PRODUCT REVIEW
•Updated August 2026
★★★★★ 4.8/5
One of the best reviewed family comfort mats of 2026
Most play mats are designed almost entirely around the child.
They might provide a colourful place for tummy time or crawling, but they often ignore the fact that parents also spend hours sitting, kneeling and lying on the floor beside their children.
The Muscle Mat Relax Mat feels like it was designed for both.
Instead of using a thin layer of padding, it combines a soft fabric surface with a 35mm thick, slow rebound foam base. The result sits somewhere between a premium rug, a padded play mat and an oversized floor cushion.
It is soft enough for babies and toddlers, comfortable enough for adults and neutral enough to remain in the living room long after tummy time is finished.
We reviewed its construction, comfort, everyday practicality and feedback from thousands of families to understand why it has earned a 4.8/5 customer rating from more than 5,400 shoppers.
After looking closely at the product, its appeal becomes fairly obvious.
This is not simply a softer rug. It creates a genuinely usable family space on the floor.
The first thing you notice when stepping onto the Relax Mat is the depth.
A conventional rug provides very little separation from the hard surface underneath. Even with an underlay, you can usually still feel timber or tiles through it when sitting or kneeling.
The Relax Mat feels completely different.
Your feet sink slightly into the slow rebound foam before it gradually returns to shape. It feels dense and cushioned rather than loose or excessively spongy.
For a baby, this creates a comfortable surface for tummy time, rolling and early crawling.
For a toddler, it provides a softer area for sitting, playing and navigating the inevitable small tumbles that come with learning to move confidently.
For parents, it means being able to sit on the floor, kneel beside the toy box or lie next to your child without immediately feeling the hard flooring underneath.
That last point matters more than it initially sounds.
A play area is much more likely to be used when the adults are comfortable spending time there too.
The easiest comparison is an oversized memory foam surface covered in soft fabric.
It is plush when you first make contact, but the foam underneath provides more structure than a shaggy rug or thick carpet. It compresses gradually under your weight and then slowly returns to its original shape.
For babies, the surface feels soft without being buried beneath a deep pile.
For toddlers, it is stable enough for crawling, sitting, building blocks and playing with toys.
For adults, it reduces pressure through the knees, hips, elbows and lower back while spending time at floor level.
If you have ever knelt on timber flooring for half an hour while helping a toddler with a puzzle, changing a baby or building a train track, the difference is immediately noticeable.
It is the type of product that initially looks like a rug but quickly becomes another place for the entire family to sit.
Tummy time is one of the most obvious uses for the Relax Mat.
The soft surface creates a comfortable area for babies to practice lifting their head, reaching, rolling and gradually learning to crawl. The mat is large enough for parents to lie beside them rather than watching from the couch.
As babies become toddlers, the mat continues to be useful.
It becomes a place for books, blocks, puzzles, toy cars, drawing and quiet play. The 35mm foam provides considerably more cushioning than a thin fabric play mat, particularly in homes with tiles or polished concrete.
The short surface is also more practical for toys than a deep pile rug. Blocks remain relatively stable, puzzle pieces do not disappear into long fibres and toy cars can still move across the mat.
The Relax Mat is not a replacement for normal parental supervision, but it does make the everyday play area feel considerably softer and more inviting.
One of the common problems with baby products is how quickly they become redundant.
A small activity mat might be useful for a few months, but once a child starts crawling or walking, it is often packed away.
The Relax Mat has a much longer practical lifespan.
Babies can use it for tummy time. Toddlers can use it for floor play. Older children can lie on it while reading, watching television, playing games or building forts.
Adults can use it for stretching or relaxing, and pets tend to discover it almost immediately.
One independent reviewer used the Relax Mat for two weeks and found that it reduced pressure on her knees during stretching. Her children used it for LEGO, reading and watching television, while her ten year old wanted it for a sleepover.
That versatility is a major part of the value.
It is not a baby product disguised as furniture. It remains useful as the child grows and the needs of the room change.
Deep pile rugs can feel luxurious, but they also trap crumbs, pet hair, dust, building blocks and small toys.
The Relax Mat uses a short, soft touch surface that provides a comfortable feel without the same amount of long fibre.
For families with babies and toddlers, this is a practical decision.
Crumbs and pet hair remain closer to the surface, where they can be reached with a vacuum. Small toys are less likely to disappear into the fibres. Blocks and play sets also have a more stable base.
The surface avoids the heavily matted appearance that can develop on regularly used sections of a shaggy rug.
Where there are babies and toddlers, spills are unavoidable.
Milk, yoghurt, juice, food, paint and unidentified sticky substances will eventually find their way onto almost every surface in the room.
Muscle Mat describes the Relax Mat as spill and stain resistant, but it is important to understand what that means in practice.
Resistant does not mean completely stain proof.
The surface provides additional time to blot up an accident before it becomes deeply absorbed. Fresh spills should still be handled immediately, particularly when they involve strongly coloured food or drinks.
One owner reported that a red ice block spill was easily dabbed away, although a faint pink mark remained because no cleaning product was used. That is a realistic example of how any light coloured fabric can behave around strong food colouring.
For a busy playroom or home with toddlers, Charcoal Grey, Dove Grey or Black will naturally be more forgiving than Buttermilk Beige.
The mat also vacuums easily because most crumbs and dirt remain near the surface rather than disappearing into a deep pile.
As with any large fabric floor covering, the manufacturer's care instructions should be followed for deeper cleaning.
A family play mat needs to remain stable during normal use.
The Relax Mat includes a non slip base designed to grip hard flooring without requiring a separate rug underlay.
This helps the mat remain in position while babies crawl, toddlers move around and adults stand up after sitting on the floor.
The high density foam also gives the mat more weight and structure than a thin fabric play mat that can easily fold or bunch.
On particularly smooth flooring, it is still sensible to check the mat periodically and make sure the floor beneath it remains clean and dry.
The Relax Mat is compressed for delivery, so it may not look completely smooth or reach its full thickness immediately after opening.
This is normal.
It needs time to expand and settle after being removed from the packaging. Owners commonly report that the surface improves significantly during the first 24 hours.
A light steam can help release persistent creases and encourage the foam to expand, but the product care instructions should always be followed.
The important point is not to judge its final appearance within the first few minutes of opening it.
The Relax Mat is available in sizes ranging from 1m by 1.5m through to 3m by 4m.
The smaller sizes work well beside a cot, in a reading corner or as a dedicated tummy time area.
The larger options can cover most of a living room or playroom, giving babies and toddlers more room to roll, crawl and play without quickly reaching the hard floor.
The range includes neutral colours such as Charcoal Grey, Dove Grey, Buttermilk Beige and Black, alongside children's designs including Farmyard, Race Track, Soccer and Basketball.
For a main living room, the neutral colours allow the mat to blend with the rest of the furniture.
For a dedicated playroom, the children's designs add another element to everyday play without requiring the room to look overly busy.
The Muscle Mat Relax Mat succeeds because it has been designed around how families actually use their homes.
Parents do not want to place their baby on a comfortable surface and then sit beside them on hard tiles. They want enough space and cushioning to get down on the floor and properly interact with them.
The Relax Mat provides that.
Its 35mm slow rebound foam creates meaningful cushioning for tummy time, crawling, toddler play and the adults joining in. The short, soft surface is more practical than a deep pile rug, while the non slip base helps keep the mat secure during normal family use.
It will not remain spotless without care, particularly in lighter colours, and it needs time to expand after delivery. Those are reasonable compromises for a product that effectively combines a family rug, play mat and oversized floor cushion.
The biggest advantage is that children do not quickly outgrow it.
What begins as a tummy time mat can later become a play area, reading corner, television spot or comfortable place for the entire family to relax.
For parents wanting to create a softer and more usable area for babies and toddlers without turning the entire room into a nursery, the Muscle Mat Relax Mat is one of the most convincing family floor products we have reviewed this year.
FINAL SCORE
4.8/5
BEST FOR: Babies, toddlers, parents, pets and homes with hard flooring
COMFORT: Extremely soft with substantial cushioning
THICKNESS: 35mm slow rebound foam
SURFACE: Short, soft and practical for everyday play
CHILD FRIENDLY: Excellent for tummy time, crawling and toddler activities
PRACTICALITY: Spill resistant and easy to vacuum
STABILITY: Non slip base with no separate underlay required
VALUE: Excellent considering its size, versatility and long term usefulness
It looks like a rug. It isn't.
The Relax Mat™ is 35mm of dense, slow rebound foam wrapped in a soft, spill and stain resistant cover. Lie on it, play on it, walk across it barefoot. Once you feel the difference, ordinary rugs are ruined for you.
Free AusPost shipping | Order before 1:30pm for same day dispatch
Why you'll love it
35mm thick foam base
Spill and stain resistant
Super soft underfoot
Easy to clean
Non toxic
Lightweight and foldable
Non slip bottom
High density foam, so no underlay is needed
For kids
Hard floors and little ones are a rough combination. The Relax Mat gives kids a soft, safe zone to roll, crawl and play, and gives you one less thing to worry about. It's brilliant for tummy time too. For high traffic areas we recommend the darker colours.
For pets
A proper resting spot for your pet, without a pet bed cluttering the room. The spill and stain resistant cover makes accidents easy to clean up, and every dog that has modelled on one of our photo shoots has been very reluctant to get off it.
For your home
If you've moved into a place with hard flooring, this is the fix. 35mm of foam underfoot turns a bedroom or living room into the most comfortable space in the house.
Colours
Available in Charcoal Grey, Buttermilk Beige, Dove Grey, Race Track, Farmyard, Black, Berry Blue and Bubble Gum Pink. There may be slight colour differences due to lighting and monitor displays.
Need care instructions after opening? Read the care guide.
Free AusPost shipping | Order before 1:30pm for same day dispatch
Overall rating: 4.8 / 5 from 17820 reviews.
As you can see from the photo, Snowball has claimed this chair as her new spot (as well as her Mum). The chair is genuinely SO comfortable so much so I bought a similar one from Kmart hoping the cats give the Muscle Mat chair back to me, but they haven’t even touched the Kmart chair. But to be fair, there are no comparisons anyway. The only thing missing is the Ottoman, which is currently sold out. Sold 5/5.
Our muscle mat is amazing. So so soft and plush. Perfect addition to our space. We all love it - pets included 🤍☁️✨
We're OBSESSED with this blanket! Unfortunately I rarely get to use it because my cats, toddler or husband have usually stolen it first 😂. I can't get over how stretchy and soft it is, and it looks gorgeous on our bed and couch too!
Muscle mat are fab to deal with and we love the comfort the mats give to our living space.
I’ve actually slept on my muscle mat a few nights (with a baby who hates sleep and sometimes refuses to sleep in a bed) and it’s actually been very comfortable. My back feels great afterwards which is a bonus!
We love this mat, so soft, thick & beautiful. Very good quality, highly recommend!
Sooo soft! I love the feel and weight of this blanket, going to be so cozy for winter
The softest blanket I have ever put on my bed 😍😍😍 so heavy and lux I love it so much! 🫶🏼
Lovely to walk on, lie on, and easy to clean. My dog and grandchildren love it too. Really enjoying my muscle mat, thank you.
I had brought probably 4 rugs prior to this that were not right in some way or another. This is perfect fits sits and looks great. Very happy many thanks muscle mat..... 💪🙂
This is our 3rd mat, we still use the other ones and they have lasted 4 years so far, wanted a more fancy one for the living room and this one is sooooooooo freaking awesome, soft and beautiful to lie on🤩
I have not slept in my bed since the CloudPad arrived. Well, since the CloudPad was ready to go! I have been looking online for something that I wanted/needed but I wasn’t entirely sure what that was but I felt like if I saw it I would know, and I did! I came across Muscle Mat and I am glad I did. Sounds cliche, I know. The CloudPad isn’t filled with your typical bean bag filling which helps with the cloud 9 type feel as the memory foam works with your body. As comfy as it is, I do need to set boundaries for myself and keep my sleeping routine to my room! The CloudPad passes my sensory vibe (especially coming into winter!) and I would 100% purchase again in the future. It would be great if there were different colour options though but without a doubt still a solid 5/5.
Fabulous blanket! Soft and cosy! Keeps you warm but you do not overheat. The cats love it as well 😊
Our family absolutely love our muscle mat. It’s great for floor and play time. We love all laying on it after a long day as a family. Guests obsess over it. I need one for every room.
Loved all around by the cats, dog and humans!
Love it, I have one in my warehouse for late nights when I need to sleep on the floor. 😂👌 Its honesty more comfortable than my bed. However, I'm a firm sleeper.
This mat is soooo plush! Our family love just lounging around in it. Might sell my couch as nobody sits on it anymore!
Very happy with my muscle mat! It is the perfect colour, thickness and texture. It was so convenient to receive a small, portable, vacuum-sealed package that doesn't take long to flatten out. Doggo lives to nap on this rug!
Love it! So soft makes you want to lie down on it. Great quality. Highly recommend.
We absolutely love our muscle mat so in love with this mat my daughter fell asleep on it. Thank you will look at purchasing another soon. 🤩🤩
So comfy, we love our mat!
Love this mat, as soon as it was down my Dog and 23 year old son were rolling over it,
After the mat straightened out to flattened it’s amazing. I’m able to do my yoga stretches on it. My dog loves laying and fetching his ball without any impact on his body. Very happy with it.
The muscle mat looks great in our loungeroom, it adds warmth & our staffie loves it
Perfect size for the gaming room. Very soft and comfortable to walk on. Will be buying another larger one for the main lounge room.
We love this mat! It looks exactly like the photos online and my whole family can't resist to lay, sit or play on it EVERYDAY!
So worth the money and hype! It’s feels so beautiful and lush, the whole family is enjoying it.
I got this mat so that our little grandkids had a warm, comfortable space to chill out indoors. We have tiles throughout which are cold and not comfortable for little ones to sit and play. WE LOVE IT! My husband often sprawls out on it and I love the softness under foot. A great buy! Highly recommend.
I brought the deluxe shaggy mat charcoal 2m x 3m and I love it! The mat is soft and comfortable. The only downside for me is the colour, as it looks more blue-grey than charcoal, especially in bright light/sunlight. I wish it was available in black!
This rug is so plush, so soft & the quality is amazing even the fussy member of the family approves! Only regret is I didn’t buy one sooner
Absolutely love it though i wish i ordered bigger which i will be in the future
Our little family love their new chair and so do we. Great delivery simple to pop up and now everyone has a comfortable place for movies.
Great for crawling, ruff and tumble, very easy to clean ✅
Love love even my dog Byron James loves it.
I purchased the 2 x 4 muscle mat in charcoal grey. I’m just setting up a room for me & my dogs to share in comfort. I absolutely LOVE this mat . It’s such amazing quality & so very comfortable & very affordable. It’s amazing to stretch out & have a snooze in comfort. With my dogs - of course. I highly recommend this rug as an essential item in everyone’s home! Already planning my next purchase!
Absolutely love my muscle mat so soft and comfy perfect for the grandkids to relax on
Best investment . Threw my lounge out and not one regret after receiving this chair and ottoman. Fall asleep on it daily and wake up in no pain.
We love our new muscle mat! Super comfy, I find I'm doing all my physio and stretches on it daily. The dogs absolutely love playing on it and digging on it. It's so soft and relaxing! Better than expected, thanks team.
Happy with size colour and design
Bought for the baby who can now roll around a huge space! Bonus our elderly dog with arthritis LOVES it