RUGABUB multi-award-winning PLAY MATS
The play mat for parents who read the ingredients first.
Most play mats are made from EVA foam, a material that requires formamide, a known carcinogen, to be soft. Ours are not. Rugabub play mats are made from medical-grade TPU foam. No formamide. No PVC. No compromise.
✔︎ And yes, it passes the sniff test too.
• Formamide-free • Independently tested • Australian designed
What every parent wants to know.
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What is TPU foam and is it actually safe?
TPU — thermoplastic polyurethane — is the same foam used in medical devices. It contains zero formamide and releases no harmful VOCs. It is the honest choice, not just a marketing claim.
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Why not EVA? Is that not what everyone else uses?
EVA foam uses formamide to create softness — a known reproductive toxin. France and Belgium banned EVA mats in 2010. We never used it. Our mats are formamide-free, phthalate-free, and BPA-free.
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How easy is it to actually clean?
Wipe-clean with a damp cloth. No interlocking seams for bacteria to hide in. The waterproof TPU surface handles milk, puree, and mud equally well.
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Will it look terrible in my living room?
Rugabub mats are designed to live in real homes, not be rolled up and hidden. Muted tones, considered palettes — they genuinely look good next to your sofa.
Designed for the floor your baby actually lives on.
We built Rugabub because we could not find a play mat that was genuinely non-toxic and actually beautiful. The foam market is full of greenwashing. TPU is not a trend — it is the material that does not require carcinogens to be soft.
THE WIPE-CLEAN MOMENT
Pasta. Milk. Puree. Gone in seconds.
One-piece TPU foam means no joints, no seams, nowhere for bacteria to hide. A damp cloth is all it takes. No scrubbing. No spray. No washing machine required.
✓ Fully waterproof surface
✓ No interlocking tiles, no hidden gaps
✓ Looks good on timber, floors & carpets
✓ No chemical smell when it arrives
Three shapes. One standard.
Why the material actually matters.
Most play mat brands use EVA foam — it is cheap, widely available, and requires formamide to be soft. Formamide is a reproductive toxin. We chose TPU because babies deserve the material that does not need that trade-off.
- ✓TPU is held to medical-grade safety standards
- ✓No flame retardant chemicals required
- ✓Low VOC — no chemical smell when it arrives
- ✓Fully recyclable at end of life
| Material | Formamide | Phthalate-free | VOC-free |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPU — Rugabub | None | Yes | Yes |
| EVA Foam | Contains | Varies | Risk |
| PVC | — | Often No | High |
| XPE Foam | — | Usually | Thin |
The mat that passes the sniff test.
Our Large, Round, and Puddle Play Mats are made from medical-grade TPU foam. The one material that doesn't need formamide, PVC, or flame-retardant chemicals to be soft enough for your baby.
✓ Zero formamide - no EVA foam, ever
✓ Wipe-clean, waterproof, one-piece
✓ Cushioned enough for tumbles, firm enough for tummy time
✓ Designed to live in your living room, not be hidden
✓ Large, Round, and Puddle shapes available
DESIGNED FOR REAL HOMES
Beautiful enough to leave out. Safe enough to live on.
Designed for parents who care about what their home looks like, not just what is in it. Muted, considered colourways that sit beautifully next to your sofa, not hidden under it.
✓ Considered colour palette: neutrals & colours that actually work
✓ No garish primary colours or cartoon prints
✓ A stylish side, and a play side
✓ Cushioned for tumbles, but firm enough for tummy time and joints
✓ Lightweight enough to move room to room
What parents are saying.
"I had been researching play mats for three months. The moment I understood TPU vs EVA I knew this was the one. It is also genuinely beautiful — I did not have to hide it when guests came over."
"My toddler tipped an entire bowl of pasta on it. Cloth, done, good as new. That alone was worth every cent. I have recommended it to every mum in my mothers group."
"Finally a mat I do not need to Google. The safety information on their site is so transparent — I could actually verify the claims. That is rare. That matters."
Your questions, answered.
Our TPU foam mats provide generous cushioning for tummy time, crawling, and early tumbles — without being so thick they become unstable for standing practice.
Yes. TPU foam is non-toxic, has no chemical smell, and is safe from day one — even for babies who are still mouthing everything in reach.
Large mats are rectangular for maximum coverage. Round mats suit tighter spaces and minimal interiors. Puddle mats are our signature organic shape — playful and unmistakably Rugabub.
Rugabub mats are lightweight and designed to move with you — from room to room, hard floor to carpet. They are double-sided and designed to flip easily, so you can switch up the look whenever you like.
Shipping is calculated at checkout based on your location and mat size. As an oversized item, rates vary — we work with trusted carriers to get it to you safely.
We want you to love it. Please contact us within 2 days of receiving your mat — even for change of mind. Reach out and we will make it right, no complicated process, no interrogation.
