When I had my first baby in 2020, I was gifted the Lovevery Play Gym because all my friends were obsessed with it. Five years and three kids later, that same play gym is still going strong, stains and all. Since then, more play gyms have been released, and I’ve tested a lot of other options.
From budget to luxury, I’ve realized that the “right” play gym really depends on your lifestyle and aesthetic preference (okay, but it’s actually important to many of us moms). Are you in a small apartment where it has to fold away? Are you a grandparent? Do you have twins? Are you looking for something aesthetic for your main living space? Are you trying to stay under $50? There’s no universal winner, but there is a right answer for your family in this post.
Over the past year, I tested TEN play gyms to find the ones I actually recommend. I also asked my Instagram community to weigh in, and their feedback was so helpful that it shaped some of what did and did not make this list. In this post, I’m sharing the ones I love, the ones I had mixed feelings about, the one I excluded entirely, and the add-on toys that can make any play gym better. I’m also including discount codes where available.
Prefer to watch? Check out my YouTube video:
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Table of Contents
What Should You Look For When Buying a Play Gym?
- Budget: Play gyms range from around $30 to $150, and more expensive doesn’t always mean better for your family. Decide what you’re comfortable spending, then focus on function within that range.
- Washability: Babies are messy. Between spit-up and drool during tummy time, your play mat is going to need a wash more often than you’d think.
- Materials: Look for organic cotton and natural materials, natural wood, and non-toxic finishes, especially for gyms your baby will be on every day. Reputable brands like Melissa & Doug, Lovevery, and others sold at major retailers go through more rigorous safety testing than cheap dupes on Amazon, which matters when your baby is mouthing every toy and doing tummy time on it.
- Frame: I have found wood play gyms last way longer than cloth ones.
- Grows With Baby: Some play gyms are only useful for the first 4 to 6 months, after which your baby outgrows them. Others have features that extend their use up to a year or more. The best play gyms let you swap toys in and out as your baby develops, or include different learning stations like a mirror, crinkle, rattle, or sensory balls. This keeps the gym interesting longer.
- Foldability: This is one of the most underrated features. A folding play gym can be tucked behind a couch, taken to grandma’s house, or stored in a closet when you need the floor space back. Not all wooden play gyms fold, and that’s a deal-breaker for some families.
- High Contrast for Newborns: Young babies see black and white patterns best. Some play gyms come with high-contrast cards and toys built in; others, you’ll need to add separately.
- Size and Footprint: Play gyms live in your main living space, so how big it is matters. Smaller gyms are great for apartments or secondary rooms. Larger gyms give baby more room to roll and move as they get bigger.
- Padding for Hard Floors: If you have hardwood or laminate floors, look for a thicker, quilted mat or plan to add a padded layer underneath. I use a thick blanket under my Lovevery on our wood floors.
- Aesthetic Fit: This one is personal, but if a play gym is going to live in your main living space for the next year, it’s okay to care about how it looks.
How Long Will Your Baby Actually Use a Play Gym?
This depends on the gym. Smaller, simpler play gyms like the Cloud Island are great through the newborn and early infant stage, usually until baby starts sitting up around six months. Larger play gyms designed to grow with your baby, like the Lovevery or the Lalo Play Gym 2, can be used well into the first year and sometimes beyond, depending on how much you rotate the toys and add developmental features.
A general rule of thumb: your baby will use a play gym from around 2 weeks to about 6 to 10 months.
My Favorite Play Gyms
Cloud Island Wood Play Gym – Best Minimalist Budget
If you want a play gym that is affordable yet blends into your home decor, this wooden play gym looks great without spending over $100. The included toys leave a little to be desired, but since the gym itself is so affordable, it is easy to customize with your own toys. I added this Lovevery one.
Something I really like about this style of play gym is that it lets you customize your setup. You can use your own favorite blanket or play mat underneath it, which means you’re not stuck with whatever cheap polyester mat comes with the gym. I used Wildbird’s playmat (save with link), but any blanket with padding will work.
Something to note about this gym is that it’s on the smaller side. Once your baby is sitting up, usually around six months, you’ll probably want to pack it away. It also doesn’t grow with your baby the way the more expensive ones do, but as a first play gym for the newborn-to-sitting phase, it does the job at a fraction of the price.
- Price: $33 Buy on Target
- Material: Wood frame
- Includes: Gym frame, hanging toys (mat sold separately)
- Features: Portable, lightweight, swappable toys
- Wash: Wood wipe clean only
Pros:
- $33 price point is hard to beat
- Simple, aesthetic wood frame
- Portable and lightweight
- Lets you customize with your own mat and toys
Cons:
- Smaller size, mostly useful for newborn through 6 months
- Doesn’t come with a mat
- Included toys are basic
Here are a few other wood play gyms worth considering (images are links):
Fisher Price Kick & Play Play Mat – Best Budget
The Fisher Price Glow and Grow, often called “the purple monkey one,” is the most popular interactive play gym, and both babies and parents love it. I’ll be honest: I normally try to stay away from battery-operated toys, but this one earns its place for families who want music, lights, and more sensory engagement.
Heads up before you buy: there are a few different versions, including a Spanish-language version. I accidentally ended up with the Spanish one, so double-check you’re buying the right version for your family.
This one is more compact than the wooden gyms, which makes it a great fit for apartments, a nursery setup, or even a pack and play so you can lay baby down safely when your older kids are running around. Many parents in my community have said they pair this one with a more aesthetic wooden gym downstairs, using the Glow and Grow upstairs for diaper changes and quieter play.
The mat is polyester but easy to wipe down. The piano feature is genuinely fun, though the newborn months won’t get much mileage out of it. This one shines from around three months on, when your baby starts actively kicking and interacting.
- Price: $50 Buy on Kohls or Amazon
- Material: Polyester Mat and Plastic Frame & Toys
- Includes: Gym frame, hanging toys, mirror, & Kick Piano (batteries included)
- Features: Kick piano, music, lights, compact size
- Wash: Spot clean
Pros:
- Babies love the interactive music and lights
- Compact, fits in a pack and play or small space
- Affordable
- Good for secondary rooms or nursery setups
Cons:
- Battery operated, which isn’t everyone’s preference
- Not as aesthetic as the wooden options
- Polyester
Melissa & Doug Play Gym – Best Overall
I have been so impressed with the Melissa & Doug Play Gym (it might even be our favorite overall). It hits a sweet spot of price, quality, and practical features that most of the other gyms on this list can’t quite match at this price.
It folds, comes with a reversible play mat (color and black and white) that is soft and has a higher-quality feel! It is also washable and can be air-dried.
The toys are genuinely good. It has a kickable toy (which my friends’ babies have loved), multiple hanging positions, a mirror with a rattle, a squeaker toy, a pull-down toy, and a crinkly star. Crinkle toys are especially fun for babies around 3 to 4 months. There’s also a crinkly pattern on the play mat itself.
The size sits right in the middle. Bigger than the Cloud Island and smaller than the Lovevery. It’s portable enough to move around but big enough that baby has room to move.
- Price: $65-80 Buy on Kohl’s or Amazon
- Material: Polyester Mat, wood Frame & Toys
- Includes: Reversible mat (neutral and high-contrast sides), kickable toy, mirror/rattle, squeaker, pull-down toy, crinkle star
- Features: Folds, reversible high-contrast mat, washable
- Wash: Machine washable, air dry
Pros:
- Folds
- Reversible high-contrast mat
- Machine washable
- Great variety of included toys
- Often on sale
Cons:
- Polyester mat rather than organic cotton
- Toys are cute but less innovative than Lovevery or Lalo
- Doesn’t grow with baby as long as the premium options
Lalo Play Gym 2 – Best Low-Tox
The Lalo Play Gym 2 is the newest play gym on this list, and it earns its spot for one huge reason: it folds. No buttons, no tools, you just push it, and it folds flat. The materials feel high-end. Organic, natural, and the mat is thick enough that I don’t need to put anything underneath it on my wood floors. Lalo also added a rubber sticky bottom, which is really nice on laminate or hardwood because the gym won’t slide around when baby starts kicking.
It grows with your baby too. Once they’re sitting, there’s an included station where you can pass shapes through and work on matching. My only real complaint is that the gym doesn’t include as much high contrast out of the box as I’d like. You can easily add a black and white card in the mirror pocket or buy add-on high-contrast toys to hang, so it’s a workaround, not a deal-breaker.
- Price: $130 Buy on Lalo
- Material: Organic, natural materials, wood
- Includes: Foldable frame, mirror pocket, sensory zones, toys, and sitting zone.
- Features: Folds, rubber bottom, sitting station, washable
- Wash: Machine washable, air dry
Pros:
- Folds flat (rare in a wooden gym at this quality)
- Organic natural materials with a thick, padded mat
- Rubber sticky bottom stops sliding on hard floors
- Grows into a sitting station for older babies
Cons:
- Expensive
- Fold does not lock so older babies can move it
- Doesn’t have much for high-contrast features out of the box (you can buy cards here)
Lovevery Play Gym – Best Splurge & Montessori
Lovevery has the most feature-rich play gym I’ve tested. Would also be great for twin moms. It’s made with high-quality materials and natural wood, has multiple developmental zones, and genuinely grows with your baby. Since I got mine in 2020, Lovevery has updated a few things, but the core design is the same (here is the new one). Something that Lovevery has that I did not see on any other play gyms is the ability to attach multiple cards to the play gym. My babies LOVED this.
I also have the add-on sensory toy, which is absolutely worth it. There’s also a little tent cover included that turns the gym into a hiding spot, but honestly, I didn’t use this very much with my babies. I have heard many other parents love it, based on the comments I’ve received on my videos.
The biggest downside: for $150, it doesn’t fold. You can buy an Etsy part that adds the fold function, but I wish Lovevery just included it. If you live in a small home or need to move this gym from room to room, it is worth considering.
Price: $150 Buy on Lovevery, Target, & Amazon
Material: Organic, Polyester mat, natural materials, wood
Includes: Gym frame, high-contrast cards, mirror, teether, batting ring, Montessori ball, and little tent cover
Features: developmental zones, card holeder, interchangeable toys, washable
Wash: Machine washable, air dry
Pros:
- Multiple developmental zones, more than any other gym on this list
- Genuinely grows with baby (good through 12+ months with rotation)
- Built-in card holders are unique and work beautifully
- Quality! Mine has been through five kids
Cons:
- Expensive
- Does not fold (requires an aftermarket Etsy part)
- Large footprint, not ideal for small living rooms
Play Mats & Add-ons
One thing I love about play gyms, especially the wood ones, is that you can customize them with your own mat and add-on toys. Here are the ones I actually use and recommend.
Wild Bird Play Mat: This is my go-to standalone play mat. Made with 55% Linen, 45% Cotton, easy to wash, and easy to air dry. You can fold it in half for more padding, which is great for tummy time on a hard floor. I have a discount with this link. You can also always use a blanket you have. 🙂
Inglesina Play Lounger: This is a newer lounger that helps with positioning, tummy time, and preventing flat spots. It fits nicely under a wooden play gym to add padding. Use code STROLLERMOM20 to save!
Add-On Toys
Most play gyms come with decent toys, but these are some of the add-ons I’ve found worth the investment, especially for the simpler wooden gyms:
- High-contrast black and white toys or books. Great for newborns.
- Cloud teething toy. My babies’ favorite, well-loved by all three kids.
- A Lovevery travel-friendly sensory toy. This is the add-on I recommend most. It comes with a mini version that clips to a diaper bag or car seat.
- A triangle tummy time mirror. A great, affordable alternative if you’re not buying the Lovevery mirror.
- A crinkle toy or rattle. Crinkle sounds are especially fun for babies around 3 to 4 months.
Here are the links to my favorite play gym add-on toys!
What About the Play Gyms That Didn’t Make the List?
Baby Einstein Kick-in-Tune Play Gym
The Baby Einstein Kick-in-Tune is around $50 and offers many features, which is why many parents consider it. It has a piano, a mirror, and a tummy time mat, and it folds down for portability.
I have mixed feelings on this one. The materials feel lower quality, and it’s the only gym on this list with a soft structure. My mom had one like this when my first baby was an infant, and I found that as baby got older and started pulling on the toys, the soft arches would sometimes pop up and the other toys could hit them. From my Instagram community, I heard mixed reports. Some parents said their babies loved that same feature, so it really depends on the baby.
It didn’t quite make my favorites, but if budget is the primary driver and you want a gym with music, it’s a reasonable option.
Skip Hop Activity Play Gym
I originally planned to include the Skip Hop Discoverosity Play Gym because I loved the aesthetic and the Montessori-inspired design and padded mat. But after getting feedback from my Instagram community, I ended up leaving it off.
The biggest issue is that it doesn’t fold, and the toys have a cheap feel for the price. The consensus from parents in my community was that they wished they had either spent up and gotten the Lalo or Lovevery, or spent down and gotten the Melissa & Doug.
Itzy Ritzy Music & Motion Baby Activity Play Gym
This almost made the list, but for $109 on Target, I found the quality and materials were better on the Melissa and Doug one, and it is more affordable.
Amazon Dupes
I’ve bought several Amazon dupes of popular play gyms over the years, trying to save money, and I have to be honest: they are not worth it. The materials are noticeably lower quality, the toys feel cheaper, and most importantly, they don’t undergo the same safety testing as reputable brands. I’ve tested several Amazon dupes, and they have not held up. Lower quality materials, questionable safety testing, and toys that break quickly.
Which Play Gym Is Right for You?
Here’s how I’d think about it:
- If you want aesthetic minimalism and low-tox under $50: Cloud Island, especially if you’re willing to add your own mat and toys.
- If you want more interactive, music-based play: Fisher Price Glow and Grow.
- If you want great quality in the $50 to $80 range: Melissa & Doug. It’s the best overall on this list!
- If you need it to fold, a nutral look, and still want premium quality: Lalo Play Gym 2.
- If you want the longest lasting and don’t mind the price tag: Lovevery. It has the most developmental features, the longest lifespan, and the build quality to justify passing down to kids.
Ultimately, the best play gym is the one that matches your space, your budget, and how your baby likes to play. I hope this post helped you narrow it down. If it did, please consider shopping through my links. It helps support The Stroller Mom at no additional cost to you. Thank you for being here!
Play Gym FAQs
When can my baby start using a play gym?
From birth, however, most babies can start using a play gym from around 3 weeks old, once they have a bit of head control and you’re ready to introduce some awake, non-feeding time.
When do babies stop using play gyms?
Most babies outgrow traditional play gyms between 6 and 10 months, around the time they start crawling and want to move around. Premium gyms like the Lovevery and Lalo have features that extend that range, like sitting stations and developmental swaps that work up to 12 months or more.
What is the difference between the Lovevery and the Lalo Play Gym?
Both are premium, Montessori-inspired wooden play gyms made from organic, natural materials. The biggest differences: the Lovevery has more built-in developmental stations (including unique card holders for high-contrast cards) and has been on the market longer, so there’s more long-term review data. The Lalo folds flat, which the Lovevery doesn’t, and has a rubber sticky bottom that stops it from sliding on hardwood. Lalo is also about $20 cheaper. If longevity and features are your priority, go Lovevery. If space and portability matter more, go Lalo.
Are play gyms worth the money?
I think so! They are best developmental place to put your baby for tummy time and awake time.
Can I use a play gym for tummy time?
Yes, absolutely. The flat mat underneath a play gym is usually the main surface I use for tummy time. The hanging toys are great motivation for baby to lift their head and look up.
Do I actually need a play gym?
Not necessarily. You could put your baby on a nice, thick blanket or a standalone play mat. However, a play gym is a developmentally good place to set the baby down while you go to the bathroom or fold some laundry.
How do I clean a play gym?
It depends on the gym. Many mats are spot-clean only (check the tag). Many on this list can be machine-washed and air-dried. For toys, most can be spot cleaned or wiped down. For the wood frames, a damp cloth works fine. Don’t submerge any wooden parts.
