummy time mat with hanging toys
Features a dreamy themed design with clouds and rainbows with a pop of neon
Includes five developmental stimulating toys
Cloud shaped pillow included for tummy time activities
Engages baby for sensory development
Mat is spot clean only, no machine washing
Lamb plays music for only a short time, about 20 seconds
Skip Hop’s Silver Lining Cloud Playmat is an immersive baby playmat! This design provides 360-degree stimulation and comfort. The musical sheep, light-up star, cloud squeaker, bird rattle, and sunny mirror are sure to titillate your tot. The tummy time cloud mat is an ultra-soft Minky fabric on one side and a playful print on the other. You’ll be happy your little one’s head is in the clouds here!
Read moreDesign
This baby tummy time and activity mat is a celestial themed to provide stimulation while they do what babies do best, play. It will offer hours of endless playtime fun. The mat is constructed of plush fabric and is puffy. It provides plenty of space with the oversized oval design. Included is a tummy time pillow that comes in the shape of a dreamy cloud. The pillow has two sides, one with velour and the other with a print that is super fun to look at.
Accessories
It features five hanging toys that light up, plays music, crinkles when squeezed, rattles around, and also provide a great place for them to get some relief from teething with a hanging teether. With pops of neon rainbows against the neutral palette of the clouds, it will stimulate their developing vision. From tummy time to playtime this mat will provide the mental and physical stimulation that your baby needs for their development.
Ease of Use
When babies have finished with tummy time for the day and need a break this mat then turns into an interactive gym with hanging toys for the baby to look at and play with.
6. Mary Meyer Bestever Lamb
Made from imported 100% polyester
Machine washable
Easy to fold and take anywhere
Ten different animal designs available
Great for boys or girls
A couple of reviewers say it needs to be thicker
A few complaints that the mat should be bigger (baby rolls over and is off of the mat)
Does anything make us want to curl up and cuddle quite like the site of a cute baby animal? Mark Meyer’s Bestever Baby Mat is just one giant, super soft animal-themed pillow! It’s available in 17 different designs: owls, horses, elephants, monkeys, lambs--you name it! It measures 31” x 21”, folds up easily for travel, and can be machine washed on delicate to keep it fresh and clean all year long!
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All are made in the design of an animal and there are ten separate animals to choose from so you can match the mat to your baby’s room décor. Choose from a giraffe, elephant, owl, bear or lamb, just to name a few of the selections. They are all so soft and cuddly so your baby will enjoy his or her tummy time. A few of the animals come in pink or blue, so there are equal options for boys and girls.
Accessories
Extra soft means extra comfort for your baby. Anyone of the animal patterns on these mats is thick and made with the softest material because your infant deserves the best.
Ease of Use
These mats are created of 100% polyester and they are so easy to clean as they are machine washable. For tummy time at home or away, these foldable, best ever mats can be taken anywhere.
7. Hape Foldable Waterproof Foam
Has two different colorful images on each side – is reversible
Made of safe foam materials
Long-lasting and durable
Easy to clean and store
Provides thick protection from hard surfaces
It may slick - hard for baby to get traction to crawl
Some say it is much thinner than described – not puffy at all
Whether you feel like heading downtown to scope out the city or adventuring out on a jungle safari, Hape’s got you and Baby covered. This double-sided playmat features two landscapes on a reversible 4’10” x 5’10” spread. It’s made of a durable, soft foam that folds up easily for travel, and can be wiped off, vacuumed, or shaken out for easy maintenance!
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Just flip it over to have a jungle or a railroad scene. This is truly a beautiful mat perfect for either boys or girls. This mat is made of chemical-free, safe foam material that will fold up and fit in small spaces. Before placing your infant on a hard floor or just a thin blanket, use this wonderful versatile mat to add comfort and protection to your baby’s tummy time.
Accessories
It is very unique that this mat has a beautiful, colorful image on both sides. This allows the baby to see a different picture and new colors when you flip it over.
Ease of Use
It is so easy to clean and store, plus it will last a long time. The material will not stain or absorb liquids – just wipe clean or vacuum.
8. Splashin'kids Inflatable Premium Water
Tummy time mat with water filled center
Constructed from heavy duty PVC
Air filled outside ring and water filled inside the ring
Features five brightly colored floating toys in the center
Promotes the development of hand eye coordination
PVC has a strong odor when first opened from the package
Toys inside don’t float well unless filled to capacity
Splashin’kids Inflatable Tummy Time Mat brings a little summer flare into the ring. This adorable sea-themed playmat features an air-filled perimeter and water-filled interior. Children will love the different textures of the mat and all of the bright ocean graphics on it! It measures 26” x 20” and folds up easily once emptied for travel.
Read moreDesign
This mat actually holds water and is super interactive. It is constructed from a super heavy duty PVC that will not leak. It is then filled with water to create a play mat that your baby will love. The design is like a fish tank that they can directly interact with.
Accessories
It offers bright colors, fun shapes, and toys that float. Inside the mat, there are six toys that float around in the water. Tummy time will never be the same after they experience a session with this mat.
Ease of Use
Set up is easy; simply fill the outside ring with air at the level that you feel is best for your baby. Younger babies usually need more air for more support. Then fill the inner area with water directly from your tap. Place on the floor and like the exploring begin. Once finished the air can be pressed out and the water drained. The mat then becomes flat again making it easy to store or even take on the go. It is best suited for babies that are over the age of 3 months. Combine tummy time and water mat time in one with this premium tummy time mat. Your baby will love spending time playing on this mat.
9. Bright Starts Prop & Play
The head of the animal design props up to bring toys closer
Includes a prop pillow
Made of plush material
Has a fish-shaped rubber teether, rattle, crinkle material and mirror for activities
Material that props up the head of the mat is thin – cardboard maybe
Some parents say it does not stay up to support the toys
Give your little one the gift of a big bear hug with this ultra-comfy tummy time mat! With two cuddly bears to help support children, they’ll gain neck strength and avoid flat-head syndrome. Satin loops provide a little extra tactile stimulation while a mirror helps build facial recognition and a toy rattle makes lots of fun noises when Baby decides to shake things up!
Read moreDesign
The koala mat is fabricated from soft plush material for a wonderful feel. A small u-shaped prop pillow is provided to hold up baby’s top half for added mobility. The best thing about this mat is that the head of the animal props up like a tent to bring items attached closer to the baby.
Accessories
The included mirror can be put on the side when upright so the infant can see themselves without you having to hold it. Babies just love looking at themselves in a mirror. The additional features of the mat include a rattle, mirror, teether and various textured fabrics. This cute mat would make a terrific tummy time mat for your baby!
Ease of Use
The pillow, mat, and toys are easy to clean.
10. Skip Hop Playspot Foam
Subtle and pretty design to fit any room
Heavily padded
Easy to put together
Can be pieced together in any type of design
There’s nothing stimulating or eye-catching
Looking for something versatile? The reversible mats are nice but why settle for two options when you can have infinitely more! The Skip Hop Playspot features forty foam puzzle pieces that you can rearrange to your heart’s content. This provides lots of different options for design and configuration! Make crazy shapes or mix up the color pattern. Plus, you can make your tummy time mat as big or as small as you please!
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The colors are muted and subtle, which makes them perfect for newborns and young toddlers. This also allows them to match whichever room they’re in and rather than other vibrantly-colored puzzle piece mats, these will blend seamlessly into any room and look more like a rug than a play mat.
Accessories
If we had to compare, these mats would be the more luxe version of the original puzzle piece mats. They’re more muted, a bit more elegant in design, but still the same comfortable and padded surface your baby will love.
Ease of Use
They’re padded and soft with thick foam so that your baby always has a soft surface to play on, easily cleaned and the best part? They can be pieced together and created in any design option you want!
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Design
Every mat and pillow featured on this page is created with safe materials that will not harm the baby if chewed, as most of them come with chew toys for teething attached. The materials are durable and will last a long time as your baby grows, providing a safe, enjoyable place for baby to exercise and explore. Some of the items explicitly state that their products are chemical-free and are completely safe for the infant.
Accessories
Tummy time mats are to be used for exercise and skill development, so the more activities and toys, the better. All of the items here have at least a few toys or textures to stimulate activity and movement from the infant. Teethers, rattles, plastic rings, mirrors, and crunchy textures are some of the added features that manufacturers put on the mats to increase the baby’s involvement and enjoyment during tummy time. Even the featured pillows have plenty of items on them to encourage the infant to reach out and feel the various items and move them around.
Some overall advantages for a baby to participate in tummy time are that it speeds up the mobility to roll over, sit up, and crawl. Head, neck, shoulder, and back muscles are exercised and the baby gets to spend some time on the stomach instead of the back. The added environment and the different perspective of things will increase the infant’s visual abilities too.
Ease of Use
Any baby item that is easy to clean, carry, store, and take with you is a welcomed article. All of the mats and pillows here are easy to clean and wash, either by hand or washing in the machine. The mats with toys must be wiped clean with soap and water or the toys can detach for machine washing. The toys themselves are mostly just wiped clean. The manufacturers of most of the mats provide a case or bag to put the mat in for easy transport.
Design Accessories Ease of Use 
Flat head syndrome, or Plagiocephaly, occurs when children lie on their backs for too long and their weight gets disproportionately distributed to the back of their skull. It won’t cause brain damage or interfere with your little one’s development but it will be noticeable when you’re looking down on your little pumpkin head.
Flat head can be avoided by actively engaging your baby in tummy time. Not only does this build strong neck muscles to begin teaching children how to hold their head up independently, but it also can improve their motor skills and cognitive recognition with the right playmat and tools!
Other Factors to Consider
Compatibility
If an item on the list is not gender-neutral, then it at least has the option to accommodate a boy or a girl equally. For example, one manufacturer offers bears and bunnies in blue or pink for this reason. It is important that these mats be offered in colors that could be for either sex because plenty of times these are gifts that may be purchased in advance of knowing which gender the baby is going to be. Neutral colors are also good when the color scheme of the baby’s room has already been decided and no mat option fits the room well.
If the mat will be used in other areas other than the baby’s room, then the color does not have to match any décor and can blend in well with any room. These are all great choices for any room or place where a tummy mat is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: How thick is the Tiny Love Days Super Mat? If the baby falls over will it be thick enough to prevent injuries?
This mat is thick enough to prevent injuries if the baby fell from standing up but not from a chair or anything higher.
q: How do you clean most of these mats?
The majority of them can be machine washed unless it specifically says not to do that. One clue as to whether this is permissible or not is if it has toys or crinkly materials that do not come off. In that case, everything must be wiped clean or washed by hand.
q: Concerning the Wee Giggles Foam Floor Mat that has tiles that join together, if two sets were purchased could they be connected to make a very large mat?
Yes, increasing the size of the overall mat with the purchase of more than one set is even recommended by the manufacturer. As the child gets bigger, this could make an ideal play area or activity toy.
q: Are the floor mats with the connecting tiles thick enough to break the fall of a toddler who may fall backward from standing up?
One reviewer claims that they are that thick to prevent injuries from falls. This is not stated by the manufacturer though. Consult the package or online directives to be sure.
q: Do all of the tummy time mats come with a storage bag or carrying case?
Most of them do have some sort of package to put the product in when it is not in use, but some of them do not. They do all fold or come apart to make a very small bundle that can be easily stored in a thick plastic or canvas bag for convenience.
Sources
- , Why tummy time is important, Informative Article
- , 6 Benefits of Using a Baby Play Gym, Informative Article
- , Tummy-Time Toys, Blog Article
- , Introducing Tummy Time to Baby, Informative Article
