From birth, Lamaze is a toy line that has been staple in our household. Both my sons adore everything they make including their cast of characters and developmental playsets.

Keeping in this tradition, the new Lamaze Play House Gym($80) has been a hit for us. This bright playspace offers many features that keep both the baby and mommy happy.

Out of the box, I was impressed with the detail on both sides of the mat. Designed like a house, this reversible pad comes complete with backyard, front door, garage and flower garden scenes on the outside. And an eating, playing, bathing and sleeping baby on the inside.

The whole mat is easy to put together and take a part. In fact, it packs up nicely for easy storage or to accommodate a child who is able to sit and play with the activities on the outside.

I like that the Lamaze Play House Gym comes with characters that mirror those in most households; a mommy, daddy, baby, cat and flower! The latter 3 double as shapes that can be placed on a Velcro pad on the outside. Also included are a baby activated lights and music sun, perfect for visual tracking and a mirror for self discovery.

Now that my youngest son has outgrown the laying on his back and waiting for stuff to happen stage, he loves to crawl through this mat like it’s a tunnel. We also lay the mat out flat as a soft play area when we are out at either grandparents house.

In order to keep all of our toys organized, I store all of my youngest son’s soft toys inside this gym when they’re not being played with. It Velcro’s up just like a purse for easy storage, complete with handles for carrying. The baby knows that this is where his toys are kept and I often find him rummaging through it looking for his favorite stuff.

Lamaze uses the softest Velcro tape I have ever come across. It is smooth, but effective and I don’t have to worry about the baby scratching his face or hands if he gets a little crazy with the toys.

Overall, I think that Lamaze has thought of almost everything when designing this vibrant playspace. The only thing missing from this set is a tummy pad, which may make tummy time more comfortable for younger babies.

I recommend this for babies from newborn up to a year.

*Thank you to Lamaze for sending this to us to review!*

Created like a flattened teddy bear, Best Ever’s baby mats are a comfortable spot for babies to play or relax.

These adorable animals are cute enough to be a child’s first friend that grows with them.

A great idea for a baby shower gift that has that awww factor, these cuddly creatures could be a comfy place for a nap or a place to play at Grandmas.