How do you choose the perfect play mat for your family? And what does non-toxic actually mean? We have gathered together all you need to make the right choice for your family.

Once you have a baby, you will be spending a LOT of time on the floor – and a play mat will be one of your most important purchases. It can be really hard to know which one to buy. There are so many different options and material choices! So we've tried to compile a balanced overview to help you choose...

 

For us as mothers, the perfect play mat should be:

  • made from the safest, non-toxic material possible

  • independently tested and certified to meet ISO (Australian) and EN71 (European) standards

  • have a safety standard compliance report readily available to the customer (for example ours is on our website)

  • super soft, thick and shock absorbent to protect your precious little one

  • waterproof and easy to clean

  • durable enough for the whole family to enjoy for years to come

  • a stylish design you would be proud to have in your home!

Not much too ask for, right? Well a decade ago, we couldn't find one that ticked all these boxes!

 

When we first launched Munchkin and Bear in Australia, over 8 years ago, we had spent the 2 years prior working on our designs and sourcing manufacturers.

We looked at so many materials, from latex yoga mats (too risky for latex allergies) to natural rubber (gets too sticky, hard to clean and allergy risk), to linen, cotton and acrylic velvet and faux fur play mats (slippery with no grip and hygiene issues - stains easily and so much washing!), to PVC (releases toxic chemicals and carcinogens).

 

In fact, we originally launched with a different material as we prioritised the safest material we could find – we thought we had it! It was a non-toxic, food-grade foam (EPE - so the same soft foam used around fruit and vegetables to prevent bruising) and whilst it was designed for newborn babies only, our customers were searching for a product that was even more robust for big kids too!

 

So back to the drawing board we went, and we finally decided on a new manufacturer and material, TPU. Thermoplastic Polyurethane gave us the durability, flexibility and shock aborbency without compromising on safety. You will find TPU in many safe items around home such as bandaids, swimming goggles and mattresses. It is also widely used in the medical field (in oxygen masks and tubing for example), replacing the more toxic PVC.

We could finally tick all the boxes in our checklist!

 

If you are reading this, you are probably searching for the right play mat. We have put together a handy table to help you navigate all the options available and decide which is best for your family.

 

A Guide to Play Mat Materials

Name

Description

Pros

Cons

TPU

(Memory foam core with a waterproof TPU -plastic - surface)

Thermoplastic Polyurethane - generally considered a great alternative for safe household products

eg. bibs, mattresses, swimming goggle

  • free from toxic elements

  • waterproof

  • hygenic

  • instant easy to clean

  • comfortable - cloud-like softness

  • durable and long lasting

  • portable

  • great shock aborbancy

  • wipe clean only

  • more expensive than other materials

EPE

Food grade polyethylene

- widely used plastic

eg. medical devices, food handling, food storage

  • waterproof

  • free of toxic elements

  • no smell when you open the box

  • no smell when you open the box ie. no off gassing

  • limited durability

  • wipe clean only

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride – hard wearing but generally considered toxic with serious safety concerns

eg. cables, pipes, bottles

  • waterproof

  • durable

  • production involves toxic plasticisers

  • strong chemical smell upon opening ie. chemical off gassing

  • often contains phthalates

  • lifecycle has inherent toxicities that cannot be avoided

  • wipe clean only

Rubber

100% natural rubber - product made from the sap of rubber trees

eg. shoes, tyres

  • natural

  • non-slip

  • free of toxic elements

  • rubber smell

  • patina will develop

  • can develop a stickiness

  • wipe clean only

Fabric Exterior (Cotton, Linen, Faux Fur, Velvet)

Material covering – material sourced from cotton plants

eg. clothing, bedding

  • machine washable

  • durable

  • free of toxic elements

  • can't wipe clean

  • regular washing required to limit germs

  • limited padding for shock absorbency

  • not waterproof

  • some material contains flame retardant

  • cotton crops often treated with pesticides

  • padding can be toxic
Memory Foam Interior with a Fabric Exterior (eg: Neptune, Mellow, Muscle Mat)

Some baby mats have a memory foam exterior and an exterior made out of fabric, faux fur, cotton etc. 
  • soft
     
  • machine washable
  • not durable
     
  • stains easily
     
  • not wipe clean
     
  • expensive
     
  • cotton crops often treated with pesticide
     
  • can't go in washing machine (very difficult to clean)
     
  • some material contains flame retardant

EVA

Ethylene vinyl acetate is an elastic plastic polymer that is similar to rubber

eg. jigsaw play mats, shoes, flooring, sports equipment

  • waterproof

  • flexible

  • shock absorbant

  • banned in the EU

  • traces of chemicals from manufacturing

  • may be treated with flame retardant

  • strong chemical smell upon opening ie. chemical off gassing

  • wipe clean only

 

We hope you have found this guide helpful . We know this matters to our customers because some of our most frequently asked questions are:

 

“What are your Munchkin and Bear play mats made from?”

Our Luxe Play Mat are made TPU.

 

“Are your Munchkin and Bear play mats non-toxic and safe for babies?”

Yes! They have been certified under European and Australian standards.

 

“Do Munchkin and Bear mats contain BPA, PVC, phthalates or traces of heavy metals?”

No! You can see in the report on our website that are mats are free from all these nasties.

 

 

 

The search for the perfect play mat for your family has led you here and for our part, we thrilled that we have a safe, beautiful product for you to consider!

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