Since my little man turned two months, he’s been more active and more interested in the world around him. I like the Ladybug Playmat made by Pintsize Productions because it has “stations” you can place your baby on during tummy time. With all kinds of things to touch and see, he’s bound to enjoy it. It’s colorful, stimulating, and cute. I think it would fit in fine in any nursery and even in your living room, as it’s not done in unattractive or dated colors or in too many patterns and colors.

The Ladybug Playmat is available online only for $49.99 at ToysRUs.com.

One of the items we received when my son was an infant was an activity mat. I wondered exactly how beneficial it would be, until I put my baby on it and he absolutely loved it. He could bat at the toys on the hanging bar while he laid on his back, and then get up and move when he was old enough. He learned to roll, crawl, and sit up while on his activity mat.

The Shangri-La Activity Mat and Portico looks like a top-of-the-line activity mat. First of all, it’s reversible, so your baby is exposed to bright colors  and soft, smooth, fuzzy fabric on one side and stimulated by black and white on the other. It has a pop-up, fold-down leg so it’s easy to set up and to store. It also comes with 8 removable clip-on Kushies Zolo toys that are compatible with other toys of the same brand. The manufacturer says it also includes a “pressure activated sound pod,” which would stimulate the auditory part of your baby’s brain.

These activity mats are great for developing motor skills, sensory stimulation, and all-around fun for your baby. You can view this activity mat at babygeared.com, where it retails for $120. It would make a great Christmas gift.

Now this is something different. The Dress Up Animals from Plan Toys are made from natural, chemical free rubber wood and finished with non-toxic and child friendly colors. So these toys are safe for your child to chew on (and she will). But what is really different are the two adaptable animal suits to turn the figures into all sorts of animals. Your child can mix and match heads and bodies to create her own animal kingdom. Another feature is that one suit secures with a rope lace and the other with a button. You child can play, create and develop her fine motor skills that she can use when she learn to dress herself.

You can purchase this item at oompa.com for $21.99. It would make a great Christmas gift.

These Wheely Bugs by Prince Lionheart are designed for indoor play. They’re not only made with safety and fun in mind, they’re made to run quietly. Each Wheely Bug is padded with a layer of soft sponge, has an inner body core of non-compressible foam, is entirely non-toxic, contains no PVC, and weighs 4 lbs.

Select your choice of Bee or Bug at BabyAnt.com where the Wheely Bug is priced at $64.99.

The Kick & Grow Tummy Zone™ - Developmental Baby Play Mat is a unique learning/developmental aid. It is said to “stimulate, encourage, and strengthen baby’s development from head to toe.” Plus, as baby grows, it’s expandable. The patented Kick and Grow Tummy Zone™ is also supposed to nurture baby’s emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being, and to encourage and strengthen baby’s motor skills. It focuses on developing a baby’s abdominal and leg muscles — the ones used for sitting and crawling.

This product looks like it provides a safe environment for babies to do what comes naturally. It comes with instructions for safe and sane exercise.

The Kick & Grow Tummy Zone™ is appropriate for ages newborn and up, and costs $59.95 at GeniusBabies.com.