Does anyone else think the price of baby playmats/playgyms is ridiculous?

[CathyS]

I have been looking for a baby playmat/play gym. They are SO expensive..some are like $80-100!! For a bit of material that criss crosses overhead with some toys hanging off it.

Does anyone else think this is crazy??

I can understand paying good prices for cots, prams, rocker seats... but a mat on the floor?? I just can't justify spending that much.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

THANK YOU! I can't believe that some cost about sixty quid ($120-150... not sure of today's exchange rate) over here. DS's was about 45 quid (still over $100) and that was the cheapest one I could find. I only bought it because we had a gift card thing and I needed a big toy to take places because I wouldn't put DS in a creche when he wanted to be with me - this one folded up into a bag.

Then I compare it to other toys he has.

The only toy played with more is the duplo - which, given the amount of it we now have, probably costs more. So the 25 quid wooden blocks... not so much. The ten quid soft toy, not at all. The old broken mobile phone - OK, quite a bit. But he still goes for his playmat, carries it into the sitting room, opens it up, grabs the battery operated cat and sits singing to Hickory Dlckory Dock for ages.

You can always make one. Bamboo canes for hanging the overhead toys - old mirrors or knitted things that can dangle. An old towel folded in half for the bottom, with other bits of fabric sewn on to make flaps and things. Other soft toys and teethers attached.

Given the time to make one and the cost of that, the playmat does look a bit cheaper! I know I felt it was worth it, although I still get a bit het up over the price. They could be cheaper as they are mass-produced.

I guess it depends on how much you use it. For example, you have to go to someone's house, maybe a relative, whose floor isn't too great. Pop the playmat down and clean area (I used a clean flat cloth nappy for ages before I got the mat). If you aren't big on tummy-time or fear that the older children will wreck the toy or step on the baby by accident, no point buying it.

The best thing the playmat bought me was reading Harry Potter 7 in one day. DS played happily under the playmat with minimal playing from me! (DH did nothing, as per usual for 2007; he's better now we have a toddler.)

[Trillian]

I've never brought one of those ones myself because I couldn't really see the point of them, most of the time you only get a few months out of it before baby isn't interested or is mobile enough that they don't stay under it for longer than it takes to roll away from it LOL. And yeah, the price does tend to put you off - I've seen some for well over $100. We did get brought for us though by MIL a Sesame Street one that goes over a rocker chair/bouncer and it converts to a track and Elmo in his little car drives around it for when they are toddlers, so that had longevity, as did the Fisher Price piano thingy that my mum brought when #3 was a baby.

[kaz225]

Hi all.

I went looking for a playmat and the one I wanted was a Fisher Price one and was $100.00!! I searched the web and found the EXACT same product on deals direct for $50.00 plus $10.00 P&H. A great saving!!

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Is that the one that folds up into a bag? We have that, still in use (DS is nearly 2!) and it is good. So portable!

[Olive]

i picked up a tiny tots one from the op shop for $2 just washed the lot!!

[briggsy's girl]

i was going to suggest deals direct as well - i'm not big on spending huge amounts on things like that - and having seen a play mat in the local shops that was JUST a single mat with arch over the top, for $95, i decided i'd bargain shop. was looking on deals direct the other day, and found a play centre - has three sections, two arches, music, lights, and a water play mat (water in a mat with floaties inside) - got it for less than $80 - so heaps better value. set it up last night to make sure it was all good - and it is so cute - bright, easy to set up and take down into a carry bag, all velcro's together etc... much better value! this had an RRP of around $160

i managed to pick up a fisher price adventure play tent for $30 delivered too - normally $60 rrp - i don't mind paying that much for stuff.

[Pandora]

Ikea have one that costs about $45.

[CathyS]

Thanks for the tips ladies. Might look at deals direct. Never tried there.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks the price is too steep..and yes some OVER $100! Toys are just SO expensive these days. You really need to look out for specials.

[~Raven~]

I got one for Mason that converts to a tunnel, so we got our moneys worth from it as it did the 3 boys. I think it was about $80
MIL got one for Ruby (and for niece too) for xmas and I nearly fell over when I saw it in a catalogue for $129!
It is gorgeous though...

[Beach Mama]

I got one from mum for Izzy and it got loads of use ....until she was sitting up. DH forgot about it and bought a play gym thing that is portable, without the mat with dangly toys for Big W for Christmas and it is great, it was only around $40 and we move it around over him on the floor or in his bouncer. Much better really.

[Lolli]

Hi,
You're absolutley right, they are ridiculously expensive.

We bought a Baby Einstein one from Target, half price for $50. But it was worth that money, even though it seemed excessive. Ds loved it for months, we will probably use it for #2, and it's good to have have for when friends come over with their little babies.

Sometimes I wonder what our grannies did to entertain a baby without all this 'stuff'

[Pandora]

Sometimes I wonder what our grannies did to entertain a baby without all this 'stuff'

Saucepans, wooden spoons and plastic containers lol.
We made rattles out of plastic bottles and lentils or pasta for DS too.

[Lolli]

Saucepans, wooden spoons and plastic containers lol.
We made rattles out of plastic bottles and lentils or pasta for DS too.

yep, ds's faves are the wooden spoon, saucepan, shoe box and Ikea measuring cups...

[CathyS]

Thanks Ladies! I just went to deals direct and got a fisher price rainforest musical gym for $49.95 (normally $109.95!! crazy). I'm so happy now!! I was depressed looking at all the gyms at babyco and target etc the other day for around $90+.

Yay!!!

[{sarah}]

EBAY!! I got three for $14 just after Juliette was born.

[kawazuki]

i got DD's off Ebay.
was 20 bucks adn she loves it is sings and talks and has all these interactive things she still plays iwth it now she is 16 months old

[SamiH]

My dad bought me a Lamaze one - yes expensive around $100 at the time - for DS#1 - but it has also been used for DD, my nephew, my niece and back to me again now with DS#2 - they all loved it. It is soft and foldsup with carry straps - like someone else said I would take this to friends houses who I knew didn't have toys, or kids etc.