VTech Explorer Activity Mat > Reviews > Vtech Explorer Mat

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Washable, entertaining
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I brought this activity mat for my daughter when she was 6 months old off a friend who had two bought for her daughter for Christmas. She recommended it as she has two boys aswell and cannot always be in the same place all the time with her daughter. It has been a god send to us as when baby rolls off the mat it calls "Where's baby hiding?" which signals that baby is no longer playing on the mat and could be up to all sorts of mischeif!

At first my daughter was content playing with the birds in the centre of the activity mat. You pull them down and they sing "there are three birdies in a tree" etc etc which is a very catchy tune and my daughter loves listening to it time and time again.

Then there is the Ladybird on one end. You turn it around and it counts to 6 and sings another tune "counting's one of our favourite tricks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6" .

On the other end is a butterfly which when pulled forward starts the main song to the mat and various other tunes.

In front of the bird tree there are three keys which light up and play "do re mi" in one mode and in music mode play 'Frere Jacques". My daughter loves the light up keys and the fact that they can play music to her touch.

On the actual mat itself there are 5 different animals. Each with the own pressure sensor. You press them and they either tell you what they are and what they do or play music, depending on which mode the mat is set to.

I must admit that now that my daughter is nine months old she appreciates the mat more and she gets much more enjoyment out of it now that she realises that it is HER making the mat work! Ideal if you have to pop to the next room for a few seconds and baby is small enough to lay in the mat as the pressure of baby on the mat signals the music etc to let you know they still where you left them - and if they do move off the mat it soon tells you that they have gone!

A product I would personally recommend if you have other older children and need to leave baby for a few seconds, and good for the older baby who enjoys making things work for themselves!

Also the mat is detachable and washable which comes in handy with little babies!