Foam, Baby Puzzle Mats Containing Toxic Formamides

Parents if your child has one of those toy foam puzzle floor mats, I strongly advise you to remove it from your home and your child now!

Recent and alarming tests showed that these types of foam play mats, that were produced in China, emitted dangerous particles of Formamide.

Formamide is so harmful, that Belgium and France wasted no time in pulling all puzzle mats, made in China, from their store shelves. Here in Australia they are still being sold.

See- Chinese Made Toy Foam Mats Recalled In Europe

What Is Formamide & Why Is It Dangerous

Formamide is an extremely toxic, industrial chemical, commonly used in the the production of these type of play mats and other type of foam toys to give them their spongy, flexibility. These mats have featured prominently in news headlines worldwide, so why aren’t shops pulling them from their shelves?

Formamide is extremely toxic, causing reproductive and foetal abnormalities and foetal death in laboratory animal studies. It is very dangerous if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, causing damage to the central nervous system, skin, eyes, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. There is also a strong link to it being a carcinogen.

Why Babies & Young Children Are At A Greater Risk Playing On Foam Mats

As babies and young children crawl all over these mats and often chew and suck on them, they are at the greatest risk of exposure through ingestion, skin and inhalation, than an older child would be.

The frightening thing is that these play mats became so popular that they are everywhere, even in child care centers and indoor and outdoor play centers.

See this article –Kids Foam Play Mats To Be Probed

What To Do If You Currently Have A Foam Floor Mat & What To Use As A Safe Floor Mat

First thing to do is don’t take chances and remove away from your children any foam play mats in your home.

Also questionable are foam toys and craft bits and pieces.

If you want a soft surface for your baby/child to play on, opt a thick 100% cotton rug or blanket.

There are also some companies producing organic cotton baby play mats. Just do a Google search.

Next, if you would like to use the foam mat & foam toys, then contact the manufacturer and ask to see their product safety data report, showing you the foam is Formamide free and safe. If they won’t give over the information then assume they have something to hide and avoid their products. As a parent you have every right to ask for this information.

Many companies will say they comply to their country’s government toy safety standards, but unless you are in France of Belgium it doesn’t mean much, as no other country has taken a stance on Formamide yet.

Safbaby.com has gone to great lengths to contact the various manufacturers of these foam products and the results speak for themselves. As they mention. do not trust anything from a toy manufacturer other than a official laboratory report.

Check out the report of companies approached by Safbaby.com http://www.safbaby.com/the-latest-updates-on-toxic-formamide-in-foam-puzzle-play-mats-plus-chart-of-manufacturers.