Win a Fisher Price Discover n Grow Musical Gym

Sponsored by Nuffnang

I think every mum has photos of their little one on a playmat. I've pretty much put it down as an essential baby item and Emerson at 4 weeks had just started to wake up and be a little more alert. When you first bring home baby from the hospital they feed, they sleep, they cry, they poop and they do it all over again. By about 4 weeks or so they are awake a bit longer and interested in staring at everything - for emerson it's walls, the ceiling, the bookshelf behind me.....

and so it's time to give them a bit of play time. The lovely people at Fisher Price sent me one of their Discover n Grow playgyms. And what I liked about this mat was that it wasn't as big as all of the other mats I've had in the past - with 4 other kids walking and playing around Emerson it means they won't be walking all over the mat. Because as you know kids have a wonderful sense of personal space - NOT! So I actually loved that this was small enough for emerson to lie on it, have a roll (yes he rolled from his tummy to this back) and most importantly tummy time.

ahhh tummy time, before you leave the hospital you will hear this being said or you will be asked by your Dr or health nurse if you're doing tummy time. Are you giving baby tummy time? Best not to do this straight after a feed. But it is really important for babies to help develop strength in their necks and back and also to avoid getting a flat head because we now sleep babies on their backs to prevent SIDS so babies aren't on their tummies as much as they used to be. And tummy time lets babies see the world differently too. Now not every baby of mine has loved tummy time but emerson has a really strong neck and loved it.

now the Fisher Price Tracking Lights Musical Gym has lights and music which elodie loves - just a little too much - yes that's right I just said elodie because she has been obsessed with this playmat since I set it up. You simply pull the middle toy and the lights and sounds go off. Now Emerson is too little to do that but I'm sure give him some time and he'll be pulling at it. At the moment he was just happy to stare at the animals and lights and had a bit of a swipe with his arm at one of the toys too.

why yes, my carpet really is that bad!

and my own personal playmat tips - don't put baby down straight after a feed unless you want to be cleaning up the mat afterwards, mornings and early afternoon are the best time for playtime as babies are happy to be playing, look out for those tired signs and know when playtime is over before they get too overtired, get out the camera because you'll catch a few smiles and always try for a bit of tummy time when baby is on the mat. Also if you have wooden floorboards then fold up  a towel or blanket to go underneath to make it even softer underneath.

And one lucky reader will be winning a Fisher Price Discover n Grow Musical Gym. Just tell me why you have to win one and I'll choose a winner. You must be an Australian resident to enter, be creative with your answer and don't forget to make sure your email address is included in your profile or comment so I can contact the winner. Too easy.