Why the chemical composition of a baby product is not a minor detail
When choosing an activity mat, a baby bath, or a potty training seat for your child, design, practicality, and price are usually the first things that come to mind. The question of chemical composition rarely does—yet, it should be one of the primary criteria to check.
Infants and toddlers have an important physiological particularity: their skin is more permeable than adults', their metabolism is immature, and they systematically put objects in their mouths. The result: their exposure to potentially dangerous chemical substances is proportionally much higher than for an adult in contact with the same materials.
This guide aims to give you the keys to concretely understand what formamide, BPA, and phthalates are, why they pose a problem, and how to ensure that a baby product is truly free of them.
Formamide: the substance to watch out for in foam mats
What is formamide?
Formamide is an organic solvent used in the manufacture of EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) foams, the most common material for activity mats and baby floor tiles. It acts as an expanding agent during the manufacturing process: it helps the foam achieve its characteristic volume.
The problem is that formamide does not completely disappear after manufacturing. It can remain trapped in the foam and slowly release into the ambient air—this is known as gas emission—or migrate to the surface when the baby presses on it or chews it.
Why is it dangerous?
Formamide is classified as a category 1B reprotoxic substance by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This means there is strong evidence of its harmful effect on human reproduction. In 2011, Belgium was one of the first countries to ban foam mats containing formamide above a certain threshold. France followed with similar recommendations via ANSES.
For a baby who spends several hours a day lying or sitting on a foam mat, chronic inhalation of low doses remains a real concern, even if the long-term effects are still under investigation.
How to check that a product is safe?
The OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification prohibits formamide in textile products, but EVA foams are not always covered by this standard. Look for products whose technical data sheet explicitly mentions the absence of formamide, or a specific certification such as the GS label (Geprüfte Sicherheit, a rigorous German safety standard) which includes chemical emission tests.
The Treelys activity mat is designed without formamide, using XPE foam instead of EVA—a material choice that, beyond formamide, offers other advantages that we detail in our guide on baby foam mat materials.
BPA: present far beyond baby bottles
What is it?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound used in the manufacture of certain polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It was long ubiquitous in baby bottles, pacifiers, hard plastic toys, but also in the interior linings of some plastic baby baths and bath products.
Its health effects
BPA is a recognized endocrine disruptor. It mimics the action of estrogens in the body and can interfere with the hormonal system, especially in young children whose endocrine system is still developing. The European Union banned BPA in baby bottles as early as 2011, then extended the ban to other utensils intended for children.
Despite these progressive bans, BPA is sometimes replaced by chemical analogues (BPS, BPF) whose toxicity is still poorly assessed and which are not always subject to such strict controls. This is why the simple mention 'BPA-free' is not always enough: you need to check if the product is certified according to broader standards.
How to protect yourself from it?
Choose products whose composition is clearly documented, REACH certified (European regulation on chemical substances) and, ideally, tested by independent laboratories. The EN 71 standard, which governs toy safety in Europe, includes relevant chemical migration tests for plastic baby accessories.
Phthalates: plasticizers with an insidious impact
Their role in baby products
Phthalates are a family of molecules used to soften PVC (polyvinyl chloride). They are found in many soft products: padded edges of baby baths, PVC potty training seat cushions, mat coverings, bath toys. They give the material its flexibility and soft touch.
Why are they problematic?
Certain phthalates—notably DEHP, DBP, and BBP—are classified as endocrine disruptors and reprotoxic substances. The European REACH regulation prohibits several of them in toys and childcare articles intended for children under 3 years old, at concentrations greater than 0.1% by mass.
The main risk for infants is mouthing: a baby who bites the edge of a mat or bath accessory can ingest phthalates through oral migration. Heat accentuates this phenomenon, especially during bathing.
Good practices to adopt
Check that products bear the CE mark accompanied by a genuine declaration of conformity (and not just a sticker). The REACH regulation is binding for all products sold in Europe, but its application depends on the controls carried out on each batch. Serious brands provide third-party test reports (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek) available upon request.
If you are looking for a baby potty with a comfort cushion, make sure that the foam or soft plastic cushion is explicitly certified phthalate-free and BPA-free—not just 'BPA-free' mentioned in small print.
Reading a product technical sheet: vigilance points
The CE Declaration of Conformity
The CE marking means that the manufacturer declares that its product complies with the applicable European directives. It is not a certification issued by an independent body: it is a self-declaration. It is necessary but not sufficient. Always ask if third-party laboratory tests have been carried out.
The REACH Certificate
REACH is the European regulation that governs the manufacture and use of chemical substances. A REACH-compliant product has been tested for substances of very high concern (SVHCs), which include phthalates, certain heavy metals, and other endocrine disruptors. REACH compliance is a legal minimum for selling in Europe.
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100
This certification primarily applies to textiles. It guarantees the absence of more than 100 harmful substances in every component of the product (seams, threads, dyes, etc.). It is relevant for activity mats with textile parts, sleeping bags, baby carriers. Note that the OEKO-TEX certification number must be verifiable on the oeko-tex.com website—beware of logos reproduced without a number.
What this concretely means in your purchasing choices
Buying a chemically safe baby product does not require you to be a chemist. However, it does require asking the right questions and not settling for vague marketing claims such as 'natural,' 'non-toxic,' or 'eco-friendly' without supporting documentation.
Three simple questions to ask any manufacturer or distributor: what certifications does the product carry, and can I verify the numbers? Have independent laboratory tests been carried out, and by which organization? Is the product REACH compliant with a test report available?
A brand that cannot clearly answer these three questions should be viewed with caution, regardless of the attractiveness of its design or price.
To go further on choosing childcare products based on their actual quality, consult our guide how to choose a baby activity mat in 2026, which integrates these safety criteria into a comprehensive comparative analysis.
