Parents,
Like every baby product on the market, we know you spend hours and hours researching every single item, and rightfully so. We did the same, and it’s the reason we started Poppylist. We wanted to curate a community where every single product recommendation came directly from moms and dads — and it’s exactly what we’ve done, and what we’re doing.
A few weeks ago, we polled our Instagram community and asked them to pick the next product roundup. ‘Easy to Clean Play Mats’ was the number one selected item. It was voted higher than Easy to Store Highchairs, Handheld Breast Pumps, Double Strollers and even Portable White-noise Machines.
We know you’re looking for products that are durable, safe, practical, and even aesthetically appealing. And play mats are no exception.
So, how did we pick the Top 5? We aggregated the Top 5 product recommendations, did further research, and asked follow-up questions of the parents that submitted feedback. Then, we reached out to the brands for additional questions, and worked on compiling all the research — so you don’t have to.
Which mat will you pick for your growing family?
Get comfy. Here are the Top 5 Play Mats:
Why our Poppylist Parents love this mat:
What you should know about this mat:
How our Poppylist Parents have used this mat:
Meet the founders of Gathre, Jess and Mare. Best friends, business partners, and the creators of Gathre (pronounced gath-ur). Their original mats were born out of wanting to create a space to gather with their families. With internationalist and minimalist at the forefront, their leather mats that could travel anywhere were born.
📷: @lizzyography styling: @sarahslowe
Why our Poppylist Parents love this mat:
What you should know about this mat:
How our Poppylist Parents have used this mat:
According to YETI, The Lowlands® Blanket helps transform every outdoor concert, tailgate, or backcountry post-up into your personal base camp. But according to parents, we think it could transform (and save) your floor during potty training, tummy time on the go and in your home, and save you time by throwing this in the laundry vs. cleaning it by hand. Built for the wild, or built for babies? You decide.
Are you surprised by this option? We are too. But the more we researched this option, the more it made sense. We were completely shocked by the amount of recommendations the YETI Lowlands Blanket received. When you start to consider the longevity and practicality of using this as a “mat,” it seems like a no-brainer and a must-add to your baby registry. Let us know what you think about this one in the comments!
📷 of this sweet baby courtesy of @clayhudnell via Instagram
Why our Poppylist Parents love this mat:
"You can vacuum right over this mat without it getting sucked into the vacuum,” says Silvia, a Homebug customer.
Bonus: Get to know The Homebug. A quick interview with Are, Social Media Manager for The Homebug:
1. What inspired the Homebug’s Foldable Mat?
“As parents, we were frustrated at the lack of modern play mats that were functional, affordable, and aesthetic. The only options we saw were inconvenient puzzle mats and bright colored alternatives that didn’t fit our style. So we decided to design and create our own product that would not only solve that problem but would be available to other families who faced the same dilemma.”
2. How can parents continue using the mat once their baby has outgrown it?
“Our kids have definitely passed the crawling stage and now they find all kind of ways to play. When they aren’t playing with their toys on the Homebug Foldable Mat, they use it for tumbling, eating snacks, watching movies, and more. Sometimes, they even fold it up at a tent, tunnel, or a jumping pad. We’ve seen our Happy Homebug friends use their mats for yoga, working out, and even adventures out camping. Parents can use it to take outdoors or keep in storage, although you wouldn’t mind leaving it out even when playtime is over.”
3. If the play mat had 3 personality traits, what would they be?
“Functional, Stylish, and Portable.”
How our Poppylist Parents have used this mat:
Why our Poppylist Parents love this mat:
What you should know about this mat:
How our Poppylist Parents have used this mat:
Why our Poppylist Parents love this mat:
What you should know about this mat:
The play mat is reversible. One side has a gray and white chevron pattern and the other side, pictured here, has an alphabet with a corresponding image to each letter.