Play gyms - any advice?

[Mirry71]

Want to buy a play gym for DC. Can only see review for one on MN and I'm not sure what the must-haves are - ie is it more important to get a padded one, one with a big mirror or what? Dont want to spend a fortune, equally don't want to save a few quid and not get as good a one as I could...

Check the arch is high enough. My friend had a tiny love one and the toys used to just sit on her DS face when he was under it. My sister and I both had a mams and papas one which was great. I got a good deal on mine from a factory seconds shop. Try ebay. They are not used for very long so should still be in good nick.

Get one with the arch quite high. If it is too high at first, you can put your LO in his/her bouncer chair underneath the arch.
We got an ELC wooden arch and we bought a separate (huge) playmat. Better than a playgym, in my opinion, bc when i dont want the arch, i just move it and play with baby on the playmat (got the alphabet playmat).

You don't need a padded one. My ds hated his padded mamas and papas one-he kept rolling into the creases, before he could roll himself, iyswim. We ended up getting a mothercare own one for 15 quid (think it was in sale). Not the most attractive to me, but he loves it! Try to find one with holes to put the toys in, not velcro, as most baby toys have something you can put a loop in and then you can hang lots of different things from the arch.