Puppy pads?

I have been using yesterdays news as bedding since I got my rats a couple of months ago, but I want to start using fleece. I know that it isnt great to use fleece without anything to absorb pee under it. I went to the dollar store and bought puppy pee pads, but I read they can be dangerous? The people were saying that the gel on the inside is harmful and that they can kill rats? Im not sure if its because I got cheap dollar store pads but i cut into it and it seems to literally just be a bunch of layers of a soft papery material.
I already put it under one small level (which im going to keep there since they hardly use the lower levels of the cage)
Im going to put maybe towels or something else absorbent under or now, see if they chew the fleece. If they dont chew it after a few weeks I think I will use the puppy pads.

What are your thoughts on pee pads? Are they really not safe or is it only the good quality ones that have the gel?

I've used puppy pads in the past on my very old rats who don't move too much anymore. But I wouldn't use them if my rats chewed them up.

I would never use them as they are unsafe if rats chew things

I use fleece and just replace it every 2-3 days. any longer than that and it gets too stinky.
I have a bucket that I keep dirty fleece in and wash it in big loads. You'll need lots of fleece anyway because they LOVE to chew it