by Joyce Slaton posted in Products & Prizes

Baby gyms are basically just cushy mats for infants to lie on while kicking at something with their feet. So why not just put him down on the carpet and let him kick at the couch" Because a couch doesn't have interesting features that fascinate babies and transform them instantly from cranky messes into cooing angels.
Just about any playmat will "work" for most babies. But a few rise above the rest, with interesting toys, well-place pockets, and other special qualities that make them worth a look.

Fisher-Price Kick and Play Piano Gym
The marquee feature of this mid-priced gym is the piano toy mounted at one end. Babies seem to just adore kicking or whacking it to produce notes; fans say it even interests reluctant tummy-timers long enough to get in daily sessions. When your baby grows bigger, you can take the arch off and let her sit and play with the piano, or take it off entirely for on-the-go fun. (Toysrus, $42.99)
Skip Hop Explore & More Amazing Arch Activity Gym
Skip Hop is known for its high-quality baby gyms, with beautiful colors and fabric patterns, baby-delighting toys, and smart details, like the arch on this model that can hang directly over a baby's head, or be angled downwards to provide something fun for your baby to do during tummy time. But parents' favorite feature on this gym by far is the pocket on the arch's apex that snugly holds a cell phone. Turn the camera around so your baby sees ...