Is Artificial Grass Safe for Kids?

We’re never short on reasons to pick artificial grass over real grass for our lawns, backyards, gardens, and playgrounds. Nothing matches the simplicity of maintaining synthetic turf. It doesn’t require watering, doesn’t catch weeds and best of all, it looks green year-round!

But as you’re deciding between artificial grass and natural grass for your children’s play areas or your own lawn, you might be wondering about its safety. 

So, where do we stand on it? Is artificial turf safe for kids? The short answer is yes, if your turf and infill is high quality. We break it all down for you in our blog post below.

What Is Artificial Grass Made Of?

To understand artificial grass safety, it’s important to understand the different layers that make up typical artificial turf. 

Artificial turf is a multilayered structure comprising three major parts: the pile, the pad, and the base, which then comprise many sublayers. One of the most important sublayers of the turf is the infill. It’s the black or brown material children tend to get all over themselves when they’ve played really hard on artificial turf. It’s the part they come in closest, constant contact with apart from the turf fibers themselves, and so it’s the one we’ll pay most attention to in this blog.

What Is Artificial Turf Infill?

Infill is a material spread over the surface of synthetic turf and worked down between the fibers to provide stability, cushioning, and support to the grass blades. The artificial infill helps the turf maintain an upright position, mimicking the look and feel of natural grass. Additionally, it provides a certain level of shock absorption, which can reduce the risk of injuries during physical activities. That’s one of the many benefits of artificial turf.

Many different materials are used to make infills, including crumb rubber from recycled tires, sand, and thermoplastic resin pellets. We don’t recommend you choose these for your children’s play areas as studies have shown that this material, when overheated, can leak chemicals. Instead, opt for non-toxic and organic infills like Envirofill and Safeshell. We’ll dive more into their benefits later.

Why Choose Artificial Turf for Homes With Kids?

Aside from looking immaculate all year round, artificial turf poses some great benefits for your kiddos (and your home) as well. Here are three ways artificial turf is actually safer for your family:

1. Pest Reduction: Artificial turf is inhospitable to many bothersome, disease-carrying bugs and pests like mosquitoes, red ants and ticks. Apart from fewer-to-no bug bites, the reduced reliance on pesticides limits children’s exposure to harmful chemicals.
2. All-weather playability: Rain or shine, children can play outdoors without being hindered by wet or muddy conditions or being exposed to the risks of slips and falls around the playground. There’s a bonus for the teachers and parents involved: as artificial turf doesn’t ever get muddy, children won’t track dirt into their homes and schools!
3. Reduction in allergies: Artificial grass doesn’t produce pollen, unlike natural grass and weeds. This allows children, especially those with allergies, to play outside without fearing allergic reactions irrespective of the season, giving parents peace of mind.

How to Choose Safe Artificial Grass for Kids

If you’re thinking about adding artificial grass to your backyard, you’ll want to be sure to choose a product that has your kid’s and pet’s safety in mind, so pay close attention to the details of how turfs are manufactured and what they’re made of.

1. Choose the right infill

Understand the material used as infill. Avoid toxic materials like crumb rubber, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) and other toxic, heat-generating materials. Instead, opt for Safeshell, an organic infill made of 100% US grown walnut shells. (It’s actually safe enough to eat!)

2. Check for certifications

Look for certifications indicating that the turf meets safety standards. For instance, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) provides guidelines and standards for synthetic playground surfaces. 

3. Cushioning and padding

Depending on the location and type of play, consider installing a shock pad or foam underlay beneath the turf. This provides additional cushioning, reducing the impact of falls and minimizing injury risks. 

4. Reviews and Recommendations

Look up your turf provider online, and if possible, visit sites where the turf has been installed. This can give insights into its performance, durability, and real-world appearance. Touch and feel the ground to see how much heat it generates: This is a major factor that influences your synthetic turf’s playability.

What’s The Best Artificial Grass Turf Infill For Homes With Children And Playgrounds?

At Motz, we believe that turf infill matters more than any other component in artificial grass turf systems. We’re passionate about creating safer solutions without compromising quality.

We’re proud to offer clean and sustainable turf infill products with proven safety benefits. 

Envirofill and Safeshell were designed as non-toxic, environmentally friendly, low-maintenance turf infill solutions safe for homes and playgrounds where children play.

So, how safe is “safe?” The results speak for themselves. Both Envirofill and Safeshell have been rigorously tested for the presence of toxic and hazardous substances and they’ve passed with flying colors. Envirofill is even exempt from California’s Prop 65 labeling requirements, which protects consumers in California by requiring companies to display warning labels on products with chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

Safeshell For Playgrounds And Homes With Artificial Grass

Safeshell is a turf infill solution that’s completely safe and natural, made from walnut shells grown in the United States. It’s non-toxic, allergen-free, and even food-grade! Another reason why Safeshell is a safe bet? It keeps the surface of synthetic turf systems cool, which is especially useful on playgrounds that overheat and become painful to touch on hot summer days. Learn more about why Safeshell is an amazing eco-friendly turf infill option for playgrounds and kids.

Create A Safer Playground And Artificial Grass Backyard With Envirofill

There are plenty of benefits to installing a turf system with Envirofill, particularly in family backyards and playgrounds. Envirofill measures up to rigorous safety standards. It’s cleaner than other infills and minimizes the risk associated with the bumps and scrapes of playtime because it’s infused with an innovative antimicrobial agent called Microban that keeps bacteria and smells at bay.

It’s also virtually dust-free, which gives it a definite advantage over silica sand, a popular infill choice that is not Prop 65 labeling exempt and can be dangerous to breathe. Envirofill is durable, so unlike other landscape infills that tend to break down very fast and create a dusty surface, Envirofill will not break down over time– and it has a 16-year warranty, too, in the rare instance you’ll ever need it. Less dust means less worry.

Envirofill Is Pet-Friendly, Too

Envirofill is the #1 infill for homes and parks where pets live and play. Microban antimicrobial technology reduces pet urine odors by up to 99 percent. Finally, there’s a turf infill solution perfect for families, children and pets that’s clean, non-toxic, anti-microbial, and easy to maintain.

Learn More About The Next Generation Of Turf Infill

Our products were designed to be safe, clean, and enjoyable for everyone. They offer cleanliness, low maintenance upkeep, attractive appearance, and durability. Envirofill and Safeshell are kid-friendly, and to us, that means non-toxic, allergen-free, and certified non-hazardous.

Ready to make a safe play space for your kids? Reach out to us today!