Homegrown is a range of toys and mats designed to cultivate the imagination of your baby and to promote specific skills, such as observation, co-ordination or problem solving, which is why the playmat and gym feature textured toys that squeak, rattle or rustle. Larissa Waters, Head of Toy and Gift Development at Silver Cross, said: “The ‘Homegrown’ activity range was inspired by the recent trend towards growing your own vegetables”.
This three-in-one starts out as a quilted mat, with a cauliflower headrest (imagine a flat cauliflower) to give support for your newborn baby’s head. A corduroy, half-moon shaped cushion attaches to the mat to protect your baby, or, for older children, to create a back support. A toy arch fits in to slots in the cushion and curves over the top, allowing the toys to dangle down. When your baby can sit, the arch fits into a fabric tube that runs along the top of the cushion, creating a bumper bar for the activity centre.
What we love
The fabric, colours and textures of the Silver Cross Homegrown 3-in-1 Playmat and Baby Gym are truly lovely and, unlike the garish design of many baby toys, will complement your décor. Think muted tones. Very Farrow and Ball.
The toys are well designed and detach from the toy arch -and such was my love of the Rufus Rabbit teether and bell that I squirmed every time 7-month-old Minnie shoved it in her mouth. The Bertha Bird rattle and Harlow Hedgehog shaker were also guarded closely, lest Minnie get her sticky hands on them.
Ten-week-old Isabelle was truly enchanted by the toys both on and off the arch and her mum felt reassured that she was protected by the soft cushion, in case she rolled over. The progression from mat to sitting support is clever and works well.
A carry case makes it easy to pack away and take on trips and the mat has a waterproof base for use outdoors.
What to watch out for
The mat is thin and on a hard floor didn’t offer enough cushioning - I needed to put a towel underneath to make sure Isabelle was comfy.
The manufacturer claims that by adding the toy bar at the front of the cushion the playmat and gym becomes an activity centre. But Minnie, who loves her LeapFrog (imagine flashing shapes, annoying songs, lots of noise etc), simply crawled out over the bar. So, I can’t see this lasting for more than a few months, especially if you have an early crawler.
Who is the Silver Cross Homegrown 3-in-1 Playmat and Baby Gym best for?
New mums who want their baby to relax in style and who have an eye for interior design.
A beautiful play mat and baby gym that will keep a young baby content. It includes lovely toys that aid the first few months of development but isn’t sufficiently structured to be classed as a activity centre, and the mat could do with some extra padding for those who have hard floors.
