Nursery mats and rugs
Kerri Stalton

Floors are an important part of your nursery décor. Most homes choose between carpets and wood floors; both have their pros and cons. Carpets serve as excellent cushions for little heads that tend to bang the floor regularly in the early years. Baby-feet find extra grip on carpets. But carpets are made of fibers. Fibers provide a collection ground for dust particles. Small particles of dirt can stick to the carpet and your baby's curious little fingers may pry these out and put them straight into their mouth. In case of spillage of any kind, carpets are difficult to clean. They take their time drying if they get wet. On the other hand, wood floors are very easy to clean. But they cannot offer any protection against bangs and falls. So, a workaround that offers you the best of both worlds would be play mats, painted canvas rugs, or rubber mats in the room.
Nursery rugs and mats can add warmth and color to the room while providing a soft spot for your baby to play. Mats are now available in such a variety of colors and designs that they are a fashion statement in themselves. Brightly printed and shaped like cartoon characters, mats and rugs can add a splash of color to your floor. Choose rugs that go with the general color scheme. While small rugs can be placed at random in other rooms, a nursery should contain a relatively big rug. Babies may trip and fall over rugs that are scattered at random on the floor.
Good nursery mats have a fair amount of padding and are covered with soft and velvety fabric so that they are easy on the baby's skin. Some luxurious baby mats come with various activities that help to stimulate a young baby. Mats may come with different sections, with each section providing one or two activities. Some activities like a padded star or moon with rattle, soft touch cartoon characters with pop out ears or tongue, attached wooden teething rings etc. help to keep the baby engaged. Some of these mats can also be used as a wall decoration.
Wool rugs are perfect for the nursery. Most high-quality rugs are made from natural and fire-resistant material. Choose a rug that does not have harsh chemicals, dyes or pigments. Some rugs come with gripper pads at the bottom to make them stick firmly to the floor. Your baby will be spending a lot of time on these rugs, so choose a material that is sturdy and will stand many hours of use.
Baby rugs and mats should always be easy to clean because your baby will be spilling a lot of stuff on them. Keeping rugs and mats clean is important. Choose dark colors; don't expect pastel colors to remain clean for a long period. In high traffic areas, dirt and discoloration is bound to show up. Weekly vacuuming and airing of rugs is essential. Depending on the fabric, you can even throw mats and rugs into your washer.
The best part about using nursery mats and rugs is that once your child develops the necessary motor skills, you can roll them up and put them away if you need to. They have a long shelf life and can be reused later on. Personalized baby rugs that allow you to emboss your baby's picture become treasured keepsakes, though they are expensive.