Are you a busy parent looking for ways to entertain your baby while you’re working from home? Or are you just looking for ways to keep them busy while you take a break or take a nap from time to time? If that’s the case, then a wooden play gym or a play mat is the answer to your problem!
In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best wooden play gyms for your young ones that will not only keep them busy but will tickle their minds too. In addition to that, we’ll let you know more about this “body-building” toy and then show you how to choose the best ones for your child.
You May Like to Read:
What Is a Wooden Play Gym for Baby?
A wooden play gym for baby is a child entertaining space where your baby can see, touch, grab and bite soft and cuddly toys connected to a wood assembly. Play mats are called a play gym too because it promotes exercise while your infant is reaching for the dangling toys.
A wooden play gym is made out of organic, toxic-free, safe, and eco-friendly materials. The wood is usually made from durable wood and sanded to make it smooth. It usually comes with a comfy playmat that is usually made from either polyester or organic cotton. Furthermore, most of these products are portable, foldable, or can be easily disassembled.
The dangling toys in some play gyms may light up and play music. Sometimes they may even have baby-safe mirrors attached. One of the best things about these toys is that they can be easily removed or re-attached upon preference.
Baby gyms are usually best for children aged 3-6 months. If you have older babies, 8 to 12 months old, you may want to look for toys suitable for that age range.
Why Do you Need a Wooden Play Gym for Your Baby?
A wooden play gym can give your baby a wide array of benefits. These perks include improvement in cognitive development, hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and muscular strength.
For parents, the main benefits of a wooden play gym is that it is convenient, safe to use, and gives you some time for yourself since you can’t let them be in your arms 24/7. A wooden play gym will basically keep your infant entertained and learning, while you are relaxing and watching over them.
How to Choose the Best Wooden Baby Gym
Because we all want what’s best for our baby, we need to evaluate the products we are buying. When it comes to baby wooden play gyms, the following factors need to be considered:
Safety
When selecting a wooden play gym, safety is the topmost priority. Assess if the products you are checking out are non-toxic, durable, child-friendly, and have no sharp edges. Babies don’t have any concept of safety yet and as a parent or guardian, you should make sure that all the materials used to make the wooden play gym is not putting your child at risk.
Age
Wooden baby gyms are suitable for very young babies, around 3-6 months old. When babies start rolling over on their tummy and crawl away from their baby gym, it’s a sign that they’ve outgrown the toy. If you don’t have any idea about this phase or what toys are suitable for this age check out our guide about babies’ roll-over phase.
Construction
One of the reasons why you should buy a wooden play gym instead of a plastic one is because of its strength and durability. In addition to the fact that they are phthalate and chemical free, this is also environment-friendly, lasts longer and looks much better than the plastic versions.
But some manufacturers use wood composite which is lighter but weaker than solid wood. Make sure that the toy you buy are strong enough or suitable for your baby’s age. In addition to that, make sure that the wood finish or laminate is made from non-toxic materials. You also need to ensure that the toy hinges are properly screwed or assembled to prevent accidents.
Make sure that the ropes used to hang the toys are high quality too. The dangling toys should be large enough or should not be a choking hazard. Furthermore, try to look for toys that are bright in colors but lightweight and soft enough for small hands to grasp.
Features
Most of the wooden play gyms for babies nowadays, have a lot of extra features you and your child can enjoy. If you have older babies, dangling toys with lights and sounds are the best feature for them. If you have less time for clean-up, a lightweight, portable, or easy-to-store play gym is the one you need. Some toys also have mirrors that babies love and will improve their vision development.
The value of each feature will vary according to the needs of your kids. That’s why we’ll discuss the features in the individual play gym review too to help you choose the best one for your infant. With that being said, here are the best wooden play gyms for babies you can easily get on Amazon
Top 10 Wooden Play Gyms for Babies
B. toys – Wooden Baby Play Gym – Activity Mat
Featuring bright but soft colors for baby’s eyes, this is the perfect toy to help them get a good night’s sleep. This play mat has soft dangling toys shaped in stars and clouds to stimulate their imagination. Additionally, there’s a mirror included to keep them curious and giggling during playtimes.
When it comes to construction, this wooden play gym is made of premium wood material measuring 24” (L) x 20” (W) x 20. 5” (H). This makes it strong, durable and sustainable. The dangles can be attached and reattached. The product also comes with a soft, fluffy mat with an all cotton outer layer and polyester inner stuffing.
Pros:
- It comes with a thick but comfortable mat
- It comes with 3 different toy dangles, soft plushies, a mirror, and bead toys with different shapes
- Portable, easy to assemble, and easy to clean
Cons:
- The mat is not 100% organic cotton which some parents don’t like
HAN-MM Wooden Baby Gym with 6 Wooden Baby Toys
This baby-friendly wooden play gym is made from fine, sanded wood from a natural beech tree. With an overall size of 19.7″x 19.7″x17.7″, this toy has a stable form keeping it from toppling over your baby. Furthermore, it is foldable, portable and easy to assemble and disassemble.
Included in the set are 6 assortment of wooden and plush toys that has lights and sounds too. Your child will definitely enjoy the colorful and interactive rainbow, sun and cloud plushies. The best thing about these hanging toys is that they can be easily lowered according to your children’s reach.
Pros:
- It has 6 dangling toys that produces lights and sounds.
- It can fit inside a crib.
Cons:
- This toy has small beads that your child can swallow if they manage to untangle it from the frame.
- This doesn’t come with a mat.
Imagination Generation Little Olympians Wooden Baby Gym
If you want to introduce colors to your kiddo, then the Little Olympians Baby Gym is the one for you. In fact, this is the most colorful play gym toy in this list. In addition to that there are a lot of colored wooden toys included that will definitely spark your baby’s imaginations.
When it comes to overall construction, this toy is made from natural wood and painted with water-based, non-toxic paint. Measuring 20.7 x 8.8 x 2.3, the frame is strong and has a stable form. It also weighs just around 3 pounds which makes it light enough to easily carry around the house.
Pros:
- There are a lot of colorful toys included.
- The side panel of the gym has toys too.
- The price is affordable
Cons:
- It’s quite difficult to assemble.
Mallify Store Wooden Baby Play Gym
This play gym by Mallify store is another great alternative if you want more included toys in the package. In fact, it comes with 3 wooden toys (horse and elephant and ring) and 3 soft toys (sun, star, and cloud) that will definitely promote your child’s imaginations.
When it comes to build quality, the frame is made out of non-toxic, high-quality sanded alder wood. It is finished with a high gloss but non toxic varnish. Assembly is easy as it doesn’t need any screws or hammer to setup. With an overall size of 19.7″ (W) x 19.7″ (D) x 17.7″(H) the toy is made stable with a rope on its sides.
Pros:
- 6 toys with sounds included
- Easy to assemble and portable
- The dangling toys can be easily replaced
Cons:
- It doesn’t come with a play mat.
BABY JOY Portable Wooden Baby Gym, Foldable Baby Play Gym
This wooden baby gym is made from durable yet lightweight wood. Approximately derived from pine and beech wood, it also features a smooth finish for your child’s safety. The compact and ergonomic design of this product makes it easier to use and bring anywhere. Its overall dimensions are 23.5” x 17.5” x 23.5” (L x W x H) and the net weight is 4lbs.
This baby play gym comes in 3 colors: gray, green and natural. In addition to that, the three beaded hanging toys are made of wood attached to a reliable wooden string. The toys are also BPA and chemical-free, which makes it safe for them to chew on.
Pros:
- Portable and Detachable design
- It comes in 3 colors
Cons:
- It doesn’t come with a play mat.
Avrsol Foldable Baby Play Gym
What we love about this toy is that it comes in two colors: baby gray and natural wood. Furthermore, it features matte wood colors that gives it a vintage feel. The overall design of the toy will definitely stimulate your child’s imagination and promote creativity.
Avrsol play gym comes with 4 hanging toys, 2 beaded grab bars, 1 mirror and 1 cute elephant. These toys create sounds too that are appropriate for children below 6 months old. When it comes to quality, it is made from pinewood with an overall size of 18.11 x 22 x 24″ and weighs 3.5 lbs.
Pros:
- It has 5 dangling toys
- It comes in 2 colors
- Easy to assemble
- Comes with a mat
Cons:
- No reviews on Amazon yet
OUBLANC Baby Play Gym
If you have an older or stronger baby, the un-foldable OUBLANC Play gym is the one we recommend for you. The frame of this toy needs to be screwed making it more stable compared to the other toys in this list. Measuring 22.4 x 20 x 17.3 inches, it is quite larger and heavier.
It comes with 4 cute beaded and dangling toys. If you don’t like for them to stay in place, the manufacturer has designed its frame to have a groove to prevent it from moving. Because the toy can’t be easily disassembled it will be difficult to detach or re-attach each of the toy too.
Pros:
- 4 dangling toys included
- High quality and stable wood frame
- Large size
Cons:
- It is not foldabl
- I doesn’t come with a play mat
- Difficult to disassemble and change the toys
Homegician Wooden Baby Gym
Homegician’s Wooden Gym for babies is the best for you if you like simple and gender neutral toys for your child. The best thing about this toy is that it’s made from high quality wood materials that is BPA-free and saliva-resistant! You will not have problems if your child decided to chew on the frame or the included toys.
This play gym comes with 3 hanging beaded toys, 2 shapes and 1 elephant. The colors are subtle and easy on the baby’s eyes. The frame on the other hand is easy to assemble, stable and has strong ropes to keep its feet in place.
Pros:
- High-quality wood frame
- Easy to assemble
- 1 month unconditional return policy
Cons:
- It doesn’t come with a play mat.
GOZYE Store Wooden Baby Activity Gym
If you’re looking for a strong and safe toy, we highly recommend this wooden play gym from the GOYZE store. In fact, the toy frame, beads and rings are made from high quality organic New Zealand unfinished pine wood which is chemical free and non-toxic.
In addition to this, the package comes with a teething necklace which your child can chew on while playing under the play mat. There are 3 wooden toys included and the overall is 26 x 5 x 4m inches. Compared to the other toys, weighing 3.99 pounds, it’s quite heavy. But you’re assured that this is because the toy is made from real solid wood and not just wood composites.
Pros:
- It comes with a teething necklace
- Easy to assemble
- High quality wood materials
Cons:
- The hanging toys are not colorful
Mali Wear Wooden Play Gym for Baby Infant Activity Set WILD WEST ADVENTURES
Are you looking for a more unique baby gym toy? Then we think you may like this cowboy-themed WILD WEST wooden play gym!.
Made with untreated, eco-friendly, natural wood, this toy is strong and durable enough to hold 5 hanging toys. In fact, the product comes with 3 wooden toys and 2 crochet soft toys that have gender-neutral yet attractive design and colors. They are attached using beads and rings with natural colors too.
Just like the other toys in this list, it is a foldable, portable. With no screws and hammers required it is really easy to assemble. The best thing about this toy is that it has a vintage feel and eye-catching design. This makes it a great nursery display once your child has outgrown it.
Pros:
- Unique theme for a baby play gym
- High-Quality soft crochet toys
- Easy to assemble
Cons:
- Price is too high for standard specs
- Beads can be a choking hazard
The Verdict
The best wooden play gym for babies that we have listed above in terms of all the factors stated on the buyer’s guide is the B. toys – Wooden Baby Play Gym – Activity Mat. In addition to being affordable, it fits all the criteria best for both parents and babies.
FAQs about Wooden Play Gym for Baby
We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions about baby play gyms and we’ve answered them below:
Are wooden play gyms good for babies?
One of the main benefits of play gyms is that it strengthens your infants body as they reach and grasp for the dangling toys. While they’re doing this, they’ll improve their focus and coordination too to be able to grab these toys. In addition to that, play gyms encourage your young ones to play independently and creatively.
When should I start using a baby gym?
Play baby gyms are designed for newborns up to 6 months old. But babies usually start to play and become more independent at the age of 3 months. Pediatricians advise not to let them play by themselves below 3 months, but every child differs. It’s much better to introduce the toy when you think your child is comfortable and confident enough to play alone.
Do babies need a play gym?
We highly recommend you get your child play gym because of the many benefits. Although, you shouldn’t force a toy on your child because every child has different interests and needs. There are infants who may find baby gyms boring. There are babies who may have disabilities and they will need more-appropriate developmental toys.
Are wooden play gyms safe?
Ideally, because wood is much stronger than plastic, they are much stronger thus safer for babies. In addition to that, unlike plastic, wooden toys will not flake paint or other toxic plastic materials from. Furthermore, the dangling toys are usually soft and lightweight too to keep them from injuring their hands too.
How long do babies use play gym?
Younger babies can confidently play alone for 5-15 minutes. This can let you lay them down to play and quickly do tasks that require both of your hands. While play gyms let your child play while you’re relaxing or taking a break, still, you shouldn’t keep your eyes off your infant while they’re playing alone.
