Lamaze Captain Calamari Spin & Explore Gym

Product Information

Parents are always looking for new ways to entertain their little one and want to find the latest and greatest piece of nursery equipment that will allow them to provide their child with stimulation. Toys are ever popular - but gyms, activity mats and tummy time supports give all the fun of the latest toys, as well as freedom for exploration and movement. Independent play has a number of benefits for young children and gyms and playmats allow them to explore independently while still being supported and comfortable. This also gives parents a moment to have their hands free and watch their little one enjoy some time on their own. With colourful designs and a range of different activities, baby gyms are designed to stimulate the senses and provide an engaging experience for hours on end. Some babies hate it and will squawk in indignation. Just try it for a minute or so and distract them with their favourite toy or try it when they have just woken from a nap or had a nappy change. Allows the child to begin to practice rotating or pivoting in prone without the added friction and weight of their body on the floor

Build up tummy time slowly. Little and often is key. Start with them laid on a soft and snuggly blanket or play mat. Chat to them and stroke their faces to make it a bonding and soothing few moments of the day. Start tummy time from birth: Begin by placing your baby on their stomach. 'They'll try to look up at your face and so it begins!' explains Stubbs. 'Over time you can add new things things for them to explore such as toys and rattles.' The toys are designed around sound and texture. Baby likes to touch and feel different things so they will reach out to investigate their immediate world or shake their hands or feet to hear rattles and tinkles. Exploring and Experimenting – 6 to 24 months Because the kiddo is elevated above the toy they are able to get some success with playing with toys on their stomach Eventually your curious child will begin to reach for the textures and colours they see on their tummy time mat and the vital act of play will begin.

When he or she is older and has gained strength, the roller can be pushed, pulled and flipped over. The mat is shaped like a flower petal and has 6 separate petals to it each one is a different colour and provides a different tactile/sensory experience, with plenty for baby to touch, discover and explore, for example there is a mirror to look in, a butterfly with crinkly wings, a bumble bee rattle and lots of different flaps to peek under. The middle of the flower consists a cushioned ladybug mat for babies to lie on which on a rotatable spinner which babies can spin around on, this is to support the babies body and help them to develop there upper body strength and lower leg strength which will aid them in learning to crawl later on. Distraction is key: 'It's completely normal for a few tears in the early days of tummy time!' says Stubbs. 'Try adding hand mirrors and toys to encourage them to look up and reach out. As they get stronger and more confident you'll start to see them roll too.'

Okay, so I am a big fan of tummy time and I know that people may find it challenging to do with their kiddos so we as therapists are always on the lookout for new ideas to make it easier on parents. One of our PT’s saw the Lamaze Spin and Explore at a kiddo’s home and told us about it so we decided to get it and try it out with a few of our kids who are having challenges with tummy time. We were only able to get pictures for one of the kiddos but the two therapists who are using it both say that it has been helpful.Having a play mat gives your little one a safe and dedicated space to practise tummy time,' says Susie Stubbs, Founder of Totter and Tumble. 'Creating a supportive, clean place for them to lay will encourage you to both to practise more often. If you have hard surface floors, the cushioning of the play mat can transform any room into a tummy time ready place.' When to start with tummy time Water pat mats – an inflatable mat at is filled with water, glitter, floating toys and bubbles. It will also be a fab toy to use in a highchair. How to use a tummy time roller

While it allows the child to begin pivoting they are not getting the full benefit of activating their obliques and bringing their trunk into it

The best tummy toys for each stage

There a couple of types of tummy time roller and they will suit a variety of ages and development stages. While baby’s day should involve interactions and playing with their parents, it is also important that there is some alone time for baby, in which they can discover and explore the world around them at their own pace. Independent play helps to promote healthy growth by allowing the child to process the sights and sounds of their environment - as well as giving them agency over their actions and letting them see how their presence affects the objects in their space. It also helps them to become less reliant on their parents’ presence, which is good for emotional development. It will be round and shaped to move easily so baby will be encouraged to wriggle and eventually crawl after it.

Tummy time can begin from birth, simply lay down and place you baby on your chest. Just make sure you’re not likely to drift off to sleep! Establishing a set space and time for independent play gives children a specific environment that they know is safe to explore at will, allowing them to build up confidence as they move around and gain mobility skills. By setting this routine, it helps to condition them to associate the mat or gym with quiet play time - which is great for a wind down before bedtime.

When is a baby be ready for tummy time toys? 

So, aside from being a great spot to enjoy rough and tumble, play mats are an essential piece of exercise kit for growing tots. But, when do babies use play mats and how can you persuade them to practice tummy time? To help you get started, Stubbs has outlined the following ways to get the most from your baby floor gym and encourage regular and consistent tummy time.