Reader Molly H had a good tip in a recent Open Thread:
I don't want to spark another debate here about bright colours being stimulating for babies vs neutral colours being appealing to adults, but... while shopping at Target last week i saw in their 'college dorm' section a set of interlocking foam mats (like the alphabet puzzle piece ones you commonly see in very bright colours) in neutrals tan & dark gray as well as a bright, vibrant pink. $25 gets you 20 12x12" pieces. Maybe not quite as exciting as the Skip-Hop mats, but definitely more affordable. I heart the plain tan set, but since the tiles are blank, I imagine those of you who are more crafty could even do some sort of stenciling/painting to liven up the mats if you were so inclined.
On the Skip Hop site it says: Unlike other foam tiles that are only safety-rated for children 3 and up, Skip Hopâs Playspot is designed, tested and manufactured for children of all ages. I can't think why a foam tile would be a problem, but what do I know?
view Pencils's profile
I went to Target to see the Connect-a-Mat in person (they only had the grey at my store) as I was considering this product for my 6 month old to start crawling on. While the tiles look fine, they do have a significant off-gassing smell... so I didn't buy them. I can't speak to the Lowe's tiles or the other you've referenced.
One of the key benefits of the SkipHop playmat is that there is no off-gassing making it suitable for babies.
view tartanfrog's profile
we have the skip hop mats, and while they're cute, i wish they weren't in so many pieces. i'm considering getting something else when this mat is inevitably destroyed.
view pyjammy's profile
I DETEST the skip hop mats. As pyjammy said, they are in way too many pieces and so it takes forever to put them back together when your daughter decides to take all of them apart, or even just to put them down for the first time after you clean them. They also attract dust and hair like flypaper. They also get divits and scratches in them fairly easily, but this is not really the reason I don't like them. I think the idea was great but the practicality wasn't thought through.
view paperpusher's profile
Yea! I've been looking for something like that in a tan color. Thanks for the tip Molly H. :)
view Keri Kolumbus's profile
I purchase the Connect-A-Mats on-line almost a year ago for our living room/play area in our tiny condo. To liven things up a bit, without making the whole place look like Romper Room, I ordered a checker pattern in black and gray along with one additional red square which I strategically place depending upon the furniture configuration of the moment.
view Papolskis's profile
I think the issue with the puzzle-type mats is that the interlocking "teeth" can be chewed off by a small child, and the resulting piece is small enough that it's a choking hazard. That and the off-gassing is why I ended up getting a Skip Hop.
view jk2's profile
We bought ugly blue ones from Toys R Us. The blocks are huge, super durable, and didn't off-gas. We like them much better than the cutesy mat we got as a shower gift. It had tiny pieces, took forever to assemble, and had a small footprint. It was much more attractive...
view JudiAU's profile
We bought a set at Sam's Club that are reversible, dark gray on one side and multi colored (either bright red, blue and green) on the other side. You get 8 2' by 2' interlocking squares, with optional edges, which was pretty good for $20. Only complaint is if there were 9 you could make a square with them!
view markas101's profile