Do you let babies crawl on carpets?!

[Jimmyjammymammy]

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?!

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

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

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.

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).

I have never considered that. DC are 21 and 19 now. DS did learn to crawl on a laminate floor which was probably a bit tricky for him come to think of it. DD bottom shuffled and couldn’t actually crawl until after she learned to walk

I feel sorry for the children of these people, their harm anxiety will rub off onto their kids and that’s a miserable life to bestow upon a child

Mine always crawled around on carpets.
Sometimes they'd crawl on the kitchen floor tiles, over to the dogs bowl and swipe a biscuit out of it.
On fine dry days, they'd crawl around the garden too.
It's a mystery how they got beyond their third birthday.

Yes I did. Both of them. They’re 23 and 20 now. No ill effects!

Ridiculous

What lunatic told you this, OP?

Of course I let them crawl on carpets!

@Devilsmommy Your Dad obviously laid some incredibly cheap, poor quality carpets then and wasn't doing it properly as he most definitely shouldn't have inhaled carpet fibres! Fluff on the knees of his Jeans - absolutely but not breathed in.

This is very irresponsible. Your baby's muscular development will be adversely affected by your selfish behaviour.

So sorry my dad's carpets weren't up to your lofty standards🙄

Where on earth was that?

Does this person also object to babies being allowed outside?! Preventing a baby learning to crawl would be abusive, no?

Now this I definitely wouldn't do! People's shoes have stood in everything outside, including excrement and spit from people with all sorts (potentially things like HIV) then walked into the coffee shop. Baby crawls then put hands in mouth. Becomes infected. That's quite literally how viruses spread 🦠 so your mum was right to be horrified, Eugh. If you wouldn't allow your child to crawl along a wet pavement outdoors then definitely don't allow them to crawl on PUBLIC flooring as that is potentially even worse as if it's carpet (say in a coffee shop) then it absorbs all the crap.

And no, it does not 'build their immune systems' 🙄

'scolded' - Regardless of what it was about, you are an adult and if anyone even attempts to scold you they must be told in no uncertain terms to FUCK OFF.

Does this person ever consider how any child has survived to adulthood?

Think back 500 years when people shared their houses with their livestock and still survived.

Whoever this person is you need to get them out of your life or learn to laugh in their face.

🙏 Your baby will be fine! Some people just like to be competitive with shit like this.
I was raised with nylon carpets in my parents' home and they both chain smoked indoors and around me! No lung cancer yet (obviously not doubting that it CAN cause it) and despite having been a smoker for 20 years myself also, my lungs were fine! Honestly ignore this nonsense. Well done on the carpet by the way. I live in a house which also had concrete floors and I know how wonderful it felt to get carpet finally 🤍

Maybe OP's friend is the same person who posted about not wanting their DC out on the (early evening) dark.

I remember getting a new rug when dd was about 2. She wouldn't let me on it! Apparently it was hers.

I've heard it all now. So long as he's not crawling down the outside lane of the m1 I think they'll be fine.

How in God’s name have any of the human race survived, we are all in such constant danger?

I got a robot hoover at vast expense to dh's horror when DD started crawling. I didn't want her crawling on the dirty carpet! But I never worried about carpet fibres!

I did stop her crawling on floor outside and in public places though!

Baby number five regularly crawled on the dog and learned to walk hanging on to the horse. Honestly, it's only something that worries mothers of PFBs. A couple more kids and you're just happy there's no poo where they are.