"Just a few months after having a kid, my house had completely transformed from a place that adults once inhabited to a bonafide playhouse with zero signs of sophistication. Gone was the reading nook and coffee station, replaced by a giant playpen and diaper changing station. I was no longer looking for beautiful area rugs, but instead researching the best play mats for babies and kids.
When my daughter began walking at a year old, the home takeover increased even further, as we turned our living room into a play area that was safe for a toddler with absolutely no sense of danger. It was during this stage that we invested in one of the biggest staples of our parenting life: a play mat.
While we had a play area set up during the baby stage, once she had more freedom to roam around the house, things needed to change. Luckily, I managed to find a play mat that seamlessly replaced my living room rug—and I may even love it more. I also did the work to find more of the best play mats for babies and kids that you can buy right now.
The Play Mat We Chose: Totter + Tumble
Our first play mat purchase was a cheap, colorful set of foam puzzle pieces from Target. When we had a baby just practicing tummy time, these served their purpose and did just fine. But, when that baby became a toddler who looked to destroy everything in her path, those puzzle pieces became a complete pain in the butt to constantly keep together.
Thus, we decided to set our sights on play mat options that were functional but perhaps a little more stylish and wouldn’t look as out of place in our living room. That’s how I came across the brand Totter + Tumble, a U.K.-based company that creates double-sided mats in a variety of sizes and prints.
Size Options and Cost
There are four different sizes to choose from, so you can find the one that fits best for your space. For myself, the Standard was the perfect pick for a place in our living room in front of the couch.
- The Standard: 83 x 55 x 0.5 inches ($239)
- The Compact: 72 x 49 x 0.5 inches ($215)
- The Round: 55 x 0.5 inches ($215)
- The Play Runner: 70 x 26 x 0.5 inches ($110)
Color Options
There are a variety of color options to choose from, with two reversible sides to each. You can even take advantage of the brand’s swatch service to try out the different designs and materials.
- The Atlas + Katsuri
- The Odissi + Tali
- The Keeper + Wanderlust
- Morris & Co. The Strawberry Thief Play Mat + Willow Boughs
- The Severn + The Acorn
- Morris & Co. The Blackthorn + The Standen
- The Rambler + The Globe Trotter
- The Brer Rabbit
- The Mariner + The Roamer
- The Scout + The Wanderer
- The Harvester + The Solstice
- The Astronomer + The Eclipse
- The Captain + The Trail Blazer
My Honest Review of Totter + Tumble
Totter + Tumbler’s motto is “for them, for you, for all,” exemplifying the importance they place on creating products that not only work for your child but for you, the adult, as well. When I first was researching play mat brands to try, this is what really stood out to me. The creator had a similar story to mine about wanting to get rid of a particular eye sore of a colorful jigsaw play mat, and instead create a product that could be functional yet palatable.
We have had the standard-size play mat in Atlas + Katsuri for nearly a year now, and you’d never know it from how it looks. Despite dealing with near-daily spills, toddler tantrums, dancing, and even cat claws (the real test), our mat has held up perfectly. The cushiony material is supportive, so if my daughter jumps off from her Nugget couch or falls over on top, it protects her from the hard floor underneath.
The material is a non-toxic PVC memory foam and is antibacterial as well. That means you only need to wipe it down and won’t need to worry about getting any spills or crumbs in crevices (something that happened to us all the time with our previous mat).
We’ve loved the mat so much that we plan on purchasing a second one for her bedroom because it’s something that she (and any future sibling) will get plenty of use from. And when the kids are grown, I plan on using it in a workout space for yoga because it works for that as well!
While the brand is an investment, for us, it’s been worth every penny in adding a bit of sophistication and comfort to an essential product that (more often than not) can look like a real eye sore.
More of The Best Play Mats for Babies and Kids
There are several other brands with similar missions to create play mats that are functional and pretty. Here are a few other top picks:
House of Noa
The brand includes a variety of different mats in stylish, muted patterns and colors. You can purchase play mats, standing mats, tumbling mats, bath mats, and highchair mats. While the play mats are done in jigsaw pieces, the high-quality designs look like one piece when put together. Plus, it gives you the flexibility of creating the size that you need. The tumbling mat is also a particularly great pick, as the cushiony material is perfect for any toddler needs, with the perk of being able to fold it and put it away.
Toddlekind
Toddlekind mats are available as foam mats—which come in jigsaw pieces or as one reversible piece— with four different sizes available. Or, you can purchase a cotton play mat that is portable and easy to travel with for younger kids.
Toki Mats
Whether you are looking for a baby-friendly play mat for tummy time or one that will help with toddler playtime, these foam mats have you covered! Available as one piece, you can purchase a standard or mega size. You also have the option of buying a classic or organic foam insert, with additional accessories like a waterproof cover available.
Bub Mats
The Cushy Mat from Bub Mats is available in a variety of different sizes and is made with natural latex that is hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, and eco-friendly. The mats are available in different styles, with the option to buy a waterproof covering.
