activity mat review

We have several young children at different ages and stages, so I like toys that multi-task! Enter the Tiny Love Gymini Developlace.

This fun little activity gym was sent to us for review by the wonderful team at Tiny Love, and it’s been quite entertaining to watch my one year old give it a whirl. As you can see from the collage below, the Developlace was designed to appeal to multiple ages. It can go from an activity gym or playhouse for older babies and toddlers to a tummy time mat for tiny infants. It features walls that you can fasten up or down, detachable toys (mirror, rattle ball, blanket play pal, learning card, frog rattle and a crinkly leaf) and a window they can peek through.

Here are some thoughts on our experience:

Setup: Quick and easy! It took me about 5 minutes to get the Developlace ready for the children.

Versatility: This is what really makes the Developlace a great value, and a wise investment. It can appeal to children from ages newborn to 18 months. You can lay it out flat, fold up the sides, or just fold up one side. You can mix and match the hanging toys as you please. Erik (age 13 months) and even Susanna (who is now 2) have enjoyed the Developlace immensely. They use it as a play house, a hiding spot and even once or twice as an emergency place to crash and take a nap!

Appearance: Tiny Love really scored on this as well. Every child that comes to our house runs to the Developlace, alight with curiosity. The graphics are cozy and colorful, and the woodland theme appeals to everyone. Who doesn’t love squirrels and frogs and cute little bugs? The textiles are soft and smooth, making the Developlace even more inviting. As an added bonus, the slick surface of the mat is easy to wipe clean in case of accidents or spills.

Durability: Erik and the two older toddlers have done their darndest to the Developlace and it’s still standing. It’s been pushed and pulled, sat upon, shaken….you name it. The velcro closures are super strong and they stay put. The overhead tunnel has also taken a beating and emerged victorious. This thing is very durable and meant to last. That being said, it can be flipped over by older babies and toddlers because it’s very lightweight. Sometimes, if Erik leans up against or pushes one of the side walls, the entire thing will fall over. The first time this happened, he was startled but was up and playing again within seconds. Now, he just laughs. It’s not a safety issue, just the nature of the toy. However, it would be handy if there was a way to anchor it in one place for rambunctious toddlers.

Price: At just over $70, this might not be the first baby item you run out and buy. It’s not an essential. However, because (as mentioned above) you’ll get lots of mileage out of this activity mat, I would definitely say it’s worth saving for, or at the least, adding to your registry. The Developlace would also make a fantastic birthday or Christmas gift for an infant or young toddler.