Dexter’s at that difficult-to-buy-for stage at the moment. At 17 months, he’s very easily distracted and would rather pull out cables from the back of the telly than sit down with a toy. We’ve therefore really struggled to come up with practical Christmas gift ideas this year.

When the guys at Soft Floor Kids UK got in touch to ask if Dexter might like to try a soft foam play mat, I simply had to say yes. Not only could this make an ideal Chrimbo pressie for little man (obviously we’ll have to wrap it back up after this review - didn’t think that one through did I?!), our entire downstairs is hardwood flooring and Dex is constantly tripping over his feet. Luckily, he hasn’t had any significant bumps and grazes yet but it’s only a matter of time and I’d like to keep him looking gorgeous for as long as possible. Foam tiling is the perfect solution as it’s easy to keep clean and soft enough to roll around on.

We choose a 30 Piece Alphabet Soft Play Mat as we had a very specific area in mind for our mat to live in our lounge. The pack features the full alphabet and 4 additional shapes (a triangle, square, star and circle). All the letters and shapes pop-out from the interlocking tiles making it great for improving little finger dexterity, and a fun puzzle for children who are beginning to learn the alphabet. We also managed to make some cubes out of the tiles (although it was fiddly as the letters kept falling into the centre of the cube!).

Dexter was hugely excited to help mummy and daddy lay the mat down. They lock together easily and you need only gently pat down the finished article to ensure you’re not left with lumps and bumps. The surface is lightly textured which feels great under your feet and is incredibly soft to touch.

It’s worth noting that these mats come out BIG. As each tile measures 30cm by 30cm, you’ll definitely want to measure up your free space before selecting your play mat. Our covers a 5ft by 6ft area but we tend to shrink it by using less of the tiles so it fits comfortably in our living room - you’re supplied with plenty of edging strips in all the different colours so you have this flexibility. It also comes in a nice zip lock bag for storing individual tiles away (or indeed the full set, when you fancy turning your lounge back into a grown up zone).

They’re bright and attractive, and would be suitable for both sexes. I’m also incredibly impressed with the thickness of the tiles, I’m no longer wincing when I’m on my hands and knees with Dexter, or sat for long periods on my bum. Dexter also managed to nap on them the other day which should be regarded as the ultimate testament to how comfy this mat is!

In terms of practicality, the tiles are made from high-quality, closed-cell (non asorbing), EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam and are 100% non-toxic and formamide free - try saying that after a few glasses of wine! In short, it means they’re easy-peasy to wipe clean, non slip, and incredibly durable. They’re also tough enough to use outside on decking for summer play.

At £34.95 for the set shown above, I’m aware there are slightly cheaper versions available in supermarkets. However, the quality is far superior and these tiles are lovely and thick and look fabulous. The removable letters and fact you can build cubes from the tiles also means they’ll grow with your family when your little ones are less likely to take a tumble. I’m delighted with our set so would happily recommend to anyone struggling for Christmas gifts for pre-schoolers.

You can find Soft Floor Kids UK on Twitter (@SoftFloorKIDS) or G+ (Soft Floor Kids UK) for more reviews and information.

DISCLOSURE: We were sent this gorgeous mat to review in return for our honest feedback. All thoughts, opinions and pictures are my own - and that’s my gorgeous little man in the piccies too!