Beating Infant Boredom with a Play Gym!

My baby girl is shedding her newborn-like features and is transforming into an infant that is much more alert and active. She looks so much like her daddy when she sleeps, but when she’s awake, she’s ALL mommy. She even has a personality trait that will mean big trouble for me when she is older: she gets bored very easily. She’s already exploring toys that have bright colors and textures, and music always grabs her attention. The swing just isn’t doing it for her anymore, as she loves to be on a flat surface so she can kick her feet and flail her arms. Right after she eats or right before she naps, the swing is her best friend, but the rest of the day she wants to be free on a flat surface.

I started looking into play mats/gyms for her. I had one already from my older baby, but I was looking for something with more features, music, and toys. When I came across the Bright Starts Baby’s Play Place Deluxe Edition, I knew this was the one for us. It came with a variety of toys, a plush elephant, a pillow for tummy time, and a musical toy that could even be attached to her crib. What makes this play mat stand out from the rest is the extra large mat that folds up at the ends to make a safe enclosure for your baby. I loved that I can keep her in the play mat and my toddler could safely play next to her.

Putting the mat together took a little more effort as compared to other play mats, but that is because of the configuration options. You can always leave your mat laying flat, but I felt that as a newborn, folding the sides up was best for her current developmental stage. I carefully attached all the included toys, making sure they were secure and there was no risk of them falling off and landing on her face. I felt that everything included was secure, and I immediately placed my infant inside the play gym. She started kicking around and once she discovered that she could activate the music with her feet, she became excited and kicked some more! I was actually surprised that for a 2 1/2 month old she was able to understand cause and effect simply by moving her feet!

Her favorite feature so far seems to be the teether toy elephant. She can stare and smile at him all day long! I’ve tried placing him in her hands so she can play with him, but she’s not quite at that point. She does, however, grab and pull the toys that are attached closer to her face. As far as tummy time- she doesn’t like it, but I don’t know what baby does! The pillow is great at propping her up so she can see the vibrant designs on the play mat.

Check out full product features:

This cheerful space adapts to your growing baby’s needs and provides endless ways to play.  This Deluxe Edition features a 2-in-1 electronic toy, removable prop pillow, and plush Teether Pal™.

Features:

• Walls reconfigure for baby’s development: newborn, tummy time, crawling and sitting
• 2-in-1 electronic toy features 20 minutes of lights and melodies and also attaches to most cribs
• Removable prop pillow for tummy time play
• Plush elephant with teethable hands and feet
• Heart-shaped rattle for auditory development
• Flower-shaped bead chaser
• Extra large mirror for self discovery
• Lion shaped teether soothes gums
• 2 character links and 8 additional Fun Links™ for attaching more toys
• A portion of the proceeds goes to support breast cancer charities

With so many features, boredom is not an option- even for an infant! The Bright Starts Baby’s Play Place™ Deluxe Edition comes in gender neutral colors or Pretty in Pink. You can purchase it at Amazon, Target, Buy Buy Baby, Babies R Us, and Walmart! I think it is great that some of the proceeds go to support breast cancer charities! This is a great initiative that Bright Starts has put together with all of the items in their “Pretty in Pink” product line and I think it is fantastic, especially since I have girls and I am bound to choose the pink items! You can connect with Bright Starts on Facebook to stay up to date on their latest products, news, and promotions!