Play pens and playmats
Even very small babies need sensory stimulus, and a safe way of providing this is with a baby gym-style playmat, which is a soft mat with toys, rattles, mirrors and other sensory stimuli suspended from a soft bar overhead or set at your baby’s eye level. Baby gyms encourage babies to reach out and explore their environment, either with their hands or by kicking their feet.
Baby gyms these days can come with an impressive array of gadgets, such as built in music and texture touch-pads. However, small babies can easily become overwhelmed by sensory stimuli and it’s best to start small and simple. For older babies who are rolling over and are starting to have better hand-eye coordination, interactive playmats with different textures, or buttons which produce different sounds or lights, can help develop hand-eye coordination and other motor skills.
Play-nests
Babies who aren’t happy lying flat but aren’t yet ready to sit may appreciate an inflatable play-nest, which is essentially an inflatable rubber ring with a soft fabric cover. Your baby sits in the middle and is supported by the ring around him. Some nests come with overhead bars from which to suspend toys, like a baby gym.
Play yards
It’s useful on occasion to have a safe, confined environment where you can put your child if you have something important to attend to. A play yard can also protect your baby from over inquisitive family pets and older siblings if your back is momentarily turned!
Before buying a play yard, think about where and how often you will be using it. Some double up as travel cribs, others involve time-consuming assembly of different barred panels into a square or octagonal pen, often with a special playmat. Whichever design you go for, make sure you understand how it fits together and ensure that it’s properly assembled before you put your child inside.
You may find that your play yard has a limited shelf-life. Many determined crawlers or new walkers rebel against being cooped up and demand to be let out after only a few minutes. If you do decide to invest in one, make sure that it’s filled with interesting and stimulating toys, as well as old favorites, so that your child sees it less as a prison and more as a secure retreat!
You can read reviews of the latest play products on the market by going to our kit section, where you'll find reviews on play and other baby equipment. Why not have your say by rating the products and posting a comment.
For more play ideas watch gurgle's videos, playing with your newborn and games to play with an older baby.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.