At a glance:
This clever activity mat is bright, colourful and wipe clean, with plenty of different colours and sounds to interact with. Our panel of mum testers loved how soft the play mat was compared to others on the market, but wished there were more sensory elements to it.
What they say:
“A 3-in-1 interactive versatile Gymini® that grows with your baby. The extraordinarily versatile baby activity mat with modular arches that create 3 modes of use that encourage the development of fine and gross motor skills from birth to toddlerhood. Mode 1: Lying and Tummy-Time - Tummy-time pillow and a wide selection of stimulating toys help extend tummy-time. Mode 2: Sitting Up - Gym folds, transforming into an activity centre that includes a fun ball game that strengthens the sitting position. Mode 3: Standing Up - Fun sliding spiral ball game lets a standing toddler enjoy playing, encouraging baby's cognitive growth. 15 fun activities and features: musical electronic ball game, bird wind chime, tiger ball with rings, frog mirror and more. Innovative electronic ball game includes 2 modes of music, interactive lights & music feedback and a sliding spiral for small balls.”
Tested by mum Samantha Wright for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Yes, 100%. It's quick and easy to build with a simple yet effective design and no need for the instructions. It's bright, colourful, and the easy wipe clean means no washing machine is needed. It can fold down, and is really easy to disassemble. There is a soft, thick play mat for added comfort, and well made attachment toys that can be detached for solo play. A carry case is great for storing away if needed or for travelling. It is made from quality materials with no sharp edges or loose stitching, so no choking hazards. It also comes with two sound settings: songs or interactive sounds, such as babies laughing, animals, or even rainforest sounds, which is a lovely touch to go with the light up leaves at the top. The ball hoop is also really fun to play with.
How did the product make your life easier?
Quick, easy and simple to put together, I didn't even need the instructions. My nine-month-old son loves it, especially now he's crawling. He likes to hit the dangling toys, which gives me peace of mind on where he is as I can hear the bells and rattles if I have to nip into another room. This product is a great interactive distraction for him. If any drinks get spilt during play or you have a teething, dribbling baby, no worries. You can give it a quick clean with a baby wipe and it dries within minutes, so baby can keep on playing without having to take it apart and put it in the washing machine. It doesn't take up too much space when built unlike other playmats, meaning more room for other toys. I love this product and so does my son.
Would you choose this product to win?
I think so. I would choose this product if I saw it on the shelves, the only downside being the price. Although it is well worth the money and the quality is unfaultable, it may not fit in with everyone's budget, which may sway them towards a cheaper alternative. I am yet to come across a product quite like this one though.
What changes would you make to the product?
I would change the tummy time pillow, as the material slips on the playmat and even on carpet. I would suggest maybe an anti-slip side or a flap of Velcro to keep it in place. I would also suggest more visuals, such as a light show for nighttime to relax baby with a soothing song.
Tested by mum Erica Yates for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Definitely. My baby absolutely loves it and it's great that once she learns to sit up and stand she can continue to play with it as she grows. The playmat itself is very padded and soft, which is great compared to others I have had which need a blanket underneath before using. It's easy to keep clean and the frame is very sturdy, so I can easily move it from room to room. The frame is easy to take down and put up, so would be easy enough to transport to a friends or grandparents houses too!
How did this product make your life easier?
This product has been a lifesaver for me, and my little girl has had countless hours of fun! I'm sure she looks forward to playtime on her playmat now. I have even managed to let her play whilst I get the housework done. I'd recommend it to any mum for this reason, and the value for money can't be argued with either. I haven't even had to change any toys to keep her interest! If I ever need to get my jobs done it's playmat time for her.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would love for this product to win. The playmat at the bottom is very cushioned, which compared to two other playmats I have is much needed! My other two brands of playmats I have to put a blanket underneath as I have wood floors! The frame is very sturdy too. My other playmat just has a single bar across the middle and it is forever falling over, and that's without my little one touching any toys! The frame is easy to fold down and put up so I have no doubts that it will easily fold away, which is great for if you only have one playmat and need to keep your little one entertained at friends or grandparents. It's very bright, and the colours and toys have kept my girl entertained like there is no tomorrow!
What changes would you make to this product?
Some, if not all of the toys could be hung on rings, so that you can change them for different toys to keep children even more engaged and stimulated. It would also be nice to see some flashing lights on the top, as this would make it more interesting and stimulating for an older child that doesn't want to be led down on the mat like a younger child does.
Tested my mum Rose Tanner for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product to a friend who is about to have a baby, but probably not a parent of a child who is seven-months-old plus. The reason being that I believe it is a great product for a baby to grow with, but not necessarily for an older child who is starting to explore different things. It has an attractive, bright design and is easy to put together and take apart, and the carry bag is also very handy for transporting it around. The jingle balls and soft toys it comes with are audibly and visually stimulating.
How did this product make your life easier?
This product keeps my son occupied while I get other bits done around the house. The mat is nice and soft so my son is happy to sit or lie on it, although it doesn’t distract him for too long, though I think this is more due to his age. If he were younger I think he would be more interested in the hanging toys and moving parts on the frame, but at the moment he gets bored of things easily.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would choose this product purely on the fact that it grows with your baby from newborn to standing. I haven’t seen any other products that do this. If I had seen this when my son was first born I definitely would have considered buying it. Although, I don’t think it should win. Compared to other floor mats the legs are suitably sturdy, but when babies start to roll, they aren’t quite soft enough to withstand a bump. There also aren’t enough points to hang things from, meaning less to interact with. There is also a flaw when you fold the legs to the ‘sitting’ position. With no way of tying the legs down, it ends up as a loose frame on a mat, which can collapse on top of baby if pressured. I like the idea of the three stages, but the second stage needs work.
What changes would you make to this product?
The one thing I would change is the second stage positioning. My son is at a stage where he is pulling himself up on everything, but the extended legs are too tall for him at the moment, so he was sitting down at it on the second stage position and went to pull himself up, resulting in him falling backwards and the whole frame being on top of him.
Tested by mum Katie Treacy for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product to anyone with kids. It's great if you have more than one child as it suits all their needs, and is definitely worth the price. Bright and colourful, it also comes with a tummy time pillow which my son loves as he has started to roll over. It is easy to fold away and comes with a case, making it easy to transport. It’s also easy to wipe down. I’ve never seen a play mat with so many things to keep kids entertained on the market before. I can't wait for him to sit up and use step two!
How did this product make your life easier?
This product is great! My son will happily play with this for ages, which allows me to do much needed housework or just have a sit down and enjoy watching him entertain himself. He loves giggling at himself in the frog mirror, and I can't wait for him to sit up so we can use the next step. He loves the zebra as it makes a crinkle sound when he touches it, so it's great for sensory play. The playmat is bright and colourful, easy to set up, and comes with a rattle. My nieces love the stage two and three, where you can put the balls into the hoop on top. It keeps all the children entertained for hours, and is easy to fold away so I can take it to a friend’s house so my son will be happy.
Would you choose this product to win?
Yes! We took this product to the park as my son is too small for the play area and he usually gets bored watching other kids having fun. He enjoyed playing on his mat, and we even had strangers coming up and asking what the product was called, and where they could buy it.
What changes would you make to this product?
There could be more stuff to do on the mat itself. It could be more of a sensory mat with different sounds if you were to touch different parts of the mat. It could have some flashing lights with different colours, as we have a light up toy which I have dangled from the frame, and my son loves seeing all the different colours.
Tested by mum Amy Tong for the Mother & Baby Awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would, definitely. The first thing that appealed to me was that it grows with your child. It simply and easily converts from a large, colourful play mat with hanging sensory toys to an interactive activity centre when baby is able to sit up, to- finally- a fun ball game for standing toddlers. Clever design features including colourful hanging sensory toys that can be moved up and down on sliding rings, encouraging fine and gross motor skills. The crescent shaped pillow is perfect for tummy time. The playmat is machine washable, while most playmats seem to be wipe-clean only - HUGE hygienic bonus! The gym is sturdy and well made. Buttons at the top turn on/off the sounds and lights and hold the hanging toys. It folds up surprisingly small and can be stored in the tiniest of spaces - bringing it along with us to a trip to the park and putting it in the car boot was no trouble.
How did this product make your life easier?
The playmat keeps my baby happy and entertained, allowing me to catch up with some chores, eat a meal or enjoy a cup of coffee (whilst it's still hot). Being a busy mum of three children keeps me on my toes, and keeping them all happy can be tricky at times, but to my surprise, even the eldest kids couldn't wait to try out the toys and activities the Gymini has to offer!
Would you choose this product to win?
I would choose the 'Gymini 1 2 3 here I grow' above all others on the market as it is unique, versatile and brilliant value for money. The first thing that really stood out was that it grows with your child. It easily converts from a large, sensory-stimulating playmat suitable for newborns to a fun, interactive activity centre for toddlers.
What changes would you make to this product?
If I really had to scrutinize, I guess the mat could be a little thicker if using on hard word floors, but that wasn't a massive concern for us.
Product Information
Suitable from birth - approximately 18 months.