Our parents, current grandparents, say we’re lucky to have so many baby props and toys available that simplify baby care and parenting for us. Yet, the wide variety of baby products available today doesn’t seem to make it any easier for parents across the world. How’s that so?
The many different parenting styles that millennials embrace today are based upon the advice of various parenting, sleep and developmental experts. It seems that everyone has something to say that’s likely supported by certain research and studies. This leaves parents confused and makes shopping for baby products overwhelming. This is especially true for baby toys and their use.
In the sea of opposed opinions, everyone agrees on the use of baby activity gyms. But why is that so, and what makes using baby play gyms so beneficial for a baby’s development?
What Is a Baby Play Gym?
A baby play gym refers to both baby play mats and activity gyms.
Baby Play Mats
What age are baby play mats for? Playmats are designed for newborns and young babies. They consist of a padded mat, usually in black and white or bright colours. It can contain different textured items or toys for different sensory sensations. Or, they can have a sturdy structure that arches over your baby, dangling toys over their head. These toys are fun for your bub to look at, hold, push and squeeze. What’s more, the baby play mat gym is meant to entertain and engage your little one, ensuring playtime is both fun and educational.
Baby Activity Gyms
These are more advanced play gyms for toddlers and older babies who are more mobile or have started walking. They provide your little one with a variety of opportunities to practice climbing and crawling at your home. Every parent that has a toddler can testify how much energy they have. Baby play gyms are lifesavers for the days you can’t take your kids outside to blow off their energy. They can be the safe area in your home in which babies can get tired enough so they can fall asleep easily afterwards.
The Benefits of Using a Baby Gym
Encourages Tummy Time
Tummy time is when we lay a baby on their stomach for short periods while they’re awake. Pediatricians recommend tummy time as a daily routine since a baby is born. It’s very important as it helps babies strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles and improve motor skills.
Sadly, many parents give up on tummy time because many newborns seem to hate it. It’s not okay for a newborn to be left on their tummy to cry or unsupervised. There are ways to encourage it to go smooth and make it pleasant for young babies. A baby play mat gym can be of tremendous help. It’s soft enough for babies to be comfortable, and the different toys around it make it interesting. If the baby still rebels against laying on their tummy, it can help if you lay yourself on the floor, facing and talking to your baby.
Provides an Interesting Diversion in the Daily Routine
Small babies want to be close to their parents, especially their mum. They want to be held most of the time, regardless if they’re asleep or awake. This is very understandable as everything has changed for them since they came earthside. Mum and dad are the only constant, and they feel safe being held by them. However, this can be very exhausting for new parents and can make usual daily activities impossible to manage. Putting your baby in a baby floor gym allows them free hands to finish your meal or do some chores. Just make sure you don’t leave the baby unattended while they play.
As babies grow up, they will require more activities to keep them entertained and amused. The day is long when you have to take care of your little bundle of joy. A baby gym is an exciting and fun diversion that allows your baby to meet baby play needs, an essential part of their daily schedules. It’s also a great way to interact with your little one.
Another advantage of having a baby play gym is that you have an opportunity to entertain your baby wherever you are. It’s like having an activity play centre on the go.
Great Developmental Benefits
Improves Hand and Eye Coordination and Motor Skills
The models that feature small hanging toys encourage your baby to reach, grasp, turn and kick. This helps the baby focus on the object and bring together their hands in the middle of the body. As they practice these moves, they improve this reflex. This helps develop their fine motor skills, as well as their hand-eye coordination.
Stimulates Baby’s Senses
When they’re born, babies see objects that are placed 10-30 cm from their face most clearly. That’s the exact distance of the toys in most play gyms. This and the contrasting black and white designs and bright colours allow babies to practice and improve their vision. And the various sounds produced when they rattle and squeeze the toys give an auditory sensory input. The gyms also provide sensory stimulation with the different textures to babies’ little fingers.
Boosts Cognitive Development
The toys featured in play gyms are specifically designed to produce different sounds, shapes, colours and textures. They improve the imagination of babies and stimulate mental and cognitive development in babies. When a baby is regularly exposed to certain patterns, it helps them recognise and learn them faster. Featured mirrors make the baby see their face and recognise themselves.
Encourages Freedom and Movement
A play gym provides a safe place for your baby to kick, scoot, and roll around. Such activities are an exercise for infants. Giving your baby more opportunities to explore and make choices apart from not only gives you some free time but also helps your baby become more independent and confident.
What to Look for When Buying a Baby Play Gym?
As it’s with other baby products, like wipes or clothes, the baby gym you buy must be made of quality, non-toxic materials. Such are cotton for the padded mat and wood for the structure. Besides the model, ensure choosing an appropriate size for your baby’s age. Since baby gym’s one of the most used items in the first years, don’t compromise on quality. You’ll make sure your investment’s well worth it when you see how the baby activity gym boosts the development of your precious bub.
