Baby playmats, although not 100% necessary, make a cute accesory to any baby friendly household. They add extra cushion and support to sedentary babies, and an extra layer of protection for those learning to crawl and walk. Unfortunately, many baby mats contain materials and chemicals that have not been proven safe for use around babies. This is especially problematic as many of the most popular playmats on the market contain these materials. Fortunately, there are some alternatives on the market, with more and more brands becoming aware of the hazards. Here are some of the best nontoxic baby playmats.
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When my son was born, we really didn’t use anything since we had nice plush carpet. But when we moved to a house with hard wood floors and my daughter was born, we realized we needed something to pad her little head during floor time, and to support my son while he was become more coordinated with walking and running.
We originally bought a set of foam interlocking tiles that seem like they are sold pretty much anywhere. While they are nice and soft, I didn’t learn until later that they were made of PVC. PVC is known to release dioxins into the environment, which has been linked to reproductive and developmental damages. EVA mats, an up and coming alternative to PVC mats has been to offgas formaldyhyde.
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Luckily, there are now a lot of alternative nontoxic baby playmats on the market now and we have a much safer option for our family.
The Best Nontoxic Baby Playmats
Corkimats
Corkimats are an amazing, non toxic alternative to other placemats. An eco friendly cork and bamboo center covered by an organic cotton fabric outside make this product a great pick for baby. Tiles are held together with by their velcro sides. Available in 5 patterns on Amazon.
Kutchu Rubber Playmat
Rubber is naturally free from pthalates, PVC and other yuckies. The Kutchu rubber playmat is a safe and ecofriendly option when looking for a playmat. All one solid piece, it rolls up for easy storage. Think a big yoga mat for babies. Available in green and purple on Amazon.
Avoid if allergic to latex/natural rubber.
Baby Bello Oraganic Playmat
The baby bello playmat features a 100% organic cotton cover. The cover is removable and can be washed in the washing machine (how great is that?). It does however, feature plant based polyurethane foam on the inside, although they have been VOC tested and do not off gas chemicals. It is available in natural white on Amazon.
Nook Lilypad Playmat
The Nook Lilypad playmat is a machine washable playmat topped with 100% organic fabric. The pebble pattern fabric ensures it is easy to clean up while still allowing for airflow through the mat. Available in 6 colors on Amazon.com.
Choosing the best, natural products for you baby can be challenging, but luckily more and more safe nontoxic baby playmats are coming onto the market everyday, making it an easier purchase.
Which nontoxic baby playmats did you purchase for your baby? Did I miss any good ones? Let me know below.
