Laminate Vrs Carpet ..Whats best for babies?

Question

My whole House has Laminate flooring but it is looking like it all needs redone. Problem is im a crap housewife and the floors tend to be manky a lot(im getting better) and my hubby wants to get carpets. Personally i think carpet hides the dirt more and it doesnt matter if you hoover everyday there is gonna be dirt you dont see. I dont think carpets are hygienic. At least when i clean my floors i can see its clean and can use special anti bacterial stuff also( im sure its not recommended but i do).

The issue is when we have a baby( i will be ultra clean for babys sake, so no need to comment on this fact), hopefully by next year, i think we should keep the laminate or wood of some sort.

What is best in terms of baby?

Answer 1

I have to say, if you're not a particularly good housewife now, it probably won't change after you have a baby. Don't take that the wrong way - I'm speaking from experience. You may improve at first, but it's just so easy to slip back into the old ways, especially with the demands a baby (and then a toddler) puts on your time.

I have carpets, but I'm in rented accomodation, and I have to say they are a nightmare to clean, but it was easy for baby to learn to crawl.

Laminate flooring would be easier to wipe up spills (which happen a lot, more than you'd think, and keep happening past the age of 2 1/2, my daughter's age) but would maybe be a little more dangerous, especially when baby starts to learn to walk or especially run. Mine has enough trips and falls due to clumsy feet without having slippy floors to contend with, but that's not to say baby wouldn't adjust to the surface, especially if it's all they know.

I would say if you're going for carpets to invest in a splash mat for mealtimes to go under the highchair. This will catch food spills (well, some of them. Maybe not the ones baby flings across the room, but it should work for general spills and drops) and is nice and easy to wipe clean, whereas trying to get tomato or carrot out of the carpet, especially a light-coloured one, is a nightmare. Also, a dark, highly patterned carpet might be the wiser choice... camoflage :)

I think maybe go for laminate or lino for the kitchen and dining area, due to being easy to wipe clean and to maintain, and maybe carpet (or rugs) for the living are where baby is going to be spending a lot of it's 'learning' time, and definitely carpet for baby's bedroom, for comfort. I think that's what I'd do.

Answer 2

Carpet of course. Carpet absorbs falls easier for infants and laminate also tends to be slippery. Carpet is easier as far as maintenance, but you also have to consider the mess an infant could make, because formula, juice, food and all other infant accidents will tend to ruin most carpets. Now that our youngest is walking good on her own, were buying a house with tiled flooring. Were not so concerned anymore at this stage. Have you considered just carpeting the common areas and using laminate, wood flooring in the master and maybe a few of the other rooms ?

Answer 3

If you have a baby that projectile vomits like mine then there is no question to ask! I wish eveything in the house was wipe clean. And I'm looking forward to when she starts on solids and throws most of her food around the room! Personally I think carpets are disgusting, some bacteria and dirt is good but what gets built up in a carpet is beyond belief. If you're worried about it being more difficult for the baby to crawl or walk then don't always have their feet covered or buy socks with the little rubber grip pads. Hard flooring rules!!

Answer 4

We have solid wood flooring throughout and I love it. I have very bad excema and it improved loads when we got rid of the carpets. All a wooden floor needs is a quick hoover as you can see the muck when its there, it isn't hidden like it is on a carpet.

My son is now crawling and is gettin on fine on the wood. We have a rug down for when he was learning to sit up etc.

He has pee'd, poo'd and spewed on the floor and its easy wiped up! I'd hate to think what state a carpet would be in cos i'm like you, a bit lazy!

A word of advice from a carpenters wife - get real wood, it last longer and will never need replaced!! At £25 per square metre its cheaper than a decent carpet!

Good luck with it all!

Answer 5

Carpets are very unhygienic and when baby starts to crawl, they get carpet burns! (from the friction).
Laminate is easier to clean and Taxedman is so right about the inevitable sick and wee and poo spillages.
Toys are more fun on laminate floors - cars go for ever!
They can be slippy though. Just make sure junior wears slippers or goes bare foot.
Well done you for admitting you are a crappy cleaner, but will reform for baby's sake! Big hug. :}

Answer 6

I have original wood flooring and my babys crawling. He seems to be getting about ok when he cruises on the furniture. He never really manages to keep socks on though, so he gets good grip with his feet. the only time he has a problem is if he stands on a mag or paper then he starts to slide, but then i'm sure this would happen on carpet too. It's easier to keep clean when he spits his food out or throws tomato pasta around. Imagine the nightmare on a nice beige carpet!?!

Answer 7

children need to be exposed to some dirt or germs as they grow up to help their immune system develope so don't over do it on the cleaning when you do have a baby. You could compromise with your hubby and have the wooden flooring with a rug on top. That way you only have a small area of carpet to keep clean and when the time comes for your baby to start crawling/walking they have somewhere easier than wooden flooring to do it on.

Answer 8

Personal Point of view im waiting to move into a new house but as soon as i do were having Laminate it is so much easier to clean sand dosnt hold as much dust. But as i have asthma it is a personal preference because i know what makes my breathing worse. we had carpet when i was born (long time ago lol) but we had laminate when my brother was born and we both have asthma so really i dont think it will make so much difference as long as you keep it clean, then either will be fine.

Answer 9

Carpet. Its much less noisy and much less complicated for whilst toddler become previous and performs on the floor. Laminate is effective yet not for toddlers getting to understand to stroll as they fall so frequently and carpet is a softer landing lol. Carpet additionally makes the nursery extra comfortable likes x

Answer 10

If you're not too keen on housework, then laminate's better than carpet. Also for babies it cuts down house mites and helps to avoid allergies. Buy a few rugs, but not antique oriental ones. You can take machine made rugs out in the garden, give them a good thrashing and even shampoo them. Thrashing rugs can be recommended to relieve the frustrations often suffered by a new mum.