Foam playmat vs. rug

Maizey06 · January 2013

I never really have decorated DD's nursery since we left a queen-sized bed in there for me to originally sleep in. Now we need to move that out and I either want to put in a rug (we have hardwood floors) or a foam playmat. Anyone think one is better than the other? We live in a 2-bedroom condo with just one kitchen/living space so I plan to use her bedroom as the main play area for her.

AmySmolos · January 2013

I use foam...its easier to clean and have ds roll his toys on.

CoUnTryBB1 · January 2013

Scout2005:

Here's the thing with foam - we had the kind that fit together like a giant puzzle and has the alphabet inserts.

Once she was crawling and really dexterous, she started ripping up the different tiles and chewing on them. Chewing on foam is not great. And if you think it's easy to redirect at that age...it isn't. It became a huge headache, I couldn't walk away for three seconds.

They also SEEM easier to clean, which is why I got it, but in reality they get gross quick and there's not a lot you can do when stuff like puke really happens. I would clean the crap out of them (literally, actually) and there was still stains/smell.

I ended up getting rid of it in favor of this rug:

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30151709/

^very soft and thick, and for $40 a steal. And I can take it outside to shake off the crumbs, I can vacuum, and I can treat easier with carpet cleaner/my Bissel Little Green.

I love all those road/dollhouse/town rugs but they're a fortune so I'm waiting until we're past the puke stage.

Just my experience with both.

Thanks I wouldn't have thought of these issues. We have hardwood too but I just put down blankets for now and she is content. Guess I am not getting the foam play mats after all, LO would definately eat them.

Msbean22 · January 2013

Scout2005:
Here's the thing with foam - we had the kind that fit together like a giant puzzle and has the alphabet inserts.
Once she was crawling and really dexterous, she started ripping up the different tiles and chewing on them. Chewing on foam is not great. And if you think it's easy to redirect at that age...it isn't. It became a huge headache, I couldn't walk away for three seconds.
They also SEEM easier to clean, which is why I got it, but in reality they get gross quick and there's not a lot you can do when stuff like puke really happens. I would clean the crap out of them (literally, actually) and there was still stains/smell.
I ended up getting rid of it in favor of this rug:
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30151709/
^very soft and thick, and for $40 a steal. And I can take it outside to shake off the crumbs, I can vacuum, and I can treat easier with carpet cleaner/my Bissel Little Green.
I love all those road/dollhouse/town rugs but they're a fortune so I'm waiting until we're past the puke stage.
Just my experience with both.

Thanks for that...we were in the market for something to lay down on the floor. STM's for the win.

sdlaura · January 2013

This is a helpful thread. Our issue is that our entire first level is slate. It is super easy to clean and hides everything because it's kind of a distressed look, but it is SO hard and we're concerned about DD falling and hitting her head. We didn't put it in, but it would probably be very expensive to rip it all out and put in something else.

We were planning on getting the foam tiles but given Scout's post I'm now rethinking.

Has anyone tried the rugs made up of FLOR tiles? They are held together I think to the point that kids couldn't rip them apart, but you can replace individual tiles if they get ruined.

AmySmolos · January 2013

Wow...my ds has not attempted this yet. I see a rug in my future!

Maizey06 · January 2013

L12541:
This is a helpful thread. Our issue is that our entire first level is slate. It is super easy to clean and hides everything because it's kind of a distressed look, but it is SO hard and we're concerned about DD falling and hitting her head. We didn't put it in, but it would probably be very expensive to rip it all out and put in something else.

We were planning on getting the foam tiles but give Scout's post I'm no rethinking.

Has anyone tried the rugs made up of FLOR tiles? They are held together I think to the point that kids couldn't rip them apart, but you can replace individual tiles if they get ruined.

We have had a FLOR rug for years. It actually has worked great because we have a dog and she prefers to vomit on the rug rather than the hardwood floor and she prefers to eat her treats on the rug rather than her bed. After tiles get worn out, we replace them. I will say the ones we have are not very soft or padded but they may have better options for kids out there.

bigbootyjudi · January 2013

Rug; cuter, softer, gives her something to grab onto, not bad to clean, and it can be repurposed for other areas of the house (basement, whatever) when she gets older/wants a new one.

HoneyBunn24 · January 2013

AmySmolos:
I use foam...its easier to clean and have ds roll his toys on.

this. we have foam in J's room because of hardwood and it'll be her playroom.

sdlaura · January 2013

Maizey06:
L12541:

This is a helpful thread. Our issue is that our entire first level is slate. It is super easy to clean and hides everything because it's kind of a distressed look, but it is SO hard and we're concerned about DD falling and hitting her head. We didn't put it in, but it would probably be very expensive to rip it all out and put in something else.

We were planning on getting the foam tiles but give Scout's post I'm no rethinking.

Has anyone tried the rugs made up of FLOR tiles? They are held together I think to the point that kids couldn't rip them apart, but you can replace individual tiles if they get ruined.

We have had a FLOR rug for years. It actually has worked great because we have a dog and she prefers to vomit on the rug rather than the hardwood floor and she prefers to eat her treats on the rug rather than her bed. After tiles get worn out, we replace them. I will say the ones we have are not very soft or padded but they may have better options for kids out there.

Thanks for your feedback on the FLOR rug! That's good to know. That's a good point about them not being super soft or padded, but we do have carpet upstairs and some other rugs, so the main purpose would be to just be softer than the slate if DD were to fall, or for when she tries to crawl.

xxbabycakesxx · January 2013

I would go with a rug. In my old house we had laminate floors and I just laid down a few big blankets for Ds1 to crawl on.
In this new house the living room is carpeted but I still lay down blankets for Ds2 to play on.

I know its been mentioned but yea, foam mats just get torn apart.

lesmith5 · January 2013

It may be too much, but I would get both. I have a small shag area rug in my baby's room and I throw a blanket down and she rolls around and plays with her toys. However I have the foam letter mat too and put those down for a different texture and she can roll better and scoot with her socks off. I find the letters easy to wipe down...and my baby has reflux due to my strong let down soooo she spits up practically every time she's on her tummy. We live in bibs...but I think the letters clean well. I also hooked her playmat into it.

Obviously I plan to move this mat when she starts crawling and going for the entertainment system...but we're safe for now.

lesmith5 · January 2013

I attached a picture but it didn't go through....will try again.

lesmith5 · January 2013

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