The best play mats in Australia in 2025
Not just a safe space for baby to roll around and kick their legs, play mats encourage little ones to engage in sensory exploration and develop motor skills.
Play mats also promote tummy time, an important activity for a baby’s physical development. The supportive surface encourages babies to spend time on their stomachs, helping strengthen neck and upper body muscles.
This, in turn, helps lay the groundwork for essential motor skills like crawling and walking.
To help in your search for the perfect play mat, we’ve compiled a list of our top picks, considering factors such as safety, durability, and developmental benefits.
from $399 (20% discount applied at checkout, for a limited time) at Miss Amara
Best for soft, cloud-like comfort with designer style
The Rollie Pollie from Miss Amara is the kind of playmat that does double duty: plush enough for tummy time and toddler tumbles, but stylish enough to pass as a designer rug.
With a velvety-soft finish and memory foam filling, it’s like a marshmallow for your floors. The built-in underlay keeps it from slipping and sliding, so you’re not constantly readjusting between playtime and snack time (and playtime again).
It’s also easy on the clean-up front – stain-resistant and simple to spot-clean. Just blot spills with a damp cloth and steam out any creases from the box. Done.
Cushy, cute, and kid-friendly without screaming baby stuff. A win for your back and your aesthetic.
from $129 (was $179) at Baby Bunting
Best for comfort as it’s so soft and pillowy
Transform your baby’s playtime into a comfortable and secure experience with this plush play mat.
Featuring a natural wooden toy bar and chic reversible prints, it effortlessly complements your home decor. The removable activity toys and tummy time pillow ensure convenient storage.
When it’s time to tidy up, the slim-fold design and handles turn it into a self-storage bag and lets you quickly reclaim your living room.
from $235 at Lovevery
Best for keeping your baby very busy
Looking for the ultimate play mat for your little one? Look no further!
Designed to grow with your child from newborn to toddler, this play mat provides stage-based activities that engage them throughout their first year.
This award-winning play gym comes with four adorable detachable toys and boasts five developmental zones. Watch as your little one explores and interacts with all the various features.
Included with the play mat is a black and white card set which will come in handy as in your baby’s first 12 weeks, they will be riveted by high-contrast images.
from $180 from The Iconic
Best for making an area safe for baby (while looking good too)
If you’re after a play mat that nails both style and snuggle-factor, the Philé Play Mat is a winner.
Design-wise, it’s full of thoughtful touches -velvet trim, cross dart stitching, and generous sizing that gives plenty of space for stretching, crawling, rolling, or just flopping. Whether your little one’s in full explorer mode or winding down for a story, this mat is the perfect spot for both play and rest.
Best for a stylish look on a budget-price
Soft, cushioned, and generously sized at 115cm wide, this play mat is perfect for tummy time, playtime, or just lounging around. The quilted design adds a cosy, modern touch to any nursery or living space – and at this price, it’s an easy yes.
Children are the pickiest when it comes to texture and comfort underfoot, so having something lush and soft for their little feet was a must. The Miss Amara Rollie Pollie playmats are on the spongier bouncy side and we have a full range of thick and textural rugs which makes playtime safe and enjoyable when most of the time we’re down on the ground playing!
The size of the rug is more important when choosing a nursery rug than a regular room. This is because the nursery rug is going to act as a soft playspace protecting little feet and providing a comfortable place for your bub to roll, bounce and crawl around on.
Try and opt for a rug that is as large as possible, covering as much of the floor as possible. You will thank me when it’s 2am and you need to grab something when the baby is sleeping!
Considering the sheer size and space that a rug envelopes you can see why many interior designers say that they set the tone and the mood of the entire room. So before you decide on the rug you love, think about the room as a whole.
Do you have your heart set on a theme? Will your crib, accessories be paired back and would you like your rug to inject colour and fun, or are you opting for a playful wallpaper where you would like the rug to provide a neutral backdrop.
I used Canva to put in my nursery wishlist, and eventually decided on a beautiful vintage jungle wallpaper. Accordingly we chose a neutral rug with some fun abstract shapes which really ties into the room perfectly!
Fibre and material is a top consideration when selecting your rug. Consider how the room will be used, do you intend it to be a playzone where you expect it will be the centre of all activities? Or will it strictly be a sleepy time area of calm and bedtime stories.
For us, everything happens all at once – playtime, changing, bathtime, even sometimes meals! So we chose a synthetic fibre that is forgiving on stains and spills and yet also engineered to feel silky soft. In order of importance I would say – texture (feel), durability, and maintenance are all top considerations.
