Are Foam Play Mats Safe For Babies?
Don't let tummy time be toxic time
Squishy foam mats or those large colorful floor puzzles can seem like a great way to keep your baby comfortable during tummy time or cushion your clumsy toddler’s falls. As useful as these play mats are, it is important to choose the right material before buying! Some mats are made of substances that can harm your baby’s health, and manufacturers are often not transparent about what is in their “foam” products. The safety of products manufactured for use by children is particularly important, since children are especially vulnerable to toxic exposures. Here is what you need to know to make an informed, healthy choice for your child.
What’s in Foam Baby Mats?
Foam mats popular in homes, schools, and even childcare centers. But what is in the foam? Many foam materials like those used for baby mats, yoga mats and in gyms are usually made up of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, or EVA. But it’s almost impossible to find a more detailed description than that. Even extensive research doesn’t turn up many results.
Polyvinyl chloride and polyurethane foam in baby products are less popular than they once were, and EVA is often looked at as a less toxic alternative. However, there are problems with all three materials. PVC, aside from being a plastic polymer that can bind and spread other toxics, is often also treated with phthalates. This additive, used for increased flexibility, is a known endocrine disruptor with harmful effects on many body systems (1). Polyurethane, although itself is non-toxic, is flammable and typically contains added flame-retardants like PBDEs that can be detrimental to child development (2,3).
EVA, typically advertised as the non-toxic choice often tests positive for formamide, another toxic chemical. Although some EVA mats are advertised as formamide free, this doesn’t necessarily mean what it says. “Formamide free” means that there may be trace levels of formamide, but the levels are low enough that companies are allowed to market their products as free of the chemical (4). EVA is definitely a better option than PVC or polyurethane, but with any of these foam materials, it is very difficult to know what chemicals you could be bringing into your home.
Safer Alternatives
If you want to ensure your child will not be exposed to any toxics from their play mats, an organic cotton mat is the best choice. There have been a number of studies showing that foam mats use at home, in childcare centers, and in gyms are associated with significantly increased exposure to a wide range of toxic chemicals, like the ones mentioned previously. These chemicals are associated with many adverse health and developmental problems including neurological issues, and reproductive and liver toxicity (5).
As research becomes more robust, we are finding that more and more household items contain toxic chemicals or materials. Currently, there are no strong laws that ban the use of chemicals in foam mats and manufacturers are not required to disclose their composition. So, it is up to you to be proactive and keep your little ones safe from harmful exposures.
References
1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29684738
2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29703676
3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29630944
4)https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/201…!
5) https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/chemical_factshe…
6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31108294
7)https://s3.amazonaws.com/hbnweb.prod/uploads/files…