What's In Your Play Mat?

In a world overflowing with baby play products, it can be hard for first-time parents to differentiate between what’s truly necessary and what feels like falling victim to a marketing ploy. Even among essential products, materials and design make all the difference between money well spent and money wasted. 

The Benefits of a Baby Play Mat

There’s no question that a play mat is one of the biggest play essentials for a baby. Whether you have hard flooring or carpet in your home, a play mat offers a soft, comfortable surface for little ones to practice tummy time and engage in floor play. 

A play mat is your baby’s first playground—a space that facilitates gross motor development, where they’ll learn to lift their head, roll, crawl, and eventually walk. So, are all play mats created equal? The simple answer is no. 

What to Look for in a Baby Play Mat

Since a play mat is where your baby should be spending most of their awake time, the ideal mat is:

• Soft

• Supportive

• Easy to clean

• Non-toxic

Other design components, like portability, may factor into your decision as well, but having a play mat that’s safe, easy to use, and comfortable is what gives you peace of mind and helps your baby learn to love tummy time 

The Puzzle-Piece Play Mat

Puzzle-piece play mats are a popular choice among parents because they’re typically inexpensive and configurable, thanks to an interlocking design. This kind of play mat is usually made from EVA foam, a soft, rubber-like plastic that’s durable and lightweight.

EVA foam is generally considered safe when appropriately made, but parents should do their due diligence when purchasing a play mat made from EVA foam. Some EVA foam manufacturers use formamide, a chemical compound that gives these play mats their soft, flexible texture, but is toxic to reproductive health. 

The Quilted Fabric Play Mat

Fabric play mats are typically made from cotton fabric quilted with some type of polyester fill. These play mats are soft and lightweight for taking on the go, and many parents choose them because the materials are simple and easy to pronounce. 

The downside of a fabric play mat is that they’re much thinner and offer far less support than their foam counterparts. If your home already has soft carpet, a fabric play mat may be comfortable enough for your baby to tolerate tummy time. However, on hardwood floors, this kind of play mat does not provide enough cushioning for your baby to play and move with ease.

The Memory Foam Play Mat

Memory foam is another popular choice for play mats because they offer more comfort than play mats made out of EVA foam or quilted fabric. Because this foam is designed to absorb impact, it provides a safe place for little ones to fall and reduces risk of injury.

Memory foam, which mainly consists of polyurethane, is generally considered safe. However, some manufacturers may use other chemicals, such as flame retardants or formaldehyde, which may expose children to VOCs through off-gassing. When purchasing a play mat made from memory foam, parents should look for third-party certifications that verify low VOC emissions and the absence of harmful chemicals.

The Latex Foam Play Mat

Latex foam has long been a popular mattress material for its supreme comfort and support, but the Toki Kids play mat is the first baby play mat made from natural latex foam. Many prefer latex foam because it’s natural, not synthetic, and offers even better cushioning than other types of foam. 

Our latex comes from natural tree sap, which is then processed into latex foam using the Dunlop method. The resulting foam has a super soft, springy, marshmallow-like feel that offers comfort and support for babies, kids, and even adults on the floor. Made with natural, durable materials and OEKO-TEX certified non-toxic, our latex foam play mats are the best option for families who want a clean, healthy mat that they can use for years and years.