Home / Newborn / Miscellaneous / Best baby activity gyms
9 of the best baby activity gyms 2024
WHAT IS A BABY ACTIVITY GYM?
Baby activity gyms are usually soft padded mats, sometimes with enclosed sides, and toys dangling on arches above the baby.
See also baby toys and playmats.
Are activity gyms good for babies?
Activity gyms are a great, safe place for a baby to explore their environment and provide stimulation for all the senses and entertainment.
They also encourage development. For example, batting or gripping toys hanging overhead are good for their fine motor skills. They are also a perfect place to do tummy time which develops the muscles need for sitting and crawling. And black and white or bright contrasting colours can aid visual development.
When do you start using an activity gym?
Many activity gyms can be used from birth but they will start to enjoy the benefits from six to eight weeks old.
How long do they last?
Some can grow with your child and be used up until 36 months.
How do you choose an activity gym?
Here are the features to look out for:
Detachable toys: Overhead hanging toys which can be detached can be played with outside of the activity gym.
A baby-safe mirror: Babies love faces and seeing their own faces can encourage fine motor skills and also gross motor skills if they move towards it.
Music and lights: Some activity gyms have toys which will play different kinds of music and flash lights to entertain a baby.
Balls: The addition can convert the area into a ball pit, which will be entertaining for a child well into toddler age.
Cleaning: Make sure it is made of a machine washable or wipe clean fabric.
Tummy time pillow: This will make tummy time more comfortable for a baby.
Do you need one?
Baby activity gyms are definitely not essential. But they can be very useful for the parent to have somewhere safe and entertaining to place a child during the day. Just make sure they are always supervised. And as already mentioned they are also good for child development but babies can develop these skills in a variety of different environments so don’t feel like you have to buy one.
THE BEST BABY ACTIVITY GYMS
This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:
Consumer reviews
Best-seller lists
Recommendations from industry experts
Award-winning products
Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.
The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 26 January 2024.
If you buy through a link, I may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.
1. Baby Einstein 4-in-1 Kickin' Tunes music and language discovery gym
A best-selling activity gym with seven detachable toys, over 70 melodies and sounds and four languages: English, Spanish, French, and German.
The toys include a piano that can be played with the feet or the press of a button.
There is also a tummy time pillow, a rattle, flashcards and a mirror.
The mat is machine washable.
Suitable from newborn, it can be used for lying, tummy time and sitting.
Requires three AA batteries which are not included.
It can be folded for storage.
2. Bright Starts 5-in-1 activity gym and ball pit
An updated version of the very popular 5-in-1 activity gym.
Seven detachable hanging toys and a mirror.
A musical and light-flashing elephant that can play 20 minutes of music.
Tummy time pillow.
Comes with 40 balls (in a carry case) for conversion into a ball pit.
The sides can go flat to make a play mat as your baby gets older.
Machine washable mat. Everything else can be wiped clean.
3. Galt Toys Farm Playnest
A fabric-covered inflatable ring with a quilted middle.
Multi-sensory features for the baby to explore, including squeaks, crinkles and various textures.
The fabric is machine washable.
4. Fisher-Price kick and play piano gym
Features a removable piano and five activity toys, including a teether and a mirror.
There are four ways to play, which allows this to grow with your baby.
Thick, machine-washable play mat.
Suitable from birth up until 36 months.
Requires three AA batteries which are included.
5. Tiny Love Black and White magical tales Gymini
Award-winning activity gym.
Comes with a musical toy, a soft book, dangling toys, a mirror and various stimulating textures.
The arches can be adjusted to grow with your child.
Suitable from birth.
Tiny Love make a wide variety of excellent activity gyms.
6. Red Kite Baby Peppermint Trail Play Gym
Great value activity gym.
The arches have a variety of detachable dangling toys.
It can either be a flat play mat or with the sides up to create a ball pit.
The balls come with a lovely carry case.
7. Ingenuity Cozy Spot activity gym with wooden bars
If you don’t want lots of plastic and garish colours in your home, this is the activity gym for you!
Soft and comfy play mat which is reversible and machine washable.
The arches are wooden and there are five removable hanging toys: a plush bear, bead rattle, mirror, natural rubber apple toy and wooden ring toy.
Also comes with a tummy time pillow.
The wooden arches collapse for easy storage and the mat folds in two and has handles, transforming it into a carry/storage bag.
8. LAMAZE Freddie The Firefly Baby Activity PlayMat
Three dangling sensory toys including the popular Freddie the Firefly.
Tummy time cushion.
Grows with your child as it can turn into a play mat.
Mat is machine washable. Arch is wipe clean.
9. Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Musical Rainforest Activity Gym
A musical activity gym with a bright rainforest theme which can be used for lying, tummy time and sitting.
There are two soft arches with five moveable activity toys.
Suitable from birth.
The playmat is machine washable.
MORE OF THE BEST:
Dummies • baby books and apps • baby nests • cot mobiles • baby bouncers • baby carriers • car seats • prams • baby baths • cots and cotbeds • changing bags • Babygros • baby monitors • baby bottles
FROM THE BLOG
Around 20% of babies will suffer from colic, which is characterised by excessive crying. Mine was one of them. Somewhat unbelievably, the exact cause is unknown but there are many remedies you can try. My research uncovered 22 of them. Here is a review of each and the science (if any) behind them.