In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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By Molly Bradac ⋅ Senior Research Analyst ⋅ May 28, 2024
The Best Baby Gyms
Want to entertain your little one with one of the best baby gyms available today? Our lineup includes 9 top-notch baby gyms ready to perk up playtime and keep your baby busy. We've researched, purchased, and hands-on tested top contenders to determine the best. We appreciate gyms that offer entertainment features and a welcoming place for babies to lay and play. We also prefer those that are easy to clean and are a breeze to set up and take down. Therefore, we kept these factors in mind while ranking our contenders. We are confident our review has a baby gym to brighten your little one's day and meet your needs and budget.
Finding the best activity for your little one takes time and effort. We've tested all kinds of fun gear like baby swings, baby bouncers, and baby rockers that could help your little one stay entertained or find some inner peace. As little ones gain more trunk control, a top-ranked jumper might be a great entertainment option.
Editor's Note: This play mat review was updated on May 28, 2024. We double-checked baby gym availability and ensured accurate pricing.
We consider the Lovevery Play Gym a winner in baby gyms. Designed by child development experts, this gym provides a full year of stage-appropriate activities. The mat uses eco-friendly and baby-safe materials, such as 100% organic cotton, sustainably sourced wood, water-based and non-toxic finishes, and learning cards printed with soy ink. The mat has five development zones (learning to focus, making sounds, exploring how things feel, hiding and finding, and colors). You can control what you want your baby to experience by unfolding any zone or folding them up to help prevent overstimulation. The gym comes with lots of accessories, including a few removable toys, including a high-contrast Montessori ball, a wooden batting ring, a teether with a silicone ring, a set of image cards (black and white pictures, faces, daily objects, and a mirror). Once your baby crawls, the gym transforms into a tent, making a game of hide-and-seek or imaginary play quite exciting. The gym's mat is large and offers exceptional padding; it attaches to the wooden legs, preventing it from moving and shifting. Testers report, “I love that the system is easy to set up and take down, and the mat is machine washable, which is a lifesaver.”
Although we think the play gym is nearly perfect, it has a few drawbacks. It is costly, but we believe the gym is worth the investment, given its quality and versatility. If budget is a concern, we really like the Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes that has entertaining accessories and a lower price. Also, the gym does not fold, so there's potential that it may become a permanent object in your living room if you don't plan on dismantling it after each use. Our favorite folding gym is the Skip Hop Farmstand Grow & Play with a quick fold for smaller spaces. We think there are many reasons to love this all-in-one baby gym, and we believe it is worth every penny. We highly recommend it to friends and family.
The Lovevery Play Gym is high-quality and fully loaded with stage-appropriate activities.
Tummy Time Pillow: Yes | Machine Washable Mat: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
Arch converts to a growth
Quick set-up, dismantle, fold, and store
Multiple sensory features
REASONS TO AVOID
Dry flat
The Skip Hop Farmstand Grow & Play quickly became a tester favorite. We appreciate the gym's color palette and patterns are cheerful, inviting, and less overstimulating than other gyms in our review. It is quick to set up and easy to dismantle or fold when not in use. The gym has multiple sensory-stimulating toys, including five hanging toys. It also has a textured plush watermelon wedge to make tummy time more comfortable. The mat incorporates various textures for your baby to experience. The sides fold and snap in place to keep toys from rolling away. Testers say, “I love how big the mat is, and it has more padding than most of the options I've tried.” Remove the poles and use the mat for play once your child reaches the sit and crawling stage. One of the arches converts to a growth chart to measure your little sprout.
After washing, the mat must lay flat to dry. Besides that drawback, there are no major flaws with this option. We appreciate this gym's quality, various textures, and overall convenience. If you feel the same and enjoy the garden theme, we think you'll also fall in love with it. If you want something that puts eco-health front and center, the Lovevery Play Gym has given considerable thought to baby-safer materials. If your budget is tighter and you want something with lots of engaging features, the Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes kept babies entertained in our tests.
The Skip Hop Farmstand Grow & Play engages babies with sensory-stimulating toys and features on its mat.
Tummy Time Pillow: Yes | Machine Washable Mat: Yes
REASONS TO BUY
Contrasting colors
Detachable piano
REASONS TO AVOID
Small footprint
Thin padding
Air drying required
If your baby loves contrasting colors, the Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes may be a fit. The gym's mat and arches have plenty of contrasting colors and patterns for your baby to explore. The gym has multi-sensory toys, including a crinkle toy, a rattle, a mirror, flashcards, a book, and a tummy time pillow. A GearLab tester remarked, “I'm glad the piano is removable because sometimes I don't want the extra noise, and I'm hoping to calm my baby.” The piano connects to the mat to keep it from moving out of place.
The mat's size and minimal padding didn't impress us compared to other contenders in our review. Therefore, we suggest using this gym on carpeted flooring or a rug for added padding, not hardwood flooring. If your budget allows and you want a larger playmat, the Lovevery Play Gym has one of the largest play areas in the lineup. Also, the manufacturer recommends air drying the Baby Einstein. Despite these drawbacks, this multi-sensory stimulating gym with a kick-activated piano is at a reasonable price point.
The Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes offers a bunch of entertainment at a budget-friendly price.
The Infantino Tropical Twist and Fold has a unique and easy-to-use fold system that allows you to “Twist, Fold, & GO!”. The arches click in place to set up the gym, then push down on the circular component. To collapse, twist the knob, and the legs release for easy storage. Easy-peasy! Plus, it stays in one piece, so worry less about keeping track of multiple parts. We think the mat's leaf-shaped design and colors are attractive, and the gym offers loads of sensory stimulation for your baby. The dangling toys use colorful textured fabrics for your baby to feel, and some make sounds, like the monkey, which plays “You Are My Sunshine” and spins. A GearLab tester says, “I appreciate that the detachable mirror is movable, with multiple locations to put it, making it great for tummy time, encouraging head-turning, and keeping my baby entertained.”
The mat lacks padding and is not machine washable; it is surface clean only. Considering the amount of spit and drool babies produce, this drawback is not ideal. If you like a folding mat for travel or limited floorspace, our favorite folding option is the Skip Hop Farmstand Grow & Play. If you can overlook the Infantino's flaws and value the gym's easy-to-use folding system, then we think this gym may be a tropical vacation for babies.
The unique folding system on the Infantino Tropical Twist and Fold is quick and user-friendly.
In need of a large mat? Meet the Tiny Love Super Mat. This super-sized mat provides wide-open space for tummy time, rolling, playing, and more. We appreciate that it is large enough for parents and babies to lay together, and its plush is noteworthy. It is easy to fold, take on the go, and launder. Instead, it offers colorful graphics and sensory features on the mat for a tot to explore, including a baby-friendly mirror and a carrot teether. Although simple, we think this mat is entertaining and offers a fantastic amount of cushion.
The only drawback is that it is line dry only. But, with advanced planning of overnight cleanup, we think this drawback is minor. If you hope for something that can be machine-washed and dried, the Skip Hop Farmstand Grow & Play is a potential contender to look at. Our tester said, “Babies are messy, its awesome you can wash and dry it in the machine.” If you seek a large and thick mat for multiples, play dates, or space to play, this mat will get the job done.
The Tiny Love Super Mat is extra-large and cozy with engaging multi-sensory features for babies to explore.
Have a little one who likes lights, colors, and action? The Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym may be a fit. This eye-catching product offers fun and colorful graphics of rainforest friends, including a zebra, lion, snail, monkey, and a plush giraffe that can tie to an arch. The Toucan is motion-activated and removable. This gym is quick to fold up and easy to store. The mat is machine washable and can tumble dry on low heat. This mat has a few interactive features. One tester says, “I love the crinkly leaf and tactical ribbons.”
Unfortunately, the mat does not offer much padding, as our tester remarked, “I wish it had thicker padding for comfort. I definitely wouldn't put it on a hard floor.” But, if you can overlook this shortcoming, we recommend this gym for little ones who like action and a good dose of entertainment. If you want a different theme for entertainment, the Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes is another alternative with lots going on, including a little kicking piano.
The Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym is a fit for babies who enjoy bright colors and rainforest animals.
Rock n' roll with the Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano & Maracas. The removable light-up piano with “Smart Stages” technology offers three levels for your baby to explore sounds, tunes, and phrases, along with a piano level where your tot can activate sounds by kicking or pressing the piano keys. The rainbow-like arch can connect in two different places on the frame, and it has dangling toys for babies to reach and bat, plus a detachable mirror for self-discovery. The mat attaches to the piano and legs, is machine washable, and tumble dry safe.
The rectangular mat is narrow and thin compared to other products in our lineup. One tester noted, “I wish the mat was bigger; it feels limiting as my baby grows.” But if you can overlook this flaw, we think this product may be a match for a noise-loving baby. Another piano option we also liked is the Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes.
The Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano & Maracas may appeal to babies who enjoy kicking, wiggling, and stretching their legs to activate the piano.
If you're on a tight budget or seek a secondary gym to leave at a caregiver's house, the Bright Starts Zig Zag Safari may be an option. This bright-colored, safari-themed gym is inexpensive and comes with a few dangling toys, including a soft zebra chime, rattle, detachable mirror, and a leaf-like toy for your baby to explore. The arches have multiple fabric loops to provide hanging versatility. We appreciate that the mat is machine-washable and the toys are surface-clean only.
This gym offers no major frills and is somewhat bare-bones compared to others in our lineup. The mat is thin, with no interactive features, and the dangling toys are few. If you want more entertainment or accessories, the Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes offers significantly more but only costs about ten dollars more, depending on sales. However, we can forgive its limiting features given the gym's price. The mat is machine washable (a feature we appreciate), but it needs to air dry flat. Our tester remarked, “Line drying isn't a dealbreaker, but it is a bummer if your baby is prone to spitting up.” If you don't want to break the bank, this gym may fit your needs. But, if you have some room in your budget, we think other gyms in our review provide more value.
The Bright Starts Zig Zag Safari may appeal to those on a tight budget. But, with a lower price comes fewer frills.
Combining natural materials with dreamy shapes and soothing colors, the wooden B. toys Starry Sky Baby Gym lets your little one explore the world above. It has three detachable toys to stimulate your little one's senses, like a cloud-inspired mirror for self-discovery, silicone beads, and plush stars. The cozy quilted mat offers sufficient cushion, and it is machine washable. The gym is easy to assemble and disassemble.
Although the mat is cozy, it is smaller than other contenders in our review. Since the legs interlock, the gym does not fold, so if you fancy the ability to stash the gym quickly, you may want to look elsewhere. However, one tester reports, “I don't plan on folding it or putting it away until my baby outgrows it.” The toys can only dangle above your baby, and we prefer contenders with placement versatility. The Lovevery Play Gym is also made with wood and other thoughtful materials and could be a contender if your budget allows. Apart from these factors, this gym may appeal to someone who seeks simplicity.
If you prefer minimal and wooden products, the B.toys Starry Sky may be a fit. Keep in mind, the plush mat is small, and the gym comes with the fewest number of dangling toys than any other contender.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Tip: A playmat with removable toys and multiple loops offers flexibility to rearrange and hang toys in various places. We suggest placing toys around a gym's perimeter to encourage head-turning and different head positions for development and head shape.
To determine the best, each product in our review experiences hands-on testing and side-by-side comparisons to evaluate various metrics.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How We Test Baby Gyms
Each baby gym in our review offers a variety of visuals, sounds, and textures for your baby to explore while they are awake, active, and ready to play. With some help from adorable little testers, we tested each product to see which gyms were real standouts in metrics we consider essential. The gyms were tested side-by-side for quality, ease of use and cleaning, and interaction value for how well they kept tiny testers engaged.
The Skip Hop Farmstand Grow & Play has a plush bunny with an attached carrot teether that plays music.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why Trust GearLab
The BabyGearLab team has been extensively testing baby products over the past decade. Leading our review is Molly Bradac, Senior Review Editor, Nanny, and Newborn Care Specialist with over 14 years of experience. Between Molly's expertise and knowledge of child development, she is truly a pro at identifying top-notch products and making recommendations.
The Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick 'n Play Piano & Maracas can teach your little one cause and effect by allowing your baby to see the source of the sound.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Analysis and Test Results
Baby gyms are excellent for entertaining little ones and making tummy time more enjoyable. Tummy time is a critical component of early development for muscle development, head and neck control, and to help prevent plagiocephaly. We tested these products for quality, ease of use, cleaning, and interaction value.
A gym can be advantageous in a baby's growth and development.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Benefits of a Play Gym
Babies are born eager to learn and explore the world around them, and within a short time, they experience rapid development. A baby gym is much more than a safe space for your little one to lie and play. It can stimulate their senses and support their growth and development, especially parent-child interaction.
According to the American Optometric Association, newborns focus on objects 8 to 10 inches from their face and prefer high contrasting or bright colors. The Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym is a powerful punch of bright colors. The Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes uses more contrasting colors, like white and black, among other colors, and the same is true for the Lovevery Play Gym.
As your baby's vision improves and their eyes begin to work together, they'll start tracking objects, especially those that make noise (a crinkle, squeak, or music), encouraging babies to reach. As babies begin to bat and grab toys, they also start to develop fine motor skills. We appreciate baby gyms with arches that offer several loops, providing multiple locations to hang dangling toys to keep babies interested, discovering, and reaching - all within their vision limits. Most of the products in our review provide multiple loops, except the B. toys Starry Sky Baby Gym, Lovevery Play Gym, and the Tiny Love Super Matare the only contenders with no arches.
Most of the competition offers textured material on toys or mats, encouraging babies to feel, explore, and play for tactile stimulation. We think the Infantino Tropical Twist and Fold, Skip Hop Farmstand Grow & Play, and Lovevery Play Gym stand out, offering various touchable textures.
Additionally, gyms can be helpful when it comes to tummy time, an essential exercise in child development that holds tons of benefits. Not only does it help muscle development (back and neck muscles), but it also helps improve motor skills. However, not all babies enjoy tummy time, and a gym can keep babies distracted through music, lights, or a baby-friendly mirror. Also, some products include a tummy time pillow to help your baby feel more comfortable.
Nevertheless, we encourage caregivers to learn about infant development and milestones, especially during the birth to 3 months and 4 to 6 month time frame to get the most out of any gyms' features.
Important: Always supervise your baby during tummy time, and clear away any potentially dangerous objects. Do not use mats on furniture, as little ones can fall or roll off unexpectedly. A playmat is more of a collaborative adventure for babies and parents. Take this time to enjoy watching your little one explore, learn, and develop important skills.
Each gym varies in mat size and padding. We suggest pre-determining what qualities you seek before purchasing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Mat Size and Padding
One glance at the competition shows that not every mat is created equal. Not only do mats vary in size and shape, but also their padding. The Tiny Love Super Mat is the queen of size and comfort compared to others. The Lovevery Play Gym follows close behind, with ample space for play and adequate padding.
A few options in our lineup fail to offer adequate size and padding, hurting their ranking, including the B. toys Starry Sky Baby Gym. This option is plush, but the circular mat is small and limiting, and we believe babies will outgrow this mat sooner than other contenders. The Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym and the Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes offer smaller rectangular play mats that lack padding, and the Bright Starts Zig Zag Safari square mat is medium-sized but thin.
Select a product that is easy to fold and collapse, especially if you plan on bringing it out for baby's playtime and want to store it when not in use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Assembly, Disassembly, and Folding
Each product requires less than 10 minutes to assemble, but we are fans of convenience and prefer products that are super easy to set up and take down. We think the Skip Hop Farmstand Grow & Play is a superstar for this metric. On the flip side, the Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick & Play Piano Gym & Maracas required installing screws (included), which takes some time to complete. However, once set up, it is ready to go.
Also, unless you don't mind leaving your baby's play gym as permanent furniture, you will appreciate having a product that is easy to fold and stash plus stays in one piece. Gyms with fabric arches are typically easier to fold and stash, including the Infantino Tropical Twist and Fold, which features a unique folding system. However, the B. toys Starry Sky Baby Gym and Lovevery Play Gym dismantle into multiple pieces, which isn't a deal-breaker but requires keeping parts together.
Babies are messy creatures. To make clean up easy, we suggest selecting a gym that is easy to launder.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Washable Mat
Let's face it messes happen. Babies often drool and spit up. Plus, no matter how often you clean your home, flooring will collect dust and hair. So, be kind to your sanity and select a machine-washable mat. All of the products in our review permit some laundering, except the Infantino Tropical Twist and Fold, which is spot-clean only.
Tip: More isn't always better. Some gyms offer a Broadway-worthy amount of motion, lights, and sounds, but for some babies, this level of stimulation might be more agitating than entertaining. We suggest selecting a more visually simple gym if you suspect your baby will find all the bells and whistles overstimulating. You can always add other toys to the mix if you find your little one longs for something more.
Maybe a Bouncer?
If your infant is still small and less mobile, a top-ranked baby bouncer could also be useful in entertaining and occupying a little one.
A gym will be an exciting addition to your baby's routine and allow your baby to learn, explore, and strengthen muscles.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
Baby gyms are important tools for baby entertainment and skill development. It provides a baby-friendly space for your little one to play and learn about the world around them. Babies need to move and play for developmental reasons, and a baby gym can encourage your little one to exercise muscles and stimulate the development and brain connections they'll use for the rest of their lives. Our lineup of fun baby gyms can be instrumental in kicking off playtime and be a great addition to your little one's daily activities.
