Why anti-slip really matters in a play mat
And what you need to know before you buy
In this article
- 🔹 Why a slipping play mat is a safety risk
- 🔹 How Mats & Joy's anti-slip dots work
- 🔹 For which floor types our mats are suitable
- 🔹 What EU Toy Safety Directive EN71 means
- 🔹 What to look for when buying
A play mat that slips on a smooth floor is more than annoying — it's a fall risk. Especially for babies and toddlers who are still actively exploring and don't always expect the floor beneath them to move.
Yet you often see it: play mats without proper anti-slip backing, which start to shift at the first enthusiastic play. At Mats & Joy, we chose a different approach.
How anti-slip works at Mats & Joy
The underside of our play mats is equipped with small anti-slip dots. These provide extra grip on the floor, ensuring the mat stays in place during play — even when children roll over it, jump on it, or push their toy cars across it with great enthusiasm.
✦ What you can expect
Our play mats lie flat and don't curl up at the edges. They are compatible with underfloor heating and suitable for multiple floor types. The anti-slip dots provide stable grip without damaging the floor.
Suitable for these floor types
- ✅Laminate
- ✅PVC & vinyl flooring
- ✅Tiles
- ✅Underfloor heating
- ✅Parquet
- ✅...
Safety goes beyond anti-slip
Besides stable grip, there's another thing that matters: the safety of the materials themselves. Because a play mat is literally beneath your child — babies crawl on it, toddlers sit on it, preschoolers roll on it. Then you want to be sure that no harmful substances are used in its production.
🛡️ EU Toy Safety Directive EN71
All Mats & Joy play mats comply with the European Toy Safety Directive EN71 — the official safety standard for products that come into contact with children. This means: tested for harmful substances, safe for babies and toddlers.
No unwanted odor, no chemicals to worry about. Just a safe place to play.
"You buy a play mat once, and it's there for years. So it's worth thinking about safety — not just how it looks."
What should you look for when buying a play mat?
If you are looking for a play mat, these are the factors that have the most impact on safety and ease of use:
- 🔍Anti-slip backing — no separate accessory needed, built into the mat itself.
- 🔍Safety certification — ask for EN71 or similar European standard.
- 🔍Machine washable — a mat that cannot be washed becomes a hygienic risk over time.
- 🔍Lying flat — curled edges are a tripping hazard. Pay attention to whether the mat stays flat.
- 🔍Compatibility with underfloor heating — not all mats are suitable for this.
At Mats & Joy, we combine all these features in one product: velvet soft, anti-slip, machine washable at 30°, EN71 certified, and compatible with underfloor heating.
Discover our play mats
Safe, stable, and made for play — explore the full collection and find the mat that suits your family.
View the collection →