Update: It's been 2 years since I bought this mat & I still stand by the 5 star rating. It was well worth the cost. It's been taken apart & cleaned & put back together so many times I'm shocked we haven't lost any pieces. It still stays together perfectly - I have not once had a piece fall out (which was a problem w/the other mats that were barely used at all). It gets daily use & daily abuse...if you're in the market for a kids alphabet play mat this is the one you want. Yes there are cheaper ones out there but trust me - just spend the extra money on this instead of completely wasting it on the other ones...I'm just so happy that I haven't had to buy a foam mat in 2 years now!
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During the past 2 years since my son was born we have wasted WAY too much money on foam mats...we've purchased about 6-7 mats from 4 different brands. Of the ones we've purchased this is definitely the best yet. This is the 2nd mat from this brand that we bought - and the 2nd alphabet one we've bought (we tossed the other a while ago). It would be nice if this one came with the edging...but I actually don't mind it not being part of the set really. Not a big deal in the end.
It's easily the thickest - GREAT padding. Almost all the mats we bought were described as being 0.5" thick - this is the only one that actually is, if not more. I love it.
Since it's so thick the letters stay put - the only reason they come out is because my son takes them out...none of his running or my walking around will cause them to fall out - which was the problem we had with the other (much cheaper) version we owned. That one was thrown away with months.
A sum up of all the other mats we got is below - but if you'd rather just save yourself some time - the bottom line is of ALL these mats - this brand is BY FAR the best we've found...but if you're working on a smaller budget check out the Norsk ones (& buy them from the Norsk website - should be cheaper there I think).
All the other mats we've owned...
*Two of the basic version of this mat: Edushape Edu-Tiles 25 Piece Solid Play Mat with Edges & Corners
Best basic mats we've found. Same thickness as this one. Downside is of course the price - but after testing all the cheap ones I can say there is a significant difference that to me is well worth that price. These smallers ones come with edges too.
*Two Norsk Mats - 6 2x2 tiles each; available on amazon in 4pks: Norsk-Stor 240147 Solid Color Recyclamat Multi-Purpose Foam Flooring, Multi-Color, 4-Piece
Best value when bought from certain stores or the Norsk website.
(sold on Amazon in 4-pks - we bought ours at Kmart a while ago in 6pks for $24/each - the best value yet)
These are OK. They aren't as thick as this mat - but the best ones for their price, & a bit thicker than other mats we've bought. They're 15.99 right now on the Norsk website for a 4pk. Stay together well & serve their purpose. If you have a larger area & a smaller budget - you should be good to go with these.
Be wary of their reversible (or any really) mats though - I haven't tried them but with hardwoods I think these would slide around more than the regular ones already do.
*The Norsk "Sports" mat
--good mat...not too great for any sort of car play - but will provide padding & protection
We bought this the other day - we went back to Kmart to get more of the ones we have & were sad to see they didn't have them any more, this was the only mat they had so we got it...well it's textured. It has little bumps to it (all the mats are textured - but this one has a design to it - raised nubs basically). Doesn't work well with any sort of wheeled toys (like the dozens of hot wheels my son plays with daily). We've moved it into the garage instead for the tool area.
*We Sell Mats 2x2 6pk: We Sell Mats Anti-Fatigue 6 Piece Interlocking EVA Foam Flooring Set
--OK. Not terrible - but thin & overpriced for what it is.
We just got this. I think it's OK. It's very thin, so not much protection (but it doesn't claim to be .5" so I kinda expected that). I like the colors of it...but to be honest, it was overpriced for what it was.
*Tadpoles Mats: Tadpoles 36 Sq Ft ABC Floor Mat, Green/Brown and Tadpoles 16 Sq Ft Playmat Set, Taupe/Brown
--The worst mats we bought - WAY too thin, very little padding & pieces will come apart (the tiles more so than the removable pieces)
These are great if you're just buying it for decor. If you actually intend to walk on it at any point it's a complete waste - or if your kid will be taking it apart a good bit. The pieces are so thin they don't stay together - so even if my son isn't in the room this thing is falling apart within minutes of me putting it all back together. If you're only going to be using this briefly - this should be fine - but if you intend to use this for more than a month or so - don't bother. I've already thrown away both of these - they were gone by the time my son was 8mths old.
| Product Dimensions | 25 x 10 x 13 inches |
|---|---|
| Item model number | 706132 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Target gender | Unisex |
| Additional product features | Washable |
| Style | Letters and Numbers |
| Batteries required | No |
| Item Weight | 5.5 pounds |
