Where is the best place for babies to play?
The floor.
There are so many toys, tables, centers, and seats that sometimes we forget the importance of just letting our babies be on the floor.
Why is floor time so important?
It lets your baby use their muscles to explore in a natural way.
Putting your baby in a seat or activity table is fine to do in moderation.
When your baby is on the floor, they can do the tummy time they need to strengthen their muscles.
You can read about how much tummy time your baby needs here.
By being on the floor your baby will learn to roll, crawl, stand, and walk.
With both of my babies they have spent most of their time on the floor as well.
You can lay down a simple blanket or you can get a baby floormat if you want to make a special place for them.
Both are great options. The most important point is that they are getting exercise on the floor.
In this post we will take a look at the best baby floor mats for crawling.
There are lots of different types and sizes so you will have to pick which one is best for you, your space, and your child.
Baby mats provide a safe space for your baby to play on the floor. Floor play is essential to babies as it allows them to strengthen their muscles as they learn to roll, sit, and crawl.
This depends on your baby and your home decor. There are lots of different options for baby floor mats that will keep them safe and look nice in your home.
You will want to follow the manufacturer instructions that are provided with your baby play mat. Some can be put in a washing machine while others are best to spot clean.
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The Benefits of Having a Baby Floor Mat
Provide a Clean Safe Place for Your Baby
If you are not able to clean your floors as often as you like but want a small place where you can keep clean for your baby this may be the way to go.
Babies start picking up EVERYTHING they find on the ground and in their mouth it goes!
When your baby is playing you want to make sure there is nothing that they could choke on or eat.
Read more about how to baby proof your home here.
Having a mat that you clean often and frequently will be helpful to keep your baby safe.
A Soft Spot for Baby to Land When Learning to Stand and Walk
As your baby learns to roll, crawl, and walk they will take some tumbles.
If you have a hard floor you may want to have a mat to help protect them when they fall.
You can read all about baby standing milestones and how to help your baby when they start walking here.
Protect Your Floor from Stains
My first baby did not spit up much.
My second baby though…she was spitting up constantly!
If you are worried about getting spots on your living room carpet this may be a good option to help protect it.
Easy clean up of spills, spit up, and drool is possible with an infant play mat that can be wiped up or is machine washable.
This is a great thing to add to your baby registry! If you don’t have one yet click HERE to start one.
How to Pick Out the Best Crawling Mat for Your Infant
There are a few things that you need to consider when picking out the perfect play mat for your baby.
Find a Crawl Mat That Will Work For Your Space
One of the most important steps to finding the crawl mat that is best for you is to measure your area.
Play mats come in all different sizes and you need to make sure it will fit in the designated spot.
If being able to fold or roll your mat up to put it away is important, make sure to read about the manufacturer’s storage instructions.
Type of Flooring
Consider what type of floor you have when picking out a mat.
If you have a hard floor you will maybe want a mat with a bit more padding and non-slip grips.
Stay Within Your Budget
There are a lot of different options out there for play mats from lower-priced to higher-priced ones.
Babies are expensive, so stay within your budget! Chances are you will find one that won’t break the bank but your little one will love it.
The Best Baby Floor Mats for Crawling
Premium Stylish Foam Floor Mat
Want a baby crawling mat that looks like a beautiful area rug instead? This may be your option!
This floor mat has 7 elegant designs to choose from (take a look at the options here) along with all of the baby-friendly features you need.
It is thick enough to keep a cool floor warmer and help soften bumps and falls your little one may get when they are trying to crawl or walk.
This is a play mat that you don’t need to hide away and store.
Instead, you can keep it out as it will add decor to your space.
You can also use it yourself to do a quick workout or some yoga!
It is waterproof, easy to clean, and reversible!
Foldable Play Mat
This cute and comfy baby foam mat is made from non-toxic materials such as high density-XPE foam.
It comes in a few different patterns such as rainbows, lions, and elephants (see the designs here.)
The best part of the foldable design is that it is easy to transport and store.
You can also use this mat inside or outside.
A really fun feature of this mat is the raised letters and numbers that little ones can explore with their hands which is great for sensory play and developing hand-eye coordination early on.
BABYCARE Baby Play Mat
You can purchase this reversible playmat (take a closer look at it here) in two different sizes:
Large: 82.7 x 55.1 x 0.5 inches / 56.3 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches (packaging)
Medium: 72.8 x 49.2 x 0.4 inches / 51.6 x 7.9 x 7.9 inches (packaging)
It comes in a few different prints including busy farm, country town, and letters and numbers.
A cool feature of this play mat is it is reversible.
If you get bored easily this may be a good pick because you can just flip over the reversible play mat to a new scene when you want a fresh look.
This baby mat is waterproof and you can use baby wipes on it to clean up spit up or spills.
It rolls up for easy storage.
Baby Play Mat With Fence
Do you want to keep your baby’s toys all in one spot?
This baby foam floor mat has interlocking fence pieces that you can put up to make your space more enclosed (check it out here.)
It is not meant to keep your baby in, but instead, keep toys and balls from rolling too far away.
Foam tiles with pictures and shapes to intrigue your little one make up this foam plat mat.
This best baby crawling mat comes in 3 different neutral color schemes including: neutral gray, black/white/gray, and beige/gray.
It is waterproof which makes it easy to wipe up spills.
It comes with a tote bag to put the puzzle pieces in for easy storage and cleanup.
This mat also becomes a toy as you pop out the pieces and put them together like a puzzle. This is a fun feature for older toddlers and children.
RELATED POST: Intellectual Development 6-9 Months
Skip Hop Play Mat
The Skip Hop Play Mat comes in a couple of cute subtle patterns that you can see HERE.
This one as a reversible design with a kid-friendly look on one side and more of a modern style on the other.
It is made from waterproof material, meaning any spills that make it onto the mat can be wiped up easily.
This mat gives your little one plenty of space to wiggle around, crawl, and play.
This may be the best play mat for someone who is looking to only have it out some of the time because it rolls up easily for storage or travel.
Non-Slip Play Mat Baby Crawling Mat
Are you looking for a baby floor rug for hardwood floors that has a different design from the standard rectangle?
This small area rug would be a great option as it has a non-slip surface on the bottom which makes it stay in place when your baby is learning to crawl on it.
This may be your best option if you are working with a smaller space and looking to brighten up the room a bit! (take a look at it here.)
Hungry Caterpillar Baby Mat
Want a baby play mat that doubles as a toy?
If you are a fan of the classic children’s book The Hungry Caterpillar then you will love this mat!
It is made up of 20 interlocking pieces that you can mix and match.
It has an educational twist as it encourages your child to learn colors, animals, and shapes.
The circles that are in the middle of each piece can be interchanged by you or your child.
As your little one gets older they will be able to push out the pieces and put them together like a giant puzzle which is great for fine motor skills.
This soft foam mat provides a great space for your baby to play and explore.
You can take a closer look at this educational play mat here!
How to Clean Your Baby Floor Mat
You will want to save the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean your baby’s floor mat.
All mats are different so make sure you know what is safe to use on your mat before you clean it.
Grab your FREE Milestone Guide HERE.
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Kayla O’Neill has a master’s degree in education as well as a bachelor’s degree in special education with an emphasis in early childhood education. She has been working as a developmental therapist with babies and toddlers in early intervention since 2012. She is also a mom with two young children.