Designed for tummy time through to toddler tumbling and every milestone in between, padded baby play mats are a staple in every nursery, playroom, or living area. We are lucky enough to have some of the world’s best baby play mats on our doorstep, made from the finest materials and designed with love by top Australian designers and brands.
Check out our top picks for padded play mats in Australia 2023 and find your perfect pairing that not only gives Bub a safe space to play and grow but also complements your style and blends effortlessly into your home.
Padded play mat checklist – what to look for:
✓ Multifunctional and durable – You’ll want a playmat that will go the distance, from the days of dribbing to the preschool tea parties. Padded play mats are also great for other activities, such as exercise.
✓ Easy to clean – A must! Look for a padded play mat that either easily wipes clean or comes with a machine-washable cover. Waterproof is also a big tick.
✓ The right size for your space – Where is your play mat going? In the nursery, a designated playroom or the main living area? Perhaps one for each space? Knowing what space you are working with can help ensure the right size. Circular mats, for example, are ideal for smaller spaces while rectangular mats tend to work best in living areas.
✓ The right pattern/colour scheme for your space – You will want to choose a design (pattern, colour scheme, etc) that works with your home’s style. Many padded play mats favour the more minimal look with less bright patterns and more modernised designs.
✓ Comfortable – This is perhaps one of the most important things to consider and often comes down to the thickness of the padding. While thicker mats may be harder to move from room to room, they also provide more protection.
✓ Safe and sustainable – Free of nasty chemicals, PVC and BPA are all big pluses. If eco-friendliness matters to you, be sure to check out what materials your play mat is made from. Many play mats on our list are made of sustainable materials and options, including vegan play mats.
Mum Central Picks: 8 Best Padded Baby Play Mats of 2023
Rugabub Designer Play Mats
RRP: From $159.95
WHERE TO BUY: Rugabub
When you see a Rugabub, you know it is a Rugabub. They look like designer rugs but with the added bonus of being extra soft and comfortable for your little one. They have won numerous awards including the prestigious Good Design Award Winner Accolade and are loved by thousands of parents, including the team at Mum Central. When you see just how beautiful they look in real life, you’ll completely understand why they are one of our top picks for padded baby play mats and have thousands of 5-star reviews.Â
What makes Rugabub’s play mats stand out from the rest is the intricate pattern, enduring quality, and one-of-a-kind artistry. They are also reversible with a decor-friendly print on one side and a Little Trooper road print on the other.
Rugabub’s newest Japandi Play Mat Collection combines the finest elements of Scandinavian design and Japanese design, focusing on an aesthetic of clean lines and organic simplicity for a calming and simplistic feel. Be sure to check out their AR filter on their website and Instagram where you can see how the play mats look in your home before purchasing.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: SAVE: $10 OFF CODE: MUMCENTRAL EXPIRY: 31 DECEMBER 2023
Freddy & Co World Map Play MatÂ
RRP: From $159.95
WHERE TO BUY: Freddy & Co
For parents looking for a play mat that’s playful and fun, Freddy & Co is your perfect match! They feature a colourful, educational print on one side with a decor-friendly design on the other. There are a few kid-friendly designs to choose from but our top pick is the World Map which features several adorable animals from around the world. So cute and great for encouraging imagination and play.
Freddy & Co’s luxe padded play mats are made from TPU non-toxic and waterproof material, providing a soft and easy-to-clean play space for your bub — perfect for tummy time, crawling, learning to walk, and messy play activities. Choose from two shape and size options – a large rectangle and a smaller round play mat. Freddy & Co playmats come in Grey Rug, Grey Diamond, Sand or Sage Safari reverse side option to suit any home décor design.
Freddy & Co have been loved by parents since 2017 and also has a delightful range of artwork, bedding and other products to style your baby’s space. We at Mum Central absolutely adore their entire range and know you will too.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: SAVE: 10% OFF STORE WIDE CODE: MC10 EXPIRY: 29 AUGUST 2024
Grace & Maggie Padded Play Mats
RRP: $189
WHERE TO BUY: Grace & Maggie
Grace & Maggie padded play mats are the ultimate combination of style and fun. With a chic area rug design on one side and a minimalist track design on the reverse, these play mats complement any nursery or shared living space.
We love all of the Grace & Maggie playmats but our fave has to be the original Baby Driver Boho Design which remains a bestseller today. All Grace & Maggie playmats are water-resistant, free of latex, PVC, BPA and VOCs, eco-friendly and easy to clean. What we especially love about Grace & Maggie is how comfortable they are, providing a cloud-like base for tummy time and tumbles as your little one learns how to roll, crawl and walk.
They have several sizes to choose from, including a circular range and the popular vegan range, and plenty of new styles that will add a bit of flair to any nursery or playroom.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: SAVE: 10% OFF STORE WIDE CODE: MC10 EXPIRY: 31 OCTOBER 2023
Marmalade Lion Australian Washable Wool Activity Play Mat
RRP: $159
WHERE TO BUY: Marmalade Lion
For an activity mat that you’ll want to sleep on yourself, we absolutely adore Marmalade Lion! These deliciously soft activity mats are cushiony, supportive and made of Australian wool, ideal for keeping Bub comfortable year-round.
Each mat comes with a memory foam insert and an interchangeable cover so you can pick your cover and change it whenever you want or need to. Unlike most other baby play mats on the market, Marmalade Lion padded play mat covers are machine-washable and every mat also comes with Expect-A-Spill™ non-toxic, eco-friendly waterproof coating which makes these mats easy to wipe down.
They offer a HUGE range of interchangeable covers with bright patterns and minimalist modern designs. There are plenty of hand-illustrated designs to choose from with an Australian theme. We also love how easy they are to transport and how they are safe for both indoor and outdoor use (ideal for picnics or park visits too!) Use them in the nursery, bathroom, backyard, park, beach, or anywhere your day takes you.
Little Wiwa® Minimalist Baby Play MatsÂ
RRP: From $109
WHERE TO BUY: Little Wiwa®
If you’re a fan of minimalist style, then allow us to introduce you to your perfect play mat. Little Wiwa® play mats tick all the boxes – extra squishy and supportive, non-toxic, PVC free, environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic and waterproof.  Best of all, they are designed to grow with your little one, from newborn tummy time to big kid playtime and activities. They also provide an ideal space for quick workouts for us mums too!
We also love how lightweight and portable these playmats are and how easy they are to clean. No wonder they come with over 1400+ genuine 5-star reviews and several awards. Plus, they are one of Mum Central’s top picks for padded baby play mats this year!
Little Wiwa® even have its own Play Mat Cleaner – Mista Wiwa® – a baby-friendly solution for high-touch surfaces. Its gentle and pH-balanced formula effectively eliminates germs and nasties, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment. Check out the new cleaner and the whole range of Little Wiwa playmats, available in three sizes and plenty of designs. The Coastal Collection is our personal fave – holiday vibes meet playmat perfection.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: FREE: 10% OFFÂ STOREWIDEÂ CODE: MUMCENTRALBP23 EXPIRY: 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Luxe at Play Padded Play MatsÂ
RRP: From $115
WHERE TO BUY: Luxe at Play
If it’s affordability, selection and sustainability you want, then the Luxe at Play range will absolutely floor you. Made from sustainable non-toxic TPU materials, every mat is also waterproof, wipeable and made to withstand the mess of everyday life with little ones. They are also free of nasty chemicals, colour stabilisers and plasticisers and are even biodegradable.Â
All Luxe at Play’s padded play mats are durable and engineered to support your child’s growth and development. Supportive enough for tummy time, rolling and crawling to walking. Plus, they’re soft enough to protect Bub from those dreaded bumps and tumbles.
And wait until you see the selection! Every play mat is lovingly designed in Australia with hand-drawn illustrations and their one-of-a-kind designs mean you’ll have a play mat as unique as your little one. There are 24 styles to choose from in several sizes including large, small and round. Affordable and stylish, a Luxe at Play padded play mat will easily enhance your space and be a focal point for play.
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: SAVE: 10% OFF STOREWIDE CODE: ASKINGMUMS10 EXPIRY: 29 AUGUST 2024
Softly Summer CUVVY® Padded Play Mats (and Covers)Â
RRP: From $189
WHERE TO BUY: Softly Summer
For the squishiest baby play mat around, CUVVY® Padded Play Mats by Softly Summer gets our vote. They boast an Oeko Tek Certified soft and squishy natural latex rubber insert that makes them extra comfortable for little ones and pets too.
Reversible, easy to clean and luxuriously soft, there’s a lot to love about this range. The waterproof vegan leather contains no grooves for dirt to get stuck in and all the materials used are eco-friendly, certified safe and free of toxins. We love the unique designs, all crafted by artists to compliment your home decor and inspire little imaginations.
Another really cool thing about the CUVVY range is that you purchase the cover separately. Choose from a large range of patterns, each cover is removable and interchangeable. You can purchase the cover only if you happen to have an old play mat and looking for a refresh – a sustainable way to breathe new life into an older play mat. Check out the full range of adorable nursery finds at Softly Summer including their bean bags and toy bags. Just divine!
MUM CENTRAL READER OFFER: SAVE: $10 OFF CODE: MUMCENTRAL10
Munchkin & Bear Luxe Padded Play Mat
RRP: From $99.00 -$179.95
WHERE TO BUY: Munchkin & Bear
Our final pick for the best padded baby play mats of 2023 goes to the stunning collection at Munchkin & Bear. This lovely Aussie company has perfectly combined safety and style plus sustainability, taking out multiple awards and beautifying over 100,000 Australian homes.
Their luxurious memory foam play mats are high-quality, non-toxic are not only loved but also provide peace of mind anytime your little one is using them. From protecting delicate newborns just learning to lift their heads, to those wobbly toddler tumbles and big kids taking new risks. Munchkin & Bear Luxe Padded play mats will support your family through every important milestone. Plus all those inevitable little messes will wipe straight off the easy-to-clean, waterproof surface!
Munchkin & Bear has an impressive range to choose from too, with over 40+ stunning combinations thoughtfully curated by Interior Designers. While many play mats stick to more neutral tones, Munchkin & Bear proudly adds sophisticated colour to your home, whether that be in a nursery, playroom or living space.
We hope you have found the perfect play mat to complement your home all the while providing Bub with a comfortable space they will love. Be sure to take advantage of any discount codes above.
We’ve also got plenty of other guides for those who are shopping for babies and more. Check out:
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