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A play mat is formed from a cushion material enclosed by fabric. A flexible rod-like element with a substantially continuous outer surface may be fixedly coupled to a portion of the mat. A slidable member is slidingly coupled with the rod-like element. In some cases, at least one article is coupled

A play mat is formed from a cushion material enclosed by fabric. A flexible rod-like element with a substantially continuous outer surface may be fixedly coupled to a portion of the mat. A slidable member is slidingly coupled with the rod-like element. In some cases, at least one article is coupled to the slidable member. The article includes a first item coupled to a second item by a length of material. The first item may be resilient so that the article is coupled to the slidable member when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the slidable member so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening.

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1. A child care equipment system, comprising: a mat comprising a top fabric layer, and a bottom fabric layer, and a thin layer of a cushion material enclosed by the top fabric layer and the bottom fabric layer, wherein the mat has a top surface and bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is confi

1. A child care equipment system, comprising: a mat comprising a top fabric layer, and a bottom fabric layer, and a thin layer of a cushion material enclosed by the top fabric layer and the bottom fabric layer, wherein the mat has a top surface and bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to be placed on a floor and the top surface is sized and configured to receive a baby when lying on the top surface of the mat;a single flexible rod-like element that has a length, a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, wherein the first end surface and the second end surface are separated by the length and are on opposite ends of the rod-like element, and the rod-like element is fixedly coupled to a portion of the top surface of the mat along the length between the opposite ends of the rod-like element;a slidable member having a slot that is slidingly coupled with only the single rod-like element and unattached with the mat such that the slidable member may be moved along the rod-like element by sliding the slidable member along the rod-like element, wherein the slidable member defines an opening to permit an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member; andat least one article that includes a first item coupled to a second item by a length of material, wherein the first item is resilient so that the article is coupled to the slidable member when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the slidable member so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening and the first and second items are on opposite sides of the slidable member. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first item is a ball-like padded item enclosed by fabric and is compressible to a size smaller than the opening so that when the first item is compressed and passed through the opening the first item and the second item are exposed on opposite sides of the opening. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first item is a padded item enclosed by fabric and is elongate in geometry, wherein the padded item is compressible to a size smaller than the opening by folding the padded item to permit the first item to be passed through the opening, with the first item and the second item being positioned on opposite sides of the opening. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first item has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a shape of a ball; a shape of a block; a shape of a pyramid; a shape of a button; a shape of a tree leaf; a shape of a flower; a shape of an animal; and a shape of a wing. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the top surface comprises a first fabric and a second fabric that are coupled together to form a seam, and wherein the rod-like element is coupled to the top surface at the seam so as to project above the top surface at the seam. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the seam is curved, and wherein the rod-like element is curved to match the curve of the seam. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fabric covering the rod-like element. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pillow that has at least one flexible loop coupled thereto, wherein the loop is sized to receive the article when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the loop so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening of the loop. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of: a toy; a doll; a ball; a mirror; a block; a pyramid; a teething ring; a toy shaped like an animal or insect; a toy shaped like a plant or flower; an item that generates sound; an item that generates vibration; and an item that generates light. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one flexible loop coupled to the mat, wherein the loop is configured to receive the article when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the loop so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening of the loop. 11. A play mat, comprising: a thin mat body comprising a top fabric layer and a bottom fabric layer that encases a batting material;a rod-like element that has a length defined between ends of the rod-like element, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, and that is encased along the length by a fabric that is connected along the length of the rod-like element to the top fabric layer; anda slidable member defining an opening and a slot, wherein the slot has a surface in contact with the second fabric such that the slidable member is slidingly engaged with the rod-like element, and wherein the opening permits an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member. 12. The play mat of claim 11, further comprising a first pocket and a second pocket each fixedly coupled to a particular portion of the play mat, wherein a first end of the rod-like element is positioned within the first pocket and a second end of the rod-like element is positioned within the second pocket. 13. The play mat of claim 11, further comprising a seam formed within a top surface of the play mat that separates the play mat into a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the rod-like element is coupled to the top surface of the play mat along the seam. 14. The play mat of claim 11, wherein the rod-like element is formed from one of a plastic material or a metallic material. 15. The play mat of claim 11, wherein the slidable member is formed from a plastic material. 16. A play mat, comprising: a thin mat body comprising a top fabric layer and a bottom fabric layer that encases a batting material;a first and second pocket each fixedly coupled to the top fabric layer;a rod that has a length defined between first and second end surfaces that are on opposite ends of the rod, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, wherein the rod is connected along the length between the opposite ends to the top fabric layer, and a first end of the opposite ends is positioned within the first pocket and a second end of the opposite ends is positioned within the second pocket; anda slidable member including an opening and a slot, wherein the rod is positioned within the slot so that the slidable member is slidingly engaged with the rod, and wherein the opening is sized to permit an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member; andwherein the play mat has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface includes at least one a seam formed by stitching, and wherein the rod is coupled to the top surface at the seam so as to project above the top surface at the seam. 17. The play mat of claim 16, further comprising a polyester or cloth fabric covering the rod. 18. The play mat of claim 16, further comprising: at least one article that includes a first item coupled to a second item by a length of material, wherein the first item is resilient so that the article is coupled to the slidable member when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the slidable member so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening and the first and second items are on opposite sides of the slidable member. 19. A child care equipment system, comprising: a mat comprising a top fabric layer, and a bottom fabric layer, and a thin layer of a cushion material enclosed by the top fabric layer and the bottom fabric layer, wherein the mat has a top surface and bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to be placed on a floor and the top surface is sized and configured to receive a baby when lying on the top surface of the mat;a single flexible rod-like element that has a length, a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, wherein the first end surface and the second end surface are separated by the length and are on opposite ends of the rod-like element, and the rod-like element is fixedly coupled to a portion of the top surface of the mat along the length between the opposite ends of the rod-like element; anda slidable member having a slot that is slidingly coupled with only the single rod-like element and unattached with the mat such that the slidable member may be moved along the rod-like element by sliding the slidable member along the rod-like element, wherein the slidable member defines an opening to permit an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member; andwherein the top surface comprises a first fabric and a second fabric that are coupled together to form a seam, and wherein the rod-like element is coupled to the top surface at the seam so as to project above the top surface at the seam. 20. A play mat, comprising: a thin mat body comprising a top fabric layer and a bottom fabric layer that encases a batting material;a first and second pocket each fixedly coupled to the top fabric layer;a rod that has a length defined between first and second end surfaces that are on opposite ends of the rod, and an outer surface with a substantially continuous periphery, wherein the rod is connected along the length between the opposite ends to the top fabric layer, and a first end of the opposite ends is positioned within the first pocket and a second end of the opposite ends is positioned within the second pocket; and a slidable member including an opening and a slot, wherein the rod is positioned within the slot so that the slidable member is slidingly engaged with the rod, and wherein the opening is sized to permit an article to be coupled to the slidable member by passing the article through the opening and securing the article to the slidable member; andat least one article that includes a first item coupled to a second item by a length of material, wherein the first item is resilient so that the article is coupled to the slidable member when the first item is compressed and passed through an opening of the slidable member so that at least a portion of the length of material is positioned within the opening and the first and second items are on opposite sides of the slidable member.