What You Need To Know 

Changing pads, cushions or mats—whether you’re at home or away—will never be far from your side during the early years of parenthood. Given how often you’ll use them, make sure they’re made of safe, non-toxic materials for you and your child.  

AVOID  

• Flame retardants, particularly polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Exposure to PBDEs in utero and early childhood has been linked to poorer attention, lower fine motor skills and lower IQs as well as a reproductive birth defect, hypospadias.  
• Formaldehyde, which can off gas and contribute to leukemia and cancers of the nose, throat and sinuses;  
• Perfluorochemicals (PFCs), which are added for durability, stain resistance and wrinkle resistance.  Exposure to PFCs may impact neurodevelopment, reproductive health and the immune system.  
• Polyurethane foam, a petroleum-based material, is made with chemicals that can irritate lungs and skin. One of these chemicals, toluene diisocyanate (TDI), is also a suspected carcinogen. 
• Waterproof coverings made of polyvinyl chloride. PVC can release phthalates, vinyl chloride, ethylene dichloride, lead, cadmium, and other chemicals that can impact the neurological, respiratory and reproductive systems.   

BETTER CHOICES 

• Organic cotton or wool materials without added synthetic chemicals. Note that wool is also naturally flame-resistant, meaning it will burn more slowly, if it catches on fire, than materials like cotton.  
• Latex (natural rubber) as long as your child and other family members of the family do not have a latex allergy. 
• A few companies are starting to use polylactic acid (PLA) plastic as an outer covering on changing pads and mats. PLA can be better than petroleum-based plastics because PLA is made from fermented plant starch and is considered biodegradable. However, it is not a “perfect” alternative since it biodegrades slowly and is typically made of genetically modified corn.