A bright, durable starter gym that entertains and grows with your baby — just pop a blanket under the mat.
Tired of toys that entertain your baby for five minutes before being abandoned on the floor? You need a play centre that holds their attention, survives the daily scrabble of family life, and fits into the smaller living rooms and nurseries you find across the UK — all while giving you a bit of breathing space to make a cuppa or tidy up.
The Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym (GXC35) aims to do exactly that. With lights, music, motion-activated sounds, three ways to play and a removable toucan for take-along fun, it’s a bright, durable starter gym that grows with your baby. It isn’t the plushest mat on the market — a small extra blanket under the machine-washable mat sorts that — but for busy UK families who want reliable, long-lasting engagement, it’s a practical choice.
Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Baby Gym
This gym is a bright, durable and thoughtfully designed starter play centre that will keep your baby visually and audibly engaged for months. It isn’t the plushest mat on the market, but with a small extra blanket beneath it you’ll get a very reliable, long-lasting play routine.
- Play Value & Engagement – 9
- Build Quality & Safety – 8.5
- Cleaning & Maintenance – 8
- Portability & Storage – 8.2
Pros
- Highly engaging: lights, music and motion-activated sounds keep babies interested
- Versatile three ways to play that grow with your child
- Removable take-along toucan with up to 20 minutes of music and changing lights
- Large machine-washable mat with plenty of attachable toys and textures
- Well-made and durable materials that stand up to repeated use
Cons
- Mat is a little thin — you may want an extra blanket for padding
- Toucan can be top-heavy and may not sit upright reliably on the arch
- Requires AA batteries and will need replacements with heavy use
Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym Review
Overview
You want a baby gym that will hold your little one’s attention, survive the chaos of daily life and be easy to use at home or on the go. The Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym delivers a lively sensory experience with music, lights and more than 10 activities to explore. Designed to evolve with your baby, it offers three ways to play — lay-and-play, tummy time and a take-along option — so it’s useful from newborn weeks right through early sitting.
What’s Included and Key Components
The gym comes with several main parts and accessories so you can visualise how it fits into your nursery or living space.
- Large play mat with satin border loops for attaching toys
- Two curved arches with hanging toys and textures
- Removable take-along toucan speaker with lights and music
- Multiple tactile toys including rattles and crinkly characters
- Simple fold-flat design for storage and travel
Notable Features — at a glance
- Motion-activated music and nature sounds that respond when your baby moves
- Up to 20 minutes of music from the take-along toucan with colour-changing lights
- Machine-washable mat for easy cleaning
- Three play modes to match developmental stages
Why this gym works for babies (and parents)
The design focuses on early sensory development and independent play. The bright rainforest theme and high-contrast characters attract newborn gaze and encourage visual tracking. The hanging toys are reachable during lay-and-play and promote hand-eye coordination, while tummy time is supported by the curved arches that create a focused play area.
- Visual stimulation: bold colours and moving lights
- Auditory stimulation: melodies, nature sounds and responsive music
- Tactile stimulation: different textures, crinkly fabrics and rattles
Setting up and using the gym in everyday life
Setup is straightforward and can be completed in minutes — no specialist tools required. The arches snap into place and the toys attach to loops so you can rearrange them to keep the experience fresh.
- Unfold the mat and slot the arches into their channels
- Attach toys to the satin loops where your baby can reach them
- Insert 2 AA batteries into the toucan (batteries not included) and switch on music mode
Practical tip: pop a soft blanket under the mat for extra padding if your baby prefers a softer surface — a common tweak used by many UK parents.
Cleaning and maintenance
One of the gym’s strengths is that the mat is machine-washable, which helps you tackle milk spills, snack messes and general wear quickly. The toys wipe clean easily, but the electronic toucan should only be spot-cleaned and kept away from machine washing.
| Part | Cleaning method | Frequency suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Play mat | Machine wash on a gentle cycle — air dry | When stained or weekly with heavy use |
| Fabric toys | Machine wash or hand wash per label | As needed |
| Toucan (electronic) | Wipe with a damp cloth, dry immediately | Surface-clean as required |
Safety, durability and materials
The gym is made from durable plastics and fabrics intended to cope with everyday family life. Stitching on the toys and the arch connectors are generally robust, and the mat’s satin loops keep toys secure. As with any baby product, keep an eye on wear and loosened parts and remove anything damaged.
Safety pointers for use in the UK:
- Always place the mat on a flat, stable surface away from stairs and radiators
- Do not leave your baby unattended; the gym is a supervised play product
- Use only the recommended battery type (AA) and remove batteries if storing for long periods
Developmental benefits by age range
- Newborn to 3 months: visual tracking, reaction to light and sound, focus on faces and contrast
- 3 to 6 months: reaching, batting at toys, beginning grasp and hand-to-mouth coordination
- 6+ months: tummy time support, interactive play with detachable toys, shared play with siblings
Portability and storage
The gym folds flatter for storage and the toucan makes a handy take-along toy you can use on car journeys or visits to friends and family. It’s lightweight at around 2.25 kg and fits into a medium-sized cupboard or under a bed when folded.
- Easy to fold and store in small UK homes or flats
- Toucan battery life is decent but keep spare AAs from supermarkets like Tesco or Sainsbury’s
Who this is ideal for
You should consider this gym if you’re looking for an all-rounder that grows with your baby and gives you a bit of independent play time. It’s particularly good for parents who want a feature-rich option without committing to a very large, bulky activity centre. It’s suitable whether you buy from Argos, John Lewis, Smyths Toys or Amazon UK.
What to pair it with (UK shopping tips)
- Add a soft, breathable muslin or a thin fleece blanket underneath for extra padding — available at John Lewis and Tesco.
- Keep AA batteries to hand; household names like Duracell or GP can be bought from Boots or Asda.
- Consider a simple toy rotation: swap a couple of hanging toys each week to keep engagement high.
Alternatives and how it compares
- Simpler foam mats: cheaper but with fewer interactive features and no music or lights
- Larger activity centres: give more features but are heavier and less portable
If you want music and light interaction in a compact design, this hits a sweet spot between a basic mat and a full-floor activity centre.
Final thoughts
You’ll find the Fisher-Price Rainforest Music & Lights Deluxe Gym to be a reliable, colourful and flexible choice for early months and beyond. The interactive toucan and responsive sounds bring an extra layer of engagement, while the washable mat and sturdy build keep it practical for everyday family life. With a small padding tweak and fresh batteries, it’s a play essential that will serve most UK families well through those first developmental milestones.
FAQ
Is the mat machine washable and how should I dry it?
Yes — the mat is machine-washable on a gentle cycle. Remove the electronic toys first and follow the care label. Air drying is recommended in the UK to avoid shrinkage; don’t tumble dry the electronic components.
Can newborns use this gym safely?
Yes. Newborns benefit from the visual contrasts and gentle music. Use the lay-and-play mode and keep sessions short to avoid overstimulation. Always supervise your baby while using the gym.
How loud is the toucan’s music and can I change the volume?
The toucan is designed with baby-friendly volume levels suitable for close play. There’s no advanced volume control, so if you’re sensitive to noise you may prefer intermittent use or move the toucan slightly further away on its take-along mode.
Do I need extra padding under the mat?
The mat has a thin padded layer that works well on a carpeted floor, but many UK parents use a thin blanket or muslin underneath for extra comfort on hard floors or during longer tummy-time sessions.
Where can I buy replacement parts or extra toys in the UK?
Check Fisher-Price’s official UK support channels and major retailers like Amazon UK or Smyths Toys for replacement pieces. If a toy is lost, many sellers list individual replacement parts or you can contact Fisher-Price customer services.
How long do the batteries last in the toucan?
Battery life depends on how often you use the music and lights. With intermittent daily use you can expect several weeks of use; heavy daily music play will require more frequent AA replacements.
Is the gym suitable for keeping older siblings entertained too?
Yes — older siblings often love the bright colours and songs and can join in supervised. It makes a nice shared activity for a toddler and a baby, encouraging gentle interaction.
I was torn between this and a pricier plush mat. Decided on the Fisher-Price because of the lights/music.
Assembly was quick, took maybe 5–10 minutes. No tools needed. If you’re thinking about buying on Amazon, check sellers for the best return policy.
Agree on the return policy — bought from a third-party seller once and it took ages to process returns. Stick with Amazon-sold when possible.
Good tip on assembly/time — glad it was quick for you. Returns/fulfilled-by info on Amazon can indeed vary, so worth double-checking.
Not the plushest mat, as the review says. My little one hated tummy time with it at first — seemed too slippery. I threw a towel on top and it helped. Kinda surprised Fisher-Price skimped there, tbh.