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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you let babies crawl on carpets?!

129 replies

Jimmyjammymammy · 23/11/2024 10:40

I've just been scolded for being irresponsible for letting my baby crawl on a polypropylene rug. Apparently full of PFAS and most likely flame retardants and i should be using a baby mat.

My mind is blown by this. I'm a very anxious person and take precautions (probably too many) but I feel this is a bit extreme. Surely most babies crawl on a carpet? Do people actually just buy wool rugs or put baby mats down specifically to avoid a baby being exposed to potential toxins?

So, I'm very curious, AIBU to let a baby crawl on a carpet?!

OP posts:
LittleGreenDragons · 23/11/2024 11:42

sweeneytoddsrazor · 23/11/2024 11:19

Well you can put them in the kitchen and watch them crawl across the fibre free tiles on their way to eat the cat food

Get two and have a race. Way more interesting (and quicker) than a ferret race 😂

Yes OP, I let mine crawl on carpets unless they were absolutely filthy (not mine, but church halls etc).

CompCity · 23/11/2024 11:37

There's been quite a lot of research into the development of asthma in children. It's not 100% clear but we leaned towards the embrace life.
Avoid those plug in air fresheners, burning candles and incense. Put the extractor fan on when cooking. Air your home, prevent mould.

American lung Association found -
Investigators found that children exposed to high levels of pet and pest allergens, from cats, mice and cockroaches were less likely to have asthma at age 7.

We didn't go quite that far but the dog did her bit!

You should aim for a happy, normal world. Choose natural cottons, wool etc if you can, don't panic if you don't.

gettinghealthy · 23/11/2024 11:34

This is actually mentioned on Steven Bartlett's podcast with a toxicologist last week. She did say about carpets but said if you vacuum regularly with babies then it's fine.

I do see where your friend is coming from, but I would (and did) let my baby crawl on the carpet. We are surrounded by chemicals and it's impossible to avoid them all

SootherSue · 23/11/2024 11:31

Ursulla · 23/11/2024 10:45

No, if they want to crawl I make them do it on the street outside. Builds resilience.

You're coddling them! Mine only crawl on rusty nails, broken glass and hot coals.

Riapia · 23/11/2024 11:28

All babies crawl on all types of surfaces and then put fingers in their mouths. If food is dropped on the floor we won’t allow them to eat it.

Lindjam · 23/11/2024 11:23

LittleBearPad · 23/11/2024 10:51

Carpet! Won’t someone think of the children.

This made me laugh.

SIL problem?

Devilsmommy · 23/11/2024 11:23

LittleBearPad · 23/11/2024 11:19

So on a daily basis removing old carpets and cutting and laying new ones. Do you see that that might be a bit different?

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Of course I do but that was just the way I did it.

BarbaraHoward · 23/11/2024 11:21

LittleBearPad · 23/11/2024 11:19

So on a daily basis removing old carpets and cutting and laying new ones. Do you see that that might be a bit different?

Show quote history

Exactly, I don't think a baby crawling is going to kick up anywhere near the fibre levels a carpet fitter would be dealing with.

TickingAlongNicely · 23/11/2024 11:21

If the carpet is apparently that dangerous why have it in your babies vicinity in the first place?

LittleBearPad · 23/11/2024 11:19

Devilsmommy · 23/11/2024 10:57

My dad was a carpet fitter so I know exactly how carpet fibres fuck with lungs ok. Not saying anyone's wrong to let their baby crawl on carpet but I just couldn't do it

Show quote history

So on a daily basis removing old carpets and cutting and laying new ones. Do you see that that might be a bit different?

sweeneytoddsrazor · 23/11/2024 11:19

Well you can put them in the kitchen and watch them crawl across the fibre free tiles on their way to eat the cat food

CitizenZ · 23/11/2024 11:18

Makes you wonder how any of us reached adulthood with all these things that were never a problem, now being a problem.

itsmylife7 · 23/11/2024 11:17

Ursulla · 23/11/2024 10:45

No, if they want to crawl I make them do it on the street outside. Builds resilience.

I actually saw a baby doing this last week.

Edingril · 23/11/2024 11:14

If someone said this to me I would have to ask 'please tell me how I explain it to my baby so they understand?' not possible? Then they can crawl where they want

Theak · 23/11/2024 11:13

Devilsmommy · 23/11/2024 10:45

Not as bad as carpet fibres no.

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😂

Devilsmommy · 23/11/2024 11:13

JimPanzee · 23/11/2024 11:07

I would say fibres from a throw are a lot more problematic than carpet. Also it's loose so more slippery and risk of falling 🤨

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Risk of falling on the floor where they already are? He's 2 years old now so obviously didn't have a major crawling accident 🙄

BarbaraHoward · 23/11/2024 11:11

ViciousCurrentBun · 23/11/2024 11:06

Yes I did but we are a shoes off at the door household. The carpet materials never crossed my mind.

My children have even crawled on the carpet in shoes on households and lived to tell the tale, as did I.

JimPanzee · 23/11/2024 11:07

Devilsmommy · 23/11/2024 10:45

Not as bad as carpet fibres no.

Show quote history

I would say fibres from a throw are a lot more problematic than carpet. Also it's loose so more slippery and risk of falling 🤨

ViciousCurrentBun · 23/11/2024 11:06

Yes I did but we are a shoes off at the door household. The carpet materials never crossed my mind.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/11/2024 11:02

And there was me so chuffed that I'd managed to save up enough money to have a carpet professionally fitted in the living room of my flat so that DD could learn to crawl without faceplanting into bare concrete (and be vaguely warm for the process).

Mums can never be allowed to feel like they're good enough, can they?

pumpkinpillow · 23/11/2024 11:02

I thought you said "Apparently full of PEAS"!
Yes I did let my children crawl on carpets and (gasp) sit back while they then put their hands in their mouths (unless they had found an old chip that had been under the sofa for a few years).

I'm sure there was the odd time I gave their hands a wash afterwards, but mostly I let them get on with it.

Devilsmommy · 23/11/2024 10:57

LittleBearPad · 23/11/2024 10:53

On what basis?

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My dad was a carpet fitter so I know exactly how carpet fibres fuck with lungs ok. Not saying anyone's wrong to let their baby crawl on carpet but I just couldn't do it

winetimenow · 23/11/2024 10:56

Whoever said this to you has either lost the plot completely or must find life exceedingly difficult with such high levels of anxiety. How do they function in the world?!!

RabbitsEatPancakes · 23/11/2024 10:54

How would you contain them to a rug/ mat/ throw?

Once mine were moving they were off, up the stairs, in every room. No chance of keeping them in small area.

LittleBearPad · 23/11/2024 10:53

Devilsmommy · 23/11/2024 10:45

Not as bad as carpet fibres no.

Show quote history

On what basis?

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