Are There Any Safe Foam Mats for Toddlers to Play On?

Question:

Does anyone know of an organic foam mat for infants/toddlers to play on? Apparently, the popular interlocking ones are toxic and were just outlawed in Belgium.

Answer:

Last week, news stories reported that Belgium and France have plans to ban the sale of soft foam puzzle play mats in 2011 due to test results showing the mats contain Formamide, a reproductive and developmental toxicant.

The situation isn’t as clear-cut as it would appear, so before you toss your play mat, consider a few things…

1. Many play mats are made of EVA, which has been the standard safer substitute for PVC – even approved by the prestigious international organization, Health Care Without Harm, for neonatal intensive care use.

2. The European ban hasn’t specified what levels of formamide they found in products that triggered alarm and what manufacturing processes may have led to it. There’s also no information yet about updated safety standards and which foam play mats might be safe (they don’t all contain these chemicals).

3. At least one manufacturer of “safer” play mats has responded with some insightful information:

Skip Hop responded with the following statement: All Skip Hop products, including the Playspot, meet or exceed regulatory safety standards in the USA and Europe, without exception. We do not add Formamide to Playspot, although it can be a byproduct of the EVA foam manufacturing process (which includes such items as flip flops and many bath toys). That said, due to these concerns, we have tested Playspot using ISO 16000 methods. We are pleased that our Playspots received the lowest possible score, <2ug/m3 (less than 2 millionths of a gram per cubic meter) for Formamide emissions, the lowest measurable result with this testing method. These tests show that – within the limits of the test – its presence is essentially not detectable. Therefore, the Playspot is a safe EVA floor mat option for children and you should feel confident that we have specifically tested for this issue.

What should you do?

• If you have a play mat, you should contact their customer service department directly for more information.
• If you’re looking for a safer play mat, consider Skip Hop (above), Natural Foam Playmat (“Formamide, Acetaphenone, 2 Phenyl 2 Propanol free”); or Plan Toys Play Mat (“Plan Toys are made from natural, chemical free rubber wood and finished with non-toxic and child friendly colors”). Their company statements have not been verified by us, but these companies have historically provided safer products.
• If you’re still skeptical and concerned, consider play mat substitutes like natural yoga mats and natural, untreated textile rugs.

This answer was provided by our fabulous Chief Communications Officer, Janelle. See all of our questions and answers at Get Answers. Do you have a question? Let us know!

What’s a safe way to clean tough messes (urine, etc.) from carpets?

There are a number of ways to clean carpets without dangerous chemicals. Blotting is a good way to clean up stains quickly, Blot with white paper towels or clean fabric; stand on the absorbents so they penetrate more deeply into the stain, then remove. Don't rub the carpet with the paper towel or fabric; just repeat using clean absorbent material.

Scoop as much of the stain as possible onto a spoon or appropriate implement.

Nothing works better than baking soda to remove odors from a carpet; it literally neutralizes them on the spot. Sprinkle baking soda over the stains and leave it on overnight. You may need a box or two to really do the trick. To avoid clogging up your vacuum cleaner, sweep off as much baking soda as you can, then vacuum up the rest. For a urine neutralizer use borax or baking soda or spray of club soda (do not rinse; soak up moisture with a sponge if necessary).

Are carpet cleaners safe?

Some carpet cleaners –especially spot removers– can be particularly dangerous, because they contain toxic chemical solvents. These products dissolve dirt without soap and water, but give off strong odors and can leave behind chemical residues. Other potentially problematic ingredients in carpet cleaners include compounds that produce lots of fumes (like formaldehyde ), acids, pesticides, disinfectants, lye (sodium hydroxide), fragrances and many others. There are ways to clean carpets without dangerous chemicals.

Visit the Marketplace section of our website for companies that specialize in eco-friendly cleaning products.

I am pregnant and my new carpet has a chemical odor. Is it possible that the chemicals in the new carpet can be dangerous to the fetus and my young son? If, so what should I do?

Your sense of smell is alerting you to chemicals present in new carpeting. Carpeting, its backing material, adhesives and carpet padding can all contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which evaporate – causing the smell. And, unfortunately, some VOCs may indeed have health effects on your fetus as well as cause respiratory problems for your young son.

Do not try to clean the carpet with more harsh chemicals. Try to thoroughly steam clean your carpets with plain water. Ventilation (opening windows, turning on fans) is also essential to keep VOCs from building up in indoor air. It will also help your carpet dry completely and quickly. It’s important to continue to maintain a clean carpet as it can easily become a haven for dust mites and other toxins.

Is wall-to-wall carpeting safe?

Nothing in life is perfectly safe and accordingly, there are inherent risks to any kind of flooring. The problem with carpeting is that it's a convenient home to microorganisms such as mold, mildew and dust mites. It is also a reservoir for everything you track indoors on your shoes soil, lawn chemicals, lead dust from chalking house paint, asbestos fibers from automotive brake linings, animal feces, and anything else found on the ground outdoors.

If you have carpeting, be sure to vacuum it regularly with a HEPA filtered vacuum and clean it thoroughly every 12-18 months. Find out tips for cleaning carpets without chemicals here.

If you are looking into flooring options, we recommend an easy to clean hard surface like cork or hardwood (though, find out what types of adhesives or coatings are used) with a washable rug made from natural materials like organic wool. Still, most people like to have carpet at least somewhere in there home – and it is extremely affordable. Look for carpets that follow sustainable carpet standards like those outlined by the Carpet and Rug Institute.