Each petal of the garden gym has a different activity to keep bub entertained. The acitivites are bright and colourful and highly interactive such as a mirror for baby to look in and see himself and different textures and noises. One of the petals features a butterfly with crinkly wings and another petal has a rattle for baby to play with. Lamaze toys are developed around the Lamaze Infant Development System which consists of three developmental themes: The mat is shaped like a flower petal and has 6 separate petals to it each one is a different colour and provides a different tactile/sensory experience, with plenty for baby to touch, discover and explore, for example there is a mirror to look in, a butterfly with crinkly wings, a bumble bee rattle and lots of different flaps to peek under. The middle of the flower consists a cushioned ladybug mat for babies to lie on which on a rotatable spinner which babies can spin around on, this is to support the babies body and help them to develop there upper body strength and lower leg strength which will aid them in learning to crawl later on. The sensorimotor stage is a key stage in a child’s development, where they learn through coordinating sensory experiences with motor actions. Gyms and playmats are ideal for this stage of development, as they provide the combination of sensory toys and space for movement. Children will reach and touch toys, reacting to the bright colours and attractive designs. They will hear squeaks, rattles and crinkles for sensory stimulation. This all helps them learn object permanence as well as heightening their cognitive development and sensory growth. Through playing and exploring, they will learn about the world around them, which will help set the foundations for future development. While it allows the child to begin pivoting they are not getting the full benefit of activating their obliques and bringing their trunk into it

Eventually your curious child will begin to reach for the textures and colours they see on their tummy time mat and the vital act of play will begin. Okay, so I am a big fan of tummy time and I know that people may find it challenging to do with their kiddos so we as therapists are always on the lookout for new ideas to make it easier on parents. One of our PT’s saw the Lamaze Spin and Explore at a kiddo’s home and told us about it so we decided to get it and try it out with a few of our kids who are having challenges with tummy time. We were only able to get pictures for one of the kiddos but the two therapists who are using it both say that it has been helpful. It will be round and shaped to move easily so baby will be encouraged to wriggle and eventually crawl after it. Baby play mats differ from baby gyms as they don't come with quite so many accessories, so your baby can focus on their workout. Say what? That's right, mama, think of play mats as home gym equipment for really little people. Just like you might benefit from a good stretch and a sweaty HIIT class, babies need to get fit too, and play mats are the optimum place to develop all manner of essential life skills for growing tots. Plus, you can join in the fun too and everyone benefits. One thing i found was that the area for baby to lie on was a bit uncomfortable but I placed a blanket over this to add extra cushioning for babies tummy.

When is a baby be ready for tummy time toys? 

It allows the kiddos to begin pushing up on extended arms without having to lift all the weight of their head and trunk initially Water pat mats – an inflatable mat at is filled with water, glitter, floating toys and bubbles. It will also be a fab toy to use in a highchair. How to use a tummy time roller Lamaze follows key developmental stages for baby and works within baby's skill set from birth. A newborn baby cannot see very far at all but can hear very well so much of the Lamaze philosophy in the early months is around helping baby develop these senses.

Some babies hate it and will squawk in indignation. Just try it for a minute or so and distract them with their favourite toy or try it when they have just woken from a nap or had a nappy change. Having a play mat gives your little one a safe and dedicated space to practise tummy time,' says Susie Stubbs, Founder of Totter and Tumble. 'Creating a supportive, clean place for them to lay will encourage you to both to practise more often. If you have hard surface floors, the cushioning of the play mat can transform any room into a tummy time ready place.' When to start with tummy timeUse a tummy time pillow or a rolled-up blanket under your baby’s armpits if they struggle to lift their head and find that distressing. This will also give them a better view of the possibilities around them. When using tummy time toys for babies always ensure your bundle of joy is also awake and alert. Stay close and keep engaging them so they reassured. I really like the lamaze spin and explore garden gym. I used this product with my baby from about 6 weeks. He did not enjoy tummy time at all and would just bury his head in to the floor and cry. Using this product really helped us extend the time he would spend on his tummy as there were so many things going on to keep him distracted.