Many of you asked me for a play mat recommendation: there are many play mats out there but just a few meet my criteria.

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Conventional Play Mats 

❌ Polyurethane Foam: this is the most common foam found in beds. These cheap, unhealthy foams are highly toxic, synthetic, polluting, and petroleum by-products, meaning they are derived from fossil fuels. Polyurethane is made from petroleum chemicals that can emit VOCs—harmful chemicals that can cause respiratory irritation or other health problems. Polyurethane is often mixed with other harmful compounds such as formaldehyde, boric acid, polyvinyl chloride, and other petrochemicals.

❌ Memory Foam: Memory foam (or viscoelastic foam) is another type of polyurethane foam with chemicals added to give it unique conforming properties. Both Memory foam and Flexible polyurethane foam are polyurethane foams. These cheap, unhealthy foams are petroleum products, meaning they are derived from fossil fuels.

❌ Polyester: another synthetic and petroleum product derived from fossil fuels. this foam is toxic and polluting.

❌ PFAS: synthetic fabrics which are often treated with perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) plus various anti-bacterial biocidal treatments and even flame retardants.

❌ Flame Retardants: the most common include brominated flame retardants, chlorinated flame retardants, and phosphate flame retardants. Brominated flame retardants are often added to polyurethane foam. Chlorinated flame retardants are often added to the fabric of mattresses, as well as to the filling. Phosphate flame retardants are often added to the padding of mattresses. Avoid also fire barriers made from fiberglass.

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Greenwashing Play Mats 

Greenwashing is when a brand pretends to be organic, green, natural, or sustainable when it is not! Even if they say natural or even organic without a certification is hard to prove it! That's why I don't recommend any brands not disclosing or showing their Organic Certification. These certifications are very rigorous and expensive, so not many want to get through that or can pass their strict requirements!

❌ Soybeans Foam: this foam is derived from conventional bean crops and is usually full of pesticides, so avoid that too. 

❌ Plant-based foam: typically produced with a small percentage of soybean oil or castor oil mixed with petroleum chemicals. It is often marketed as “environmentally friendly,” but plant-based foams emit VOCs just like polyurethane foam.

❌ Polyethylene foam: Polyethylene foam can contain fewer contaminants compared to polyurethane foam. It can be made from petroleum-based or bio-based ingredients

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Organic Play Mats

They would need to show proof of certification of their organic claims so they can guarantee that they are truly safe and non-toxic.

Here are the certifications:

✅ GOTS Certification: The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the world's leading processing standard for organic textiles and fibers, including ecological and social criteria, backed by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. This is for cotton, wool, and other natural textile.

✅ GOLS Certified Organic Latex: 100% organic, natural, non-toxic, untreated with flame retardants, anti-bacterial, self-ventilating, biodegradable, and non-allergenic.

✅ OEKO-TEX Certified:100% natural, non-toxic, untreated with flame retardants, anti-bacterial, self-ventilating, biodegradable, and non-allergenic.

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Here for organic cribs and organic crib mattresses 

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Here on this page are the recommended play mats brands!​ Please shop with my links to support my research! 💖