A play mat ends up being the center of your home for a few years. It's where tummy time happens, where first steps wobble, and where you'll sit on the floor with a coffee building block towers. So it's worth getting the size and shape right for your space.
Here's a simple guide to our padded play mat shapes, how much room each one needs, and which one tends to work best in different homes.
The quick answer
- Rectangle (4.5 ft x 6.5 ft): the most play space. Best for living rooms, siblings, and pairing with our Play Yard.
- Round (4.5 ft across): softer lines that sit nicely under a coffee table area or in a corner of the nursery.
- Square (4 ft x 4 ft): our most compact padded mat, great for condos, apartments and nurseries.
- Wave Edition: a playful wavy edge that looks more like a rug than a play mat.
- Linen play mat: a quilted organic French linen mat that folds into its matching bag, for travel, grandma's house or a second room.
Every padded mat is 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) thick, double sided so you can flip it to a second print, and wipes clean with a damp cloth.
Start by measuring your space
Before you choose, grab some painter's tape and mark out the mat's shape on your floor. Leave it there for a day. You'll quickly see whether you can still walk around it comfortably, open doors and drawers, and get to the couch.
A few things to look for:
- Leave a walkway around the mat so no one has to step over it (or the baby on it).
- Keep it clear of fireplaces, stairs and sharp furniture corners.
- If it's going on top of a rug, check that the rug is flat underneath so the mat sits evenly.
Rectangle: the most room to play
At 4.5 ft by 6.5 ft, our rectangle mat gives babies plenty of room to roll, crawl and stretch out, and there's still space for you to sit beside them. It's the shape we recommend most for living rooms and for families with more than one little one, since siblings can play side by side.
It's also the size our Solid Wood Play Yard was designed around. Set the two up together and you get one cozy, contained play space with no awkward gaps.
Rectangle mats are $248.
Round: soft lines for living rooms and nurseries
The round mat is 4.5 ft across. It has a softer look that feels more like a rug, and it tucks nicely into a reading corner, beside a glider, or in the middle of a seating area. It's a lovely choice if your space has lots of straight lines already and you want something that breaks them up.
Round mats are $228.
Square: made for smaller spaces
At 4 ft by 4 ft, the square is our most compact padded mat. It fits neatly into a nursery, a condo living room or the corner of a kitchen, and it still gives a baby a soft, defined space for tummy time and early crawling.
If you're short on floor space, start here. Square mats start at $218.
Wave Edition: a play mat that looks like a rug
Our Wave Edition mats have a wavy, scalloped edge that makes them feel more like a piece of decor. They're a favourite with parents who want the play mat to blend into the living room once the toys are put away.
Wave Edition mats are $253.
Linen play mat: for on the go
Our Organic French Linen Play Mats are quilted, soft and come with a matching linen bag. They're perfect for families who split time between homes, travel often, or want a second play spot in another room. Many parents pair a padded mat at home with a linen mat for outings and visits.
Linen play mats are $148.
Which shape fits which home?
- Open living room: rectangle, or rectangle with the Play Yard.
- Two little ones: rectangle, for room to play side by side.
- Condo or apartment: square or round.
- Nursery: square or round.
- You want it to look like decor: round or Wave Edition.
- You're always on the go: a linen mat.
Common questions
What size play mat do I need for a baby?
For most living rooms, a rectangle mat (4.5 ft x 6.5 ft) gives your baby room to roll, crawl and play as they grow, with space for you to join them. If your space is smaller, a 4 ft x 4 ft square or a 4.5 ft round still gives plenty of room for tummy time and early crawling.
How thick are Ourson padded play mats?
All of our padded play mats are 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) thick.
Are the mats double sided?
Yes. Every padded mat has a different print on each side, so you can flip it whenever you want a change.
How do I clean a padded play mat?
Simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth.
Which play mat fits the Ourson Play Yard?
The Play Yard was designed to pair with our rectangle mat.
Still not sure which one is right for your space? Send us a message with a photo of your room and we'll happily help you choose. You can browse every shape in our play mat collection.