Playmat- Should I bother?

[littlelamb]

Dd had a playmat with an activity arch over it, but I can't actually remember wether or not she was under it for any length of time. Now dc 2 is due I am wondering wether or not to bother getting one, as they take up so much room (not a problem with first, but now dd has so much stuff I don't want to add to the clutter). We do have wooden floors though, so is it maybe worth getting a nice quilt or somehting instead to put baby down on? I have 7 weeks left and am driving myself mad trying to work out what things we actually need!

don't you still have ther old one?
I must admit, I found them useful - even for only a short period

Playmat is one of the few things I would say to bother with but that's mainly because both of mine have hated sitting in bouncy chairs etc but have been happy lying on the mat playing with the toys

I liked ours and have seen the newer ones look nicer for small babies they seem more cushioned.. I would have one if we had another baby.

some kind of arch is vital IMO

expensive playmat less so (I suggest using the duvet off the spare room bed - buy an exciting colourful duvet case for it if you feel the urgent need to make a gesture)

dd loved hers and it folded up so pretty handy. She spent hours under it (not at a tiem obviously!), well worth while.

I think Argos/Asda have cheap ones but also easy to get second hand (mine was)

I have this and it's indispensable, really. DS is nearly 6 months and still loves playing with the hanging toys and having the music on. The mat comes off to go in the wash (frequently). It's probably the most used thing we have, he got fed up of the bouncy chair after a few minutes at a time, and has outgrown it now anyway.

Another vote for the same one as ItsNotYouItsMe linked to. I thought I didn't need one but was given one and it has proved indispensable. In fact we are going away on holiday next week and I am starting to wonder how we will cope without it.

Incidentally it is pretty thin so you will need to put something (folded towel, cushiony rug) underneath it rather than straight on a wooden floor. Otherwise you will hear horrible thumping noise when dc2 rolls over and smacks their head.

I bought 10-pound baby gym arch from Argos (no mat, a blanket will do) 4 baby4 it lets me get on with stuff 4 up 2 20 minutes wonderful 2 have!

wobbegong we've wooden floors here too, horrid noise isn't it! However, being so thin is an advantage when it comes to getting it dry - it takes less than an hour on a radiator.

we used to put lo on his change mat with a towel over it,and a playgym over the top.

I agree with the absolutely YES for the 3D tiny love one that is linked - they love the mirror from when they are tiny. I had an old playpen padded mat under mine. I also think they are a good point of reference to older DC, no other children on the mat when the baby is on it. I also used to put mine in the babydan playpen as it fitted it.