rugs vs hardwood floors

[tbone_kneegrabber]

So I live in a old building (over 100 years old) in Philly. We have wood floors with area rugs in our living room and the office/ room where ds stuff is. DS just hit the 6 month mark and he is getting very good at rolling and piviting, he wants to be mobile very badly.

So what I was wondering, cleanliness-wise do you think I should get rid of my area rugs and just have the bare floor?

I'm not worried about the rugs off-gassing because they are OLD. Also, we have a dog and cat so there is hair everywhere.

Any suggestions?

[katie9143]

i feel like i can get my hws sooo much cleaner than any rug. babys lick the floor, their toys, eat food off the floor etc. i wash my floors with vinegar, dishsoap and hot water and then i can rest easy when she eats off it! for the rolling age, i got some foam floor panels from lowes to protect the head. as soon as she figured out crawling she didnt need them so much and i moved them to a corner where i made a play area

all kinds of nasty stuff can live in a rug!

[mean_jeannie]

I agree with pp. I love my hardwood. When ds was a babe, we took out the area rugs, except the one under the dining room table. It didn't matter a whit to him that the floor was hard, he rolled and scooted and crawled away.

Now he has one of the rugs that has the car track on it. It's an old wool hand-me-down so I wasn't worried about off-gassing either. But every time I take the rug out to beat it and air it out, it's a reminder of how much easier it is to just clean the wood floor.

[jillian+1]

I only put something on the floor if I can throw it in the washer and dryer. For DD's play area we have a folded-up quilt on the floor. She spits up a lot.

[MilkTrance]

We have hardwood, but it's easier for DS to crawl on carpet, so I have an area rug on the floor.

[mamadelbosque]

We actually got area rugs about the time DS started crawling. It just makes it so much easier on little hands and knees Not to say he doesn't cralw OFF them, but he does stay on them a good bit

[annettemarie]

Moving this thread to household management also, since your asking about cleaning rather than about parenting an infant.

[beansricerevolt]

We have 2 rugs and an apartment with nothing but hard wood floors. One is in the DC room and one is in the living room. We are on the floor a lot playing and the wood floors get cold in the winter. The rug in the living room is 100% wool and works great for our cold bums.
I'd really like to help out the one in the DC room. Its older and needs a deep cleaning.

[Eben'sDaddy]

We have hardwood floors and several wool area rugs. Both DSs have learned to crawl on them and they provide a lot of padding for rolling around so little noggins don't get bumped and bruised on the bare floors .

[tbone_kneegrabber]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Moving this thread to household management also, since your asking about cleaning rather than about parenting an infant.

I'm sorry I didn't know there was a household management thread, I guess I haven't looked around enough, sorry again.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

So my biggest concern now is lead. We live in a very high lead area. We live in an old building, and a lot of the soil around us has tested high for lead. What do other people do about lead concerns?

[beansricerevolt]

Originally Posted by tbone_kneegrabber

So my biggest concern now is lead. We live in a very high lead area. We live in an old building, and a lot of the soil around us has tested high for lead. What do other people do about lead concerns?

I'd move. If high leaves are being found in the soil, I'd have to move. Our lifestyle depends on soil. We love growing our own food and we are outside all day long in the summer. I can't imagine not letting the kids make mud pies or dig in the dirt.

If I were you, I'd consider looking for a new place to live. High levels of lead is very very dangerous to your health, especially children. You do know what lead does to your health right?

[umbrella]

they bang their heads on the floor a lot, so no, I wouldn't get rid of the rugs.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

Originally Posted by beansricerevolt

I'd move. If high leaves are being found in the soil, I'd have to move. Our lifestyle depends on soil. We love growing our own food and we are outside all day long in the summer. I can't imagine not letting the kids make mud pies or dig in the dirt.

If I were you, I'd consider looking for a new place to live. High levels of lead is very very dangerous to your health, especially children. You do know what lead does to your health right?

yeah but then I would have to move out of Philadelphia completely. Philly is an old industrial city and lead is EVERYWHERE in it.

[Iris' Mom]

Originally Posted by katie9143

for the rolling age, i got some foam floor panels from lowes to protect the head. as soon as she figured out crawling she didnt need them so much and i moved them to a corner where i made a play area

Just FYI, I loved these until I got my cat, and then I couldn't keep the cat from using them like a scratching post. This is a cat that has a post and does not otherwise scratch furniture, and I couldn't stop her. I don't know if it's just my cat, but I notice you had one too, and if it scratches the foam it won't be safe for the baby.