****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Foam tile still dominates the baby market, which I dislike b/c it doesn't blend in with my modern decor. I bought the Skip Hop foam tiles in grey/white which is the least obnoxious foam one out there, but still -- I knew there was a better option. I researched like crazy (hours!) for a play mat made of safe materials with a sleek, clean look (no cluttered graphics or patterns!).I asked my Korean mom friends (who also crazy-research, wanting the best too) for recommendations. "Folding Mats" are de rigeur in Korea--shock-absorbing, light, cushiony mats which fold up in seconds; tailor-made for apartment living. Alzipmat and Parklon are the top brands, but i chose Design Skin for the most "cool/design-conscious" colors.Why are these folding mats so much better than foam tiles?THICKNESS: Feel the difference on your feet--wow. It's like crocs vs. flip flops. DesignSkin's mat is 3 times thicker than foam tiles (see my 2nd pic comparing the two), and with 3 layers of springy, elasticized foam, it absorbs shock much better than tiles. Do you live in an apartment? Baby's thuds and thumps will be muffled, and neighbors won't call you complaining. Ever lay down on foam tiles? Ouch. My knees and body much prefer this soft, yet firm mat. Aging grandparents with weak joints will also enjoy the cushy thickness, allowing them to play on baby's level.MATERIALS: PVC-free, BPA-free, no VOC's, made of PU (polyurethane) and polyester as the "skin" while the inner core has 3 layers of shock absorbing polyurethane and polyethylene foam. Certifications from EU, Korea, and others (see the Design Skin website.)PORTABILITY: Foam tiles are difficult to move and fall apart easily (some have tons of interlocking pieces!), especially when vacuuming/cleaning. But Korean foldable play mats are superlight and fold up in seconds, with freedom of portability to move around into other areas.TRANSFORMING: The option to fold this mat into different sizes is like 3 different mats in one. Need a "bench"? Fold it up in 4ths. Want a square shaped, smaller mat? Fold it in half!SIZE: this mat is comparable to Skip Hop in area/footage, see pics comparing to foam tile. I have also included a standard yoga mat for size reference in some of the pics.CARE: Many foam tiles have a waffle-textured surface, which attracts dirt, gets dented/scratched, and is hard to wipe down quickly. Design Skin's playmat has a smooth surface which gets 100% of the surface area wiped down. Moreover, babies love to tear apart tiles, causing you more clean-up and back pain from the mess.PRICE: Ok, so foam tiles win on cheapness. I researched around and most folding mats are in the $200 range. But i think it's totally worth it for my needs.I think it's only a matter of time before the masses pick up on this awesome product that is truly superior to ugly foam tiles. Catch on now, before the early adopters do and give it a shot!These are excellent. Other mats we tried were good but you needed 2 or 3 to have the same protection. We've had ours for a year and it's in great shape.This mat is great! I bought it so that my baby would have a clean area to roll and play around. She is not crawling yet but she can do tummy time without getting covered in pet hair that gets in the carpet even if it vacuum daily and I don't have to worry about the germs that the rest of the family track in on their shoes when she is on her play mat. It seems to be really high quality! The outer material is surprisingly soft and doesn't make her sweat like a gym mat would. The foam inside is firm but also cushiony. The colors are vibrant and pretty too! It is a bit pricey but well worth it. This product has really surpassed my expectations! I'd like to advise purchasers not to place hard items on this mat. I placed a box that was 20 or so pounds on top of the mat over night and it left an indentation. The outer material went back to normal within an hour but the inner foam is still just slightly flawed. Still rating high because that was my mistake.The mat is firm enough for a lengthy tummy time/soft enough for a comfortable nap and for the baby to be okay when he falls backward while sitting. We set up the gym for our LO as pictured above. Our main complaint is that we would like a bigger mat! Purchasing another one to cover the larger area of the living room. Thanks for a great product!Beautiful mat colors, great for kids to play and not hurt themselves. Our son loves it :)Worth every penny!This mat is amazing I’ve purchased two of the big ones in milky color. Started with one ended up dropping another $280 cuz they’re that good. She’s now 7 months and crawling all over the nursery on them.Just like the picture!!! My kids (2&5years old girls) loves them! So happy with the purchase :)
