By Olivia DeLong, former senior health editor at BabyCenter and What to Expect.
Between tummy time, toy time and those early rolling attempts, your little one’s activity center gets a lot of action. It’s basically their first little play space, and like most places babies spend time, it doesn’t stay clean for long.
The good news? Caring for your baby’s activity center doesn’t have to be complicated. We love centers with a fun play mat and an arch of toys because they do double duty. A favorite is the Lalo Play Gym II, which works from initial tummy time all the way through the first year.
Here’s how to take care of your activity center so that it stays fresh and safe for your current little one, and lasts for years in case another baby comes along, or you pass it along to a friend. A great activity center is easy to put away and easy to clean and take care of.
Clean your activity center with care
It’s completely normal for your little one to drool and spit up a bit while hanging out in their activity center. Just be sure to follow your playmat’s specific cleaning instructions and clean it regularly. The exact process will depend on the type of materials the mat and toys are made of, and what types of things your activity center has, but here are some general tips:
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Spot clean frequently: If there’s a spill or some spit-up on the mat part, simply wipe it up with a cloth and a little mild, baby-safe dish soap and water.
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Give it a once-over each day: At the end of the day, if there have been a few messes, go ahead and wipe it down with a baby wipe or damp cloth. If spit-up is a regular occurrence, you may want to clean it a bit more thoroughly.
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… And a deeper clean every week: About once a week, give your playmat a deeper clean. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but many cloth mats can go right in the washing machine on a delicate cycle with cold water and then hung to dry. If your playmat is foam, a steam mop can do the trick.
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Dry, dry, dry: After washing, always let the mat air dry and make sure it’s fully dry before using it again.
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Stick with mild soap: Use a gentle, baby-friendly soap or detergent when cleaning your playmat to avoid irritating your baby’s sensitive skin, just like you would when washing their clothes. Baby shampoo or baby detergent works well, too.
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Don’t forget the toys!: Most toys in the activity center can be wiped down or spot cleaned and removed before putting the mat in the wash. If there are silicone teethers attached, you can often pop them on the top rack of the dishwasher.
Store your activity center when you’re not using it
If you have a pet who thinks the playmat and activity center looks like a fun place to hang out (or another little one who might track in extra dirt and germs), it’s a good idea to store the the entire activity center when it’s not in use, or whenever it makes sense for your space.
When choosing an activity center, it can help to opt for one that folds up easily (like Lalo’s The Play Gym II) so you have the option to tuck it away easily. Storing it helps keep extra germs off the mat and, let’s be honest, can make your living room feel a little less cluttered, too. (Something that definitely drove me bonkers as a postpartum parent. There’s a lot of baby gear!)
If you’re storing the activity center long-term, either for safekeeping or a future baby, keep it in a dark, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent discoloration. We actually still have ours stored six years later in a closet, and it looks brand-new.
Infant playmats and activity centers are incredibly beneficial for babies. They encourage tummy time, which helps strengthen your baby’s muscles, and many include sensory toys that expose your little one to different textures, colors, and sounds early on, all of which supports their development, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. Not to mention, they’re a safe place to set your baby down when your arms just need a few minutes of rest (IYKYK).
Taking good care of your baby’s activity center helps keep it clean, safe, and in great condition, whether it’s for your current little one or another baby down the road.
About the writer:
Olivia DeLong is the former senior health editor at BabyCenter and What to Expect. She’s been an editor, writer, and content strategist for over 15 years, holding staff positions at WomansDay.com and Sharecare prior to her role at pregnancy and parenting brands. After a traumatic fertility journey, she’s now a mom to her 6-year-old miracle girl, and lives with her family in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves digging into parenting, women’s health, and wellness trends with experts, and believes that speaking up about just about anything is so important for moms to feel seen.
