Carpet or hardwood floor

[happymar2009]

I know that there are pros and cons to both carpet and hardwood floors but what do you recommend for a home that has an ankle bitter (baby) in the home?

As they roam around on the floor, I would think that a carpet floor would be better because it would be softer for them. But then, how long will they actually be crawling on the floor? Is it worth it to get carpet? I really want hardwood floors.

What do you think?

[Barnette]

If you really want hardwood floors, you should have them and place large area rugs in the areas where the baby plays a lot. The best of both worlds.

[Daris Mulkin]

One of the really nice things about hardwood is that you can have the best of two worlds. You can have the hardwood and the carpet also by doing area rugs. I'm sure the ankle biter will figure out where he likes crawling the most really quick. But having had children myself I don't think it will make a difference one way or the other to him or her. I did find out one thing with my son when he was crawling is that I got the rug burns and he didn't even though I installed carpet all day long.
A nice area rug of your choosing and style compliments hardwood very well.

Daris

[Barnette]

Great minds think alike :-)

[BrianM]

Do you want your kids to be SOFT?

Hardwood floors are traditional in all Karate dojos for good reason. You need that solid foundation for establishing a regimen of solid, deep stances with proper balance. Do you expect you kids to do knuckle push-ups on a shag carpet over 6 lb. pad? What is this world coming to?

Seriously though, my wife insisted on thick carpets with heavy pads til the kids were done bouncing off their knees and foreheads 45 times a day. She seems to always get what she wants.

[Daris Mulkin]

Barnette when I started typing there were no reponses but I'm a slow typer so you beat me. I don't know where you are located but mind waves must pass great distances in a hurry.

Daris

[Barnette]

Daris Mulkin said Barnette when I started typing there were no reponses but I'm a slow typer so you beat me. I don't know where you are located but mind waves must pass great distances in a hurry. Daris

I'm in NJ...send your brain waves my way anytime. I like sounding smart.

[mcbrides]

When our daughter was an infant, we bought a waterfront home. The main house was t&g pine floors, with area rugs. The add-on family room floor was made of cross-sections of cedar logs, set in sand and mortared. The kid learned to walk like a mountain goat.

Your child will learn to walk, no matter what you put on your floors. If you want hardwood, then go for it.

Deb

[rusty baker]

Kids are tougher than you think.

[kylenelson]

Maybe compromise. Hardwood in main living areas/hallway and carpet in the kids bedroom. Hardwood ages better and is a better investment into your home. It's really just personal preference though, get whatever you want.

[ortiz34]

Is it a whole house? downstairs? LR?

If it's the entire house, I would go with the suggestion below

[happymar2009]

That's a great idea with putting rug in certain parts of the house if it is hardwood. It's a range home, about 2000 sq. ft.

No I don't want my son to be a softy but again, he is still a baby. I just don't want him to fall on his face or head and get hurt worse if we had hardwood floors. This is my first child so I'm a new father and is naive when it comes to children.

I have a flooring company come out to give me an estimate. I guess after they come out, its a matter of picking which hardwood and then the price will depend on what I pick.

Anybody in the Columbia South Carolina area? If so, have you heard of this company called Builders Wholesale? They used to work only with home builders but now they are changing up their company to service consumers like me. They talk a good game also!

Their site is builderswholesale.com

[kylenelson]

BrianM said Do you want your kids to be SOFT? Hardwood floors are traditional in all Karate dojos for good reason. You need that solid foundation for establishing a regimen of solid, deep stances with proper balance. Do you expect you kids to do knuckle push-ups on a shag carpet over 6 lb. pad? What is this world coming to? Seriously though, my wife insisted on thick carpets with heavy pads til the kids were done bouncing off their knees and foreheads 45 times a day. She seems to always get what she wants.

This is one of the funniest posts I've read on TFP!

[TFP Admin]

happymar2009 said Anybody in the Columbia South Carolina area?

I'm guessing that we either don't have any members from South Carolina, or they don't want you to find them. Otherwise, they would be listed in our PRO Directory. But in case I am all wrong about that, our members who are pro installers can have a free listing by filling out this form and our retailer members can have a free listing by filling out this form.

Maybe you could mention to Builders Wholesale that we have a directory of flooring professionals that they can advertise for free in - it's a free listing for all registered members who are flooring professionals. And registration is free too, as you already know.

Jim

[Marcy Tate]

I would say hardwood floors along with some area rugs are better. In fact, it's even healthier for you and your baby. carpets harbor so many dust mites and even if you aren't allergic to dust, it's simply not good to breathe in all that dust.

We had soft carpet in our first home (we lived there when my kids were crawling) and their knees got irritated from crawling on the carpet too.

Hardwood is much easier to clean from spills and crayon and marker spots. As your baby turn into a toddler, you'll inevitably end up with some marker spots on you floors -- and it's much easier to wipe off of a wood floor than carpet!

Good luck- post some pics when you get the floor done!