Any ideas on play area

[Brodiemummy]

We moved in a bit ago more like a year ago I've slowly been trying to put this house together. my little boy is around one. he's getting almost big enough to reach the sockets and is starting to try crawl off. so I'm looking for some safety stuff for him to buy this payday as it's looking more needed now. I've dropped a photo of the area I have just been using a blanket to try and make it softer but thinking about a pen and mat and socket covers. I normally just look on vinted or shein or charity shops. But if anyone has any suggestions on where I could find some cheap ones let me know. 😊

All due respect is this a joke?

how old is your DC as if they’re young I’d prioritise getting flooring as it must be pretty nasty crawling around on bare floors?

Socket covers are not necessary, if you look at sites like RoSPA they advise against them. UK sockets have built in safety features already. How about some of those interlocking foam mats for the floor, you could cover the whole floor quite cheaply with those?

Can't afford and the housing won't give us any so trying to do what I can

Oh okay yeah well I didn't know the sockets was already safe I am looking into it I'm not really sure witch one to get though

I find the mats that come in one piece are better than the pieces that slot together to make a mat (they tend to come apart when kids are trying to crawl on them, especially the cheaper versions). Something like this is ideal: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skip-Hop-243102-Reversible-Playmats/dp/B079927NN2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3S7L4Y1Z5YZUR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Fi7bs0bc7x3WOzUr6DlsuTWPtwH83qs7q5nC5heWatbAbmLN6HXKHpkKvjJS87p4to06_v0SNa9TYV2ClWZGlkhL5Kz3jXkjr9KFXidwFxbhsaiblncQtpvAhwR6DMDt-xBTZPgYU4jyWOUXlY4Xpe_indOLcCJ7WRoVILj6PCbzFH4YuLgEkQJUQYz_0Huo4Vg6isg1XYEFvK7kCnzs-Q.lS2UPGBvGg6Ha7KAhEEK-trpkfxGJaqkoMGLAmKqCqU&dib_tag=se&keywords=skip+hop+floor+mat&qid=1793896013&s=books&sprefix=skip+hop+floor+ma%2Cbooks%2C379&sr=1-3 (you can often find them for pretty cheap secondhand, and they’re good because they’re easily wiped clean).

Like someone said, you don’t need socket protectors if you’re in the UK. But if you’d feel safer with it covered then we put furniture like the IKEA Kallax in front of any sockets that were easily accessible like the one in your picture. It made it less likely our toddler would get to it and also provided storage for toys (if you’re putting it in a play area then make sure it’s secured to the wall and has corner protectors on because toddlers will try and climb it).

Depending on the age (and agility) of your child I probably wouldn’t bother with a playpen. Mine could climb out by the time they were about 20 months old, which made them more dangerous than just not using one at all).

I’m really sorry. My previous message was really short.

if you measure how big the area is from wall to wall, you can look on Facebook marketplace place for ‘carpet off cuts’ which is literally just left over carpets. Or, do an anonymous post on your local FB asking if there’s any charities that could help you with flooring for that area.

In my honest opinion putting up some nice art work or even a playpen is just papering over the real issue that you don’t have any flooring.

Well we have sockets all round that room but that part of the room has always been playing area but as he's starting to try roll around and stuff I feel as it's now time to baby proof

Yeah we moved in a year ago but I was late pregnant and trying to buy everything for him and the house so just trying to get what we can

My flat has “naise” flooring — wood-like tiles in herringbone pattern with underfloor heating — and yet I choose to cover most of the living room (and DS’ bedroom) in interlocking floor mats. Great for play, easier on the hands and knees (for both child and parents), easy to clean (we hoover daily and mop twice a week, even though he’s in Reception and doesn’t make much of a mess), and you can get neutral colours that are easy on the eye. I’d recommend covering as much of your floor with those mats (you can cut some to size to fit the room) and then another child’s rug for the play area. As well as large baskets for toy storage and easy tidying.

Speak to your health visitor. I used to work in a law firm that administered Trusts. We had a good relationship with the health visitors in our area who would apply to the Trusts on behalf of people on their caseload. We often provided funding for child care or educational excursions to assist with verbal development of children and also provided funds for broken appliances on a number of occasions. Carpets in this situation would have absolutely been covered. It was area specific unfortunately as that was the parameters of the trust but your health visitor should have access to various resources in these circumstances.

Thank you yes my grandparents keep offering to buy carpet but they go on at us yelling and texting and ringing loads for us to measure it and to be honest when they go on like that it's like I'm already struggling with loads of other stuff
I mostly look on vinted

Ask your grandparents to instead get you some interlocking playmats (the puzzle shaped ones) that you can assemble and customise in your own time. And a large Ruggable rug (they’re machine washable) to soften the area. They also do play mats. https://ruggable.co.uk/collections/play-mats?srsltid=AYCX9vJl5NhmxbItkvojMLf9gqXigB8_euTwgGnvtCPry8i4Feh0CK-6

Surely the best way to get your grandparents to stop ringing about the carpet is to take them up on it? Once your little one is walking you'll be glad of it - they'll do damage to themselves if they fall on bare floors.

Yeah sorry for late reply I'm just busy crying

It sounds like you're in a tough position, and the more you do to change your circumstances the better you'll feel. Deep breaths, measure the space, text your grandparents. Simplify it down to those steps, and you'll have drastically improved your situation.

I have little ones and I’d be upset too. It’s hard trying to do your best, but I think you need to swallow your pride regarding your grandparents and work with them to get you some carpets.

Have you gave your grandparents measurements or are they wanting to send over a fitter to do all that? If you’ve never taken measurements/bought carpets before it can be quite daunting.

It's just like I have loads to buy I don't have a job because I'm staying home with the baby I have no friends I'm single and my family hates me

Don't be hard on yourself. I didn't have carpet when my babies were little. You can't do everything at once. I would take up the offer of carpet and underlay from your relatives if they are offering. Don't worry about British sockets. They are really safe. Hope you feel better soon. Xxxx

Yeah it's just I have like a list of stuff to her and family problems and everything

Definitely take up the offer if your grandparents are prepared to buy you flooring OP- you need it desperately especially with a mobile baby.

Mine are 2 & nearly 1 and we swear by the padded mats, have a look on Facebook marketplace rather than buying on Vinted as it tends to be cheaper without their fees etc added on.

If you don’t want to involve your family probably the cheapest and quickest thing to do is to get the interlocking foam squares to put down over as much of the floor as you can. You can buy them new on Amazon for not too much, or people sell them on Vinted second hand.

Then I’d maybe get one of the play rugs with roads or train tracks on it again from Vinted to go on top. That would be safe and interesting for your baby to play, crawl and move around on.

I live with my mum though

Hugs, it's really hard at the beginning.
Our first carpet was made out of carpet samples taped together on the back like patchwork. It looked quite good, I thought, and baby liked picking at the corners!
Your family don't hate you, or they wouldn't be bothering. They just don't know the right way to make things work.
Are they near enough to come and visit?

@Brodiemummy I guess I meant your grandparents! You didn’t mention your mum.

Don you have issues with your mum as well?

I have issues with everyone like I'm a massive problem