Alphabet puzzle mats

lounakin · 13-12-2012 12:47am #1

I bought the puzzle mats from Smyth toys, does anyone know if they are safe? I'm referring to the presence of formamide found in most foam mats and recently taken off the market in some eu countries. I contacted smyth toys but wasn't satisfied with their response. I haven't followed the story on that at all. I've packed them away for now but since they were found to be toxic just to breathe in, i wouldn't even want them in my house!

Mrs Fox · 13-12-2012 2:29am

Uh oh.:eek:
Our whole playroom and half the living room are covered with he ones from Smyth's.
Gonna read up on this.

lounakin · 13-12-2012 8:13am

In the research they tested 35 different kinds of puzzle mats, 33 were toxic (particularly to children under 3) and only one was fine, the other had something wrong too but can't remember.
Formamide attacks the reproductive system!
I emailed Smyth toys but they told me all their products meet the regulations, which is what everybody else thought too! Apparently there is an acceptable amount of formamide accepted in some countries but obviously it's better if there is none.

Hobbitfeet · 13-12-2012 9:49am

that is scary we have these mats from smyths in our sitting room. Going to get rid of them now. What do you suggest to use instead??

lounakin · 13-12-2012 10:04am

There are toy companies that are specialised in making non-toxic toys. Here is a link with a list of place: http://www.healthychild.org/live-healthy/faq/are_there_any_safe_foam_mats_for_toddlers_to_play_on
Although the first one seems to be only in the states.
The fact that you guys haven't heard of this problem tells me that perhaps Smyth Toys isn't even aware of this problem either and I'm getting rid of these mats!

Oral Slang · 13-12-2012 1:48pm

Wow, I had them down in our sitting room for a few months. Took them up when she started walking & using her ride on. They were covered in bite marks, as soon as I'd turn my back, she'd bite & chew them.

lounakin · 13-12-2012 1:51pm

Oral Slang wrote: »

Wow, I had them down in our sitting room for a few months. Took them up when she started walking & using her ride on. They were covered in bite marks, as soon as I'd turn my back, she'd bite & chew them.

same here! the 'I' and 'X' are completely covered in bite marks.
I have sent another email to Smyth with a link to the research and I've asked them to tell me if there is formamide or EVA in their mats and how much. If they have controlled their products recently they should know that. If they don't I will try and get them to do it.

Gee_G · 13-12-2012 2:22pm

This is madness. I was just looking at these online last night. They look like great little things. Do you have a link to the research you are talking about? I'd be interested in having a read. I can't understand why they are still selling them so.

lounakin · 13-12-2012 4:00pm

Here is one of the link, I read most of the research in french, it's very long, not sure it's been translated into english.
http://www.anses.fr/index.htm

Gee_G · 13-12-2012 4:06pm

lounakin wrote: »

Here is one of the link, I read most of the research in french, it's very long, not sure it's been translated into english.
http://www.anses.fr/index.htm

Ha ha. Might have to wait until I'm on the laptop and hope that my good friend Google offers to translate it :)thanks.

lounakin · 13-12-2012 4:17pm

This link is in english
Ok just checked, don't get it! I had the page in english and copied the link and somehow it didn't work!
Google: "puzzle mats formamide research" and search for the answer that has 'ANSES' in it, that's the name of the french research group.

skit490 · 14-12-2012 2:40am

I was going to go buy these in smyths today. Glad I was having a lazy day now. Anyone know of any brand that have similar product that has been certified safe! That is available in ireland.

lounakin · 18-12-2012 2:47pm

Update: after many emails I finally asked that they write black on white: 'there is no formamide in the mats' because they kept deflecting my questions by saying they 'comply with standards'. What's worth knowing is France and belgium also had mats that 'complied' because there is an acceptable level of formamide accepted in some products. The fact that Ireland and the UK seem to have different standards (otherwise they would have been pulled from the market too) leads me to believe that they may not be safe. Unless they are actually tested for it, there is no way to really know what's in it.
This is the email that I got: "Our buyer has advised. We cannot say that our current stock does not contain formamide- we can only advise customers that they meet the current safety standards and are below the allowed limit'.
My issue is that 'limit', it could mean anything. I've emailed again and asked what the limit is and I can compare it to the french one.
One last thing: the amount of formamide present in mats that were tested on the continent proved to be unsafe for babies below the age of three, not for adults and children above that age.

Suucee · 18-12-2012 8:50pm

Oh no. I have these wrapped and under the tree for my l/o. :-(

rccaulfield · 19-12-2012 9:06am

even so those mats are for newbie parents like myself as the toddler will just contstantly rip up the letters and chew on them making ur life even harder if thats possible- don't buy them, save a step and buy the solid ones with no removable letters in them, i've an alphabet on the wall instead!

NextSteps · 19-12-2012 3:08pm

Or jut get a cheap rug, preferably one that's machine washable.

uck51js9zml2yt · 19-12-2012 3:12pm

My son has these. Likes chewing them. I suppose that's the end of the family line:)

lounakin · 19-12-2012 4:42pm

Ok I got one last email from them and there is 'no current standard on this item', about the amount of formamide, which means it could be loaded with it and still fit the standard!
I would throw it out if I were you!

Mind Hunter 85 · 28-12-2012 4:13pm

My twins are almost 20 months they have been using interlocking floor mats since 5 months old. I did know they are controversial but I thought I researched a safe choice at the time.
I chose these http://www.softfloor.co.uk/classic.shtml

It is Eva closed cell foam.
My kids did chew on edges early but we took them away a long time ago. I will email them myself
but do you think I should take up the mats today? I'm very anti chemical and I know they're already been exposed to so much with so much plastics used in modern society.

lounakin · 29-12-2012 8:21am

ASTA20 wrote: »

My twins are almost 20 months they have been using interlocking floor mats since 5 months old. I did know they are controversial but I thought I researched a safe choice at the time.
I chose these http://www.softfloor.co.uk/classic.shtml

It is Eva closed cell foam.
My kids did chew on edges early but we took them away a long time ago. I will email them myself
but do you think I should take up the mats today? I'm very anti chemical and I know they're already been exposed to so much with so much plastics used in modern society.

Unfortunately Eva is also unsafe, eva and formamide are the two chemicals in question. You'll find it impossible to find exactly how much eva there is in your mats in order to compare it to the new safe percentage as customer service is unhelpful and will not find out. Uk and ireland are still not under the same rules as continental europe, so it's basically impossible to know unless we all sign a petition to get the right people to release numbers. Because the previous regulated percentages were deemed unsafe, companies are now chosing to simply avoid them or specify they are below the accepted limit. So we can assume that the uk and ireland mats are unsafe BUT we cannot know. The uk and ireland limit could be just as low as the continental one but it's hardly the case as the chemicals were only just found to be toxic. If I were you i'd try and find out more about the mats. I have thrown mine away just to be sure.

Mind Hunter 85 · 29-12-2012 7:15pm

lounakin wrote: »

Unfortunately Eva is also unsafe, eva and formamide are the two chemicals in question. You'll find it impossible to find exactly how much eva there is in your mats in order to compare it to the new safe percentage as customer service is unhelpful and will not find out. Uk and ireland are still not under the same rules as continental europe, so it's basically impossible to know unless we all sign a petition to get the right people to release numbers. Because the previous regulated percentages were deemed unsafe, companies are now chosing to simply avoid them or specify they are below the accepted limit. So we can assume that the uk and ireland mats are unsafe BUT we cannot know. The uk and ireland limit could be just as low as the continental one but it's hardly the case as the chemicals were only just found to be toxic. If I were you i'd try and find out more about the mats. I have thrown mine away just to be sure.

I've contacted the supplier of my mats yesterday and I'm awaiting response. I sent them some links explaining what I wanted to know and why. We'll see, i'm thinking about taking them up but they never ever bite or chew them anymore. Thanks for this thread and keeping people aware.

lounakin · 01-01-2013 11:31pm

ASTA20 wrote: »

I've contacted the supplier of my mats yesterday and I'm awaiting response. I sent them some links explaining what I wanted to know and why. We'll see, i'm thinking about taking them up but they never ever bite or chew them anymore. Thanks for this thread and keeping people aware.

Just be aware that the toxicity actually emanates from the mats into the air and is breathed in rather than ingested.

Alphabet puzzle mats

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