What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Compact activity mat provides tummy-time fun and plenty of exciting sensory stimulation for young babies The Bad: Compact size is convenient, but it doesn't provide as much play room as some other larger activity mats In a Nutshell: Versatile activity mat provides plenty of fun, developmental stimulation for newborns and older babies At a Glance Ages: Newborn and up

Babies will love pulling on different shapes and textures (Merry Monkey version shown here). View larger.

The activity mat zips up for quick and easy storage (Merry Monkey version shown here). View larger.

Your baby can lie on the mat on his back to interact with the activity arch above. It features three bright, interesting, and interactive toys, including a plush bee, a baby-proof mirror that gives baby the opportunity to discover his own face, and a cute flower that plays a short melody when it is pulled.

When you and your baby are finished playing, you can easily zip up the mat to store it away. The activity arch detaches easily and can be quickly installed over your baby's crib, making for more versatile use.

A Toy to Grow with Your Little One
The Happy Hippo Gym offers plenty of opportunity for growing and learning. We especially like that the characters on the activity bar are angled to make important "eye contact" with the baby, which isn't always the case with activity mats. This mat also encourages the "tummy time" that pediatricians recommend for infants for strengthening neck and arm muscles. Unlike some other mats, the Happy Hippo provides enticements for your baby to spend more time on his tummy with its interesting colors, textures, and fabrics.

The Happy Hippo is designed to grow with your little one through several stages of his early development: as a newborn he'll love just looking at the characters and watching you interact with the toys -- but before you know it, he'll be reaching for them himself with his hands and feet, and rolling over on his own to play with the hippo's ears.

Finally, this activity mat's compact size and relatively inexpensive price tag make the Happy Hippo an economical choice. It is a bit smaller than other activity mats on the market, which give your baby a bit more room to play, but its compact size makes it easy to store and carry without sacrificing fun or educational quality.