Wonderkids Playmats

April 26, 2020 by Lisa Powers

Question from Elle

I am looking at the play mat with the link below (the website includes some safety reports):

https://wunderkids.ca/products/alzipmat

Inner: High Density Polyethylene FoamCover: Polyurethane Leather

The company states that it is the only playmat cover that is made from *FDA compliant (food contact grade) material. Plus the premium polyurethane leather is ultra soft, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic.

*FDA 21 CFR §175.300, Resinous and Polymeric Coatings. No chloroform residue was found after 24 hours exposure to 120℉ solvent.

Can you kindly comment if it is safe for babies/infants? Thank you in advance for your advice.

Lisa’s Answer

A simple answer to your question is yes, it is safe. It meets all of the safety requirements and is free of some of the more concerning ingredients you might find in a this type of product including PVC, EVA, TPA, BPA, Lead, Phthalate, Fire Retardants, Formamide, and Formaldehyde. It is considered food safe in the event that a child licks it. The problem with polyurethane foam or polyethylene foam is that they are often made with chemical additives. The safety standards can make you feel comfortable that there are not high levels of chemicals but it doesn’t mean there are no chemicals and therefore no VOCs. It is probably okay, but of course, is not as safe as a mat made of organic cotton with a natural fill like those listed on Debra’s List. I understand that this is easier to clean and provides more protection from falls, so the tradeoff is yours to make.
Another option is Cream Haus.
It is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified which tells you that there is an additional standard that the mats need to meet. I can’t tell you specifically which chemicals are absent or lower than the other mat because manufactures do not disclose the chemicals used in their processing but it is one more layer of regulation.