Busy Baby Mat Review: For Busy Babies (And Moms), This Mat is a Must

Disclaimer: This product was sent for free for the purposes of this review. All opinions expressed are those of the writer.

If you’re a parent who knows the pain of a baby or toddler who likes to toss everything in their reach right off their highchair tray or the table, the Busy Baby Mat might just be the solution that you’re looking for. 

This versatile silicone mat can suction directly to a non-porous and smooth surface and comes with 4 tethers that can be used to attach any toy of your choice––so you can keep it close by your baby and percent that inevitable toss-of-the-tray move they are so fond of. The mat can also be used for many other purposes, from serving snacks to being used as a washable art canvas. I had the opportunity to try out the Busy Baby Mat for my toddler and here’s what I loved about the mat. 

Keeping Busy Babies Busy

As the name implies, the Busy Baby Mat really does its job of helping to keep busy babies busy–while helping keep your sanity. I mean, there’s only so many times you can pick up a toy off the floor before you want to pull your hair out, am I right? Here are all of the features that help the Busy Baby Mat to keep your baby or toddler busy: 

Suction bottom

The key feature of the Busy Baby mat is that it securely suctions to smooth and non-porous surfaces, like a high chair or table, thanks to patented suction cup placement. In other words, it sticks–and stays in place (unlike toddlers who don’t want you to see what they just put in their mouths.) 

Attach toys directly to the mat

With the mat in place, you can then attach any of the 4 tethers directly to the mat and fasten your choice of toys or teething rings to them. Try as they might, with the tethers attached to the mat, your baby won’t be able to toss their toys to the floor. 

Beyond the high chair

Outside of a high chair or direct table surface, you can get very creative with the places you can take and use your Busy Baby Mat. For instance, it will wrap around a shopping cart, an infant carrier handle, a window, a bathtub wall, or even a stroller bar. It’s the perfect way to take along toys and keep them attached. 

Create art

You can also use the mat without the tethers as a way to entertain your little one. For instance, the mat is washable-marker friendly, so your budding Picasso can draw and create directly onto the mat. And when they’re done, it will wash right off. 

Perfect for Snack Time

The mat is made of PVC-free food grade silicone, which was one of my favorite features of the mat, since I could serve snacks directly on it. And when the mat gets dirty, it’s super easy to wash. You can clean it easily right in the sink with soap and water or pop it on the top rack of your dishwasher. 

I also loved that I could use the mat as a literal place mat to keep dishes in place for my toddler. For instance, we have a lot of small snack bowls and plates on hand and my toddler loves practicing her independent eating, but the bowls would often slide around when she tried eating from them. 

Instead of being forced to invest in new bowls with suction bottoms, the Busy Baby Mat allowed me to use the bowls and plates we already had. I used the Busy Baby Mat underneath the bowls or plates without a suction bottom and the mat kept them from sliding around. It worked wonderfully. 

Before You Buy

The Busy Baby Mat is a bit of an investment, so I’d definitely recommend that you consider if it’s something you see yourself using a lot. In our family, my toddler doesn’t usually use toys in her high chair or at the table, so the tethered toy option wasn’t something that I found I used a lot. However, if your baby loves to spend time in her high chair or at the table while you cook dinner, for instance, the mat could be a super helpful way to keep her busy. And I could definitely see how the mat could come in handy if you’re on-the-go a lot and want an easy and convenient way to keep toys attached and nearby.