This Science-Backed Baby Play Gym Was Worth Every Penny (And One of My Favorite Baby Registry Gifts!)

When I was pregnant it felt like there was a lot of pressure to pick the right things for my baby, to give her the best possible start. I went down a rabbit hole researching everything I thought we might need. I tried to weigh wanting to help promote healthy development, with wanting to choose things that didn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out when I looked at them (and didn’t totally break the bank). If you’ve tried to walk this line, you know it’s a tough balance. 

I was also feeling in over my head when it came to play. I knew that play is the work of childhood, and I wanted to pick things that promoted play and exploration at the right time and level for my developing child. 

Because I knew my daughter would stay where I put her for a while, I considered a play mat a must. After weighing a lot of options, I chose The Play Gym by Lovevery, one of the parent-picked winners of Cubby’s 2024 Nursery Awards. Here’s my review. 

Let me walk you through my thought process. 

• It has to be attractive. Call me a snob, but I knew my world was going to get a whole lot smaller in the early days of my daughter’s life and that I would be looking at the play mat frequently. I wanted to make sure it sparked joy for me so that I wasn’t always wanting to hide it away (creating more work for myself). I also wanted to surround my little one with things I considered beautiful, interesting, or calming to promote an environment that could be stimulating, but hopefully not overstimulating.
• It has to be designed with development in mind. I’ll admit that I’m generally going to trust someone who has done their research when I’m choosing a product — especially for my child. I love it when experts create products that can reach a greater audience, or when brands do a good job of consulting with people who know whatever it is they don’t. Unlike other toys, where I might have multiples, I’m likely to have only one play mat. I want to make sure it’s giving my family the most benefit possible.
• It has to be safe. I’m looking for thoughtful components and materials like organic cotton and food-safe silicone. I’m checking to see if there are any certifications or if the products go through testing of any kind. Although I’ll be supervising, I’m looking for anything that is or could easily be a choking hazard or has the potential to cause other kinds of safety issues.
• Good value. I want the best for my child, as all of us do, but I don’t think that always means that I need to spend the most money. I’m looking for something that is priced fairly, with quality ingredients, but isn’t overcharging based on brand or status. 

• Name: The Play Gym
• Current Price: $140

I received The Play Gym as a gift before my daughter was born and it was set up waiting for her when we brought her home from the hospital. We used it over the next couple of years, although the most heavy use happened in the first year to year-and-a-half, which is the timeframe it’s most designed and recommended for. 

For what it’s worth, even though we received this as a thoughtful gift off our registry, I was still conscious of price when choosing items. Although this wasn’t the lowest-priced play mat out there, it wasn’t even close to being one of the highest. I felt good about the value for the price, which is why I asked for it. 

TL;DR: I would definitely recommend this play mat to a friend on the fence, and I would choose it again if I had to go back in time and do it all again.  

Here are a few of the reasons why. 

• It’s beautiful. I really liked hanging out in my daughter’s room, and I know that part of the reason was because this play mat was so pretty. The colors are well-chosen and provide a rainbow of stimulation without being overwhelming. I also liked that it was possible to fold the colorful parts away to focus on one at a time, or to create a fully calm space. It also comes with a cover that turns the mat almost into a tent in a black-and-white polka-dot print I love.
• It engaged my baby. She spent a lot of her early life on this mat and while some features were more favorites than others, it was heartening to watch her make new discoveries as she grew, whether that was being able to ring the bell or finding out what made the crinkly noise.
• It’s machine-washable. This wasn’t on my list of things I was looking for before I became a parent, but it would be now. Not only was it possible to put this in the washing machine almost in its entirety (you do have to remove a couple of things), but after a surprisingly quick air dry, it still looked good.
• It’s well-made and comfortable. It’s often hard to tell about workmanship before you have something home, but I was very pleased with the quality of The Play Gym. The materials were high-quality, as was the construction, and the fabric was soft and smooth. The wood was well-sanded, so I didn’t need to worry about splinters, and I was happy to see that it was sustainable as well. I was happy to see that Lovevery uses independent testing to ensure that their products are baby-safe. They also use organic cotton and no flame retardants or PVC.
• It’s backed by science and comes with activities. One of the things I like about Lovevery as a brand is that they are willing to tell you why they do what they do. They include a fairly thick book with The Play Gym with suggestions for using it at different ages and some explanations about what is happening developmentally at that age. I felt like I had a lot more information about what was going on with my baby and also that I knew what I was looking for as she learned new things that I could help encourage. I also liked that I could check the receipts, so to speak, on the website and see who they consulted as they designed their products.
• It was long-lasting. So many toys cycle fairly quickly in and out. I was pleased that The Play Gym went from being a place to develop muscles and learn about textures to a cozy spot to quietly look at books over a long span of time. While we used it most heavily during that first 18 months, it stayed in her room much longer. And although she used it differently and less frequently, it still got some action. We also used it often over the first 18 months and didn’t have any quality or wear issues. 

While there wasn’t much that I didn’t love about this play mat, one thing that did frustrate me was the play cover, which I found difficult to attach and keep open. That has since been redesigned to the current version, which looks like it solves all those issues. Even as we were using the play mat, there were a few improvements made and activity centers that changed a little. I did get a little FOMO from this, but I appreciate that Lovevery is so receptive to consumers and is always seeking to make positive changes in their products. 

Also, if I had it to do over again, I would’ve added the play cover earlier. I was thrown off by the statement from Lovevery saying that kids 12 to 18 months enjoy it most and I wish I’d gone with my gut and set it up sooner.