Foam Playmats-Recent Health Warning

[Miss.B]

Yay caixin!!!!! I'm so glad you got that nice mat. At least you know it's def. safe for your DD! Every time I walk past those shops and see the foam mats I feel sick. Hopefully the results will be in soon (no guessing what they will be) so people can throw those nasty things out!!

[fromscratch]

I am just wondering when these foam/plastic type mats that your talking about became so popular.

My eldest is almost 13 (makes me feel so old) and he played on a quilt and lambs wool rug. So I'm just curious I guess. Then we had dd 6 and I just did the same thing, I guess the mats are a new phenominon or I was shopping with my eyes shut. Which is so me, shopping with my eyes shut I mean.
My bff has them in her play room for her toddlers so I'll let her know. Thanks for this thread.

[Miss.B]

Squidipa, I've been keeping my eye on this one for a while, here is the latest :

KIDSAFE VIC NOTICE: FOAM MATS


Kidsafe Vic has alerted both State and Federal agencies responsible for product safety that some Foam Mats had been withdrawn in Belgium and France.

The status of the situation is as follows:
•This is precautionary advice to alert the public.
•Parents are advised not to panic, but instead to contact their supplier, requesting evidence in writing that their mats have been tested for formamides and detailing these results.
•Until this is known, Kidsafe recommends you put the mats away from your children.
•Formamides have not yet been tested for in any products in Australia as far as we know, but the regulatory authorities will be doing this shortly, if not already.

We have every confidence the regulatory authorities will keep the public informed.

The foam mats sold in Kmart are definitely the ones in question as they are made in China and mine stank so I assume it was full of the nasties. My mat has been long gone.

[buliej]

Clark's rubber (google) has a product called "natural rubber" - I wonder what this is? Sofie the Giraffe is made of "natural rubber" which is safe - but I can't imagine it's one and the same in terms of composition. Actually, I just googled "natural rubber" - if the Clark's version is truly this, it should be just as safe as Sofie which is awesome - assuming it's not corrupted with chemicals during the manufacturing process. I'm not convinced yet though - I may ring them on Monday because we need to put down some rubber mats for when DS starts crawling/climbing.

[helle]

Clark's rubber (google) has a product called "natural rubber" - I wonder what this is? Sofie the Giraffe is made of "natural rubber" which is safe - but I can't imagine it's one and the same in terms of composition. Actually, I just googled "natural rubber" - if the Clark's version is truly this, it should be just as safe as Sofie which is awesome - assuming it's not corrupted with chemicals during the manufacturing process. I'm not convinced yet though - I may ring them on Monday because we need to put down some rubber mats for when DS starts crawling/climbing.

Smell it. If it smells like condom it's a win XD.

[Miss.B]

buliej, clarks rubber has some fantastic stuff but $$$. Not sure if it's safe but I think it's made here so it should be heaps better than the Chinese made stuff. The playmats from the $2 shops and the likes of Kmart are really cheap so that's how you know they are crap and nasty.

helle, you crack me up

[Miss.B]

Hun, try to find something else, they really are no good. These type of mats have been taken off shelves in Belgium and France (I think), for a good reason. Have a sniff in the box but I bet it will be a strong smell and that usually means bad. My DS used to frequently chew on the edges, how bad is that!

[buliej]

Unfortunately, I think that when you want natural/non-toxic/not made in china, it's going to cost you more - the reason why companies originally outsourced to China had to do with cost savings...the negatives that came along with this were ignored for a long time.

[Miss.B]

Totally agree buliej, if you want something good you have to pay for it unfortunately. I got the mat as a friend had one at her house and DS went ga ga over it, he loved it so much. It was mainly for when he was moving about, sitting up etc, so if he fell backwards he wouldn't hit his head hard. We have carpet anyway but the mat was an extra layer I suppose. I now have a little rug (well it's 2m x 2m so it's a good size) and it has roads and train tracks on it and DS loves it too. This one doesn't smell!

[surprised]

I know this thread is a bit old, but just wanted to second that comment about the book Slow Death by Rubber Duck. Very eye-opening, and it actually makes you feel like you can do something about all the chemicals in your living environment. I borrowed it from my local library.

[buliej]

I just googled Slow Death by Rubber Duck. I'm almost scared to read it.

Before having DS, I kind of poo-poo'ed all this stuff - but since being pregnant, and even more so since having DS, I've paid more attention to these concerns. I almost wish I could throw out almost everything in our house and start over - but this isn't realistic financially. Our kitchen needs a total overhaul - we have so many expensive pots and pans that we got as wedding gifts only 5 years ago (and that I picked out) and 90% of them are teflon - I figured, why scrub when you don't have to; I have those cotton sheets that don't wrinkle - I figured, why iron (or have wrinkled sheets) if you don't have to; DS has flame retardant pjs (which, if the last few weeks are any indication, he will grow out of next week) - I figured, why not, sounds safer; I am a beauty product-aholic (not make-up, but serums and scrubs and lotions) - who doesn't love a bit of pampering.

I guess slowly I will replace things. At least we don't use plastic water bottles any more or microwave things in plastic containers - and everything I've purchased that is intended for DS's mouth is BPA & pvc free - but even tonight, our 1 take away night, our hot food was packaged in plastic containers...not good!

The more I learn, the more I truly believe there has never been a truer phrase than "ignorance is bliss"...make that dangerous bliss

[Miss.B]

Surprised, I would be too scared to read that book too! lol.

buliej, I agree hun, sometimes ignorance is bliss It's just so bl**dy hard when little ones come into play isn't it? You just don't want to expose them to too much cr**.

[Miss.B]

Hey ladies, just wanted to reminds you to be careful with those cheap Chinese foam play mats. There are a lot of toy sals ATM so they are rampant!

[melbel]

yeah I saw all the ones out at Big W and Kmart....I have mine put away waiting for the inevitable recall so I can at least get my 15 bucks back! LOL.

[Miss.B]

Me too Mel, I've got mine in a garbage bag waiting for the recall

[CrazyLady]

I chucked mine ages ago because I didn't realise Pixie had spilt something under it. Because the underside is porous, it got mould spores growing in it. I think I might find a nice rug for the kids' room.

[Miss.B]

Ewwwwwww! That's gross hun! Hope you find a nice rug for the kiddies, there's plenty of good sales out there

[buliej]

I came across these - I don't know if they'd ship to Australia or how much shipping would be - but they look great. www dot softtiles dot com.