MIL & the nursery rug

[Sunshine1996]

I know I’m going to sound like a completely ungrateful bitch but MIL has bought a rug for the nursery and it is not to my taste at all. I adore my MIL, it is her first grandchild and she is so excited which is lovely. It’s not even something I could stash away as she comes round often. I realise this isn’t really a huge problem but I’m 36 weeks pregnant and very hormonal 😂 it clashes completely with her room, just a rant really.

The back-to-front moon and the letters touching the edges are setting my teeth on edge. If it’s any consolation it doesn’t look like she spent much money on it. However it also looks like it probably didn’t come from the type of shop that accepts returns if you change your mind.

I would keep it rolled up in a cupboard somewhere because "I'm just so worried about tripping with baby in the middle of the night." If asked. I would be sure to do some tummy time on it within the first few months though and send lots of pictures of baby enjoying the patterns. Everybody's happy and you then keep it stored away so it doesn't get damaged before either next baby or passing it on to another family.

Pretty much every gift I got for my babe was not to my taste, but I was appreciative of the sentiment. A few moments might mean the world to your MIL. That picture you send might become her screensaver, or she might print it and put it in Xmas cards. She may feel it represents the bond she has with her grandchild and it's easy to facilitate that idea without having to look at the rug every day.

I feel awful for the MIL. It’s not my taste either but we’ve all received gifts we don’t like. Be gracious, be grateful and use it as a play-mat later on / to go under a bouncer chair or something.

It’s not worth causing huge offence over something you just don’t like, especially when it probably didn’t cost a huge amount.

Have a little ‘accident’ when baby comes... ☕️🍼

It is beautiful, quite to my taste, and I like the quotes
Can't you tell her that you do not like it? Be honest? If you are not going to use it, just tell your MIL and ask if it can be changed?
I do not usually return gifts at all, but when it comes to small children and their family, I think it is better to be honest, because she will notice if the rug is not used. I know I do if the clothing/toy I got for the child is not used. And I am really happy when I see them wearing/ using something I bought them. It has a lot to do with building the relationship between the grandparent and the child.

Put it in the nursery now, send pics.

When the baby comes remove it and say you tripped over the corner so don't want to risk a rug in there (but only if she asks) and then use it as a play mat now and again when she comes to visit. Job done

I'm with you. I feel stuff like this is so tacky. Hate those clothing as well with big splashy silly saying. BUT it seems like she had good intentions and she clearly is excited. Why don't you keep it as a playmat? You can put a soft blanket on it and let baby play later on?

@Ribidibidibidoobahday

I would keep it rolled up in a cupboard somewhere because "I'm just so worried about tripping with baby in the middle of the night." If asked. I would be sure to do some tummy time on it within the first few months though and send lots of pictures of baby enjoying the patterns. Everybody's happy and you then keep it stored away so it doesn't get damaged before either next baby or passing it on to another family.

Pretty much every gift I got for my babe was not to my taste, but I was appreciative of the sentiment. A few moments might mean the world to your MIL. That picture you send might become her screensaver, or she might print it and put it in Xmas cards. She may feel it represents the bond she has with her grandchild and it's easy to facilitate that idea without having to look at the rug every day.

I like the pictures idea indeed. And yes, do not put it anywhere where you may trip with the baby.

Roll it up and tuck it under the cot or behind something, then if you think she'll be going in the room, unroll it temporarily for her visit.

Give it a few months and it can meet the grizzly end it deserves.💩

Definitely save it for tummy time, nappy changes, weaning and finger painting if it gets that far
I actually like it but not in the nursery as a trip hazard and I'm pretty sure dh didnt get much of a say what went in the nursery never mind mil

It’s actually got great reviews
www.wayfair.co.uk/rugs/pdp/isabelle-max-leary-blue-rug-psch1057.html

Picture did not attach

Ahh it did sorry.

Goodness that is very 'niche' isn't it. (Personally I cannot bear the tweeness of it..).

I'm a MiL and wouldn't dream of buying something so... specific for my Grandbaby.

It's well meant obviously. My concern about going overboard saying how lovely it is, would lead to more of the same arriving. Matching wall plaques perhaps .

It having an accident might lead to it being replaced.

Sorry, I'm no help !

Geniuinely - rugs ARE a trip hazard to have in a nursery. Most of the time you're carrying a baby in the room and a lot of the time it's in the middle of the night in the half dark.

Keep it as a play mat. OR (if it's a nylony as it looks) a soft layer to go under the activity mat. I notice you have hard floors, so 2 layers will be good :)

Well, that's put a different spin on it - for the sake of a £16.99 rug, I'd use it as a door mat through winter to park your pram on!

I don't like it especially, but I like the sentiment behind it.

Is she not kitting out a room in her own house?

What flooring do you have in the room that your baby would be on a play mat?

Would it be useful as an extra layer for that?

I wouldn't choose that rug, no. But the children's book the quotes are from is sweet and looking at the rug brings the book and nice associated memories into my mind. Maybe she bought it because it brought up positive emotions related to the book and was a bit blinded to the rug itself as a result.

I think it's a sweet gesture.

keep it for the garden in summer and as a playmat

@MaggieFS

Gosh I don't like that rug. I'm in the same impossible situation with DD's Christmas present. MIL has bought an enormous (and ugly) toy box. We need one and it's a great sentiment, but I don't like it and because our house is small, it will have to go by the side of the tv and I'll have to see it all of the time.

I don't know what to do. No easy way out. For the rug - perhaps as pp said keep it rolled up out of the way to keep it clean because it's so special and save it for tummy time?

Can you out a throw over it?

I can never understand anyone buy ANYTHING for someone else's home.

It strikes me as hugely presumptuous.

I've also never know anyone who wants someone else buying soft furnishings for them.

Very strange.

Aww bless. She clearly means well. Pity it’s twee, cheap looking and generally hideous. It also over steps - what will she buy next I wonder. I wouldn’t use it, and I would get my oh to sort it, she’s his mother!

Shame you can't swap with all those posters who come on here to complain their MiL does and buys absolutely nothing for their GC. It's a nursery rug FFS. It won't be long until its obliterated with every toy your child owns.

The blue version on wayfair looks nicer. Looking at op's picture again, I think the tones clash with the flooring and that is making it look worse than it is. Whereas it matches in the wayfair pic.