Choosing a baby crawling mat

As soon as the child begins to roll over and crawl, staying on a bed or a couch becomes dangerous for him - the kids often crawl to the edge and fall, while they get quite serious injuries. To prevent such situations, young parents move their babies to the floor. However, it is necessary to prepare the surface for crawling in such a way that it is warm, comfortable and at the same time contributes to the psycho-emotional development of the crumbs.

Crawling mats are subject to the most stringent requirements. The climbing surface should exclude the possibility of injury, the coating should be soft.Rigid parquet board, like laminate, is absolutely not suitable for crumbs, and linoleum is not much softer. That is why many people get mats for climbing.

Some parents are installing the "warm floor" system and believe that this is quite enough. - This is a common misconception, since an electric floor heating is quite tangible for a little person radiation, and no one will allow to install a water structure in high-rise buildings. Of course, no one has yet managed to confirm that the emissions are dangerous to life and health, but at the same time no one has yet decided to dispute this statement. On the whole, installation of warm floors is rather troublesome and expensive, so far not every family can afford to quickly insulate a house or apartment from below.

Carpeting flooring will not be the best way out, dust accumulates in its hairs, which leads to the development of allergic diseases and asthma in babies.In addition, the pile from the carpet will always remain on the palms of the baby and his toys, and given that children tend to drag everything into their mouths, the likelihood that all this will end up in the stomach of the crumbs is very high - this can cause harm to the growing organism.

Less expensive and at the same time much more simple way to prepare a place for the crawling of the child is a special mat. Today, in stores you can find a wide selection of various models made from different materials and having distinctive operational features. But all the options are united by one thing - they are soft, but at the same time elastic and allow the child to move freely, which is very important when it comes to a child with an immature musculoskeletal system.

Experts give several recommendations for choosing floor mats to crawl.

• No need to focus on the cost of the product. As a rule, cheap models have a very dubious quality, and expensive ones charge an overpayment for a brand. That is why it is better to choose some "middle ground".
• Do not order the product through the Internet, before buying a rug, you should touch it with your hands and inspect it visually. It should be pleasant to the skin and not have any visible defects.The coating should not be slippery or hard, and the joints should be as smooth as possible.

It is categorically unacceptable to rug dirty hands and leave paint on them, the same applies to any chemical smell - this indicates the use of the most low-quality paints and materials, which sometimes emit hazardous toxic substances. When choosing a color, also keep in mind that you do not need to buy a too catchy product, since such tones are irritating, it is better to dwell on calmer shades, the soothing effect of which has long been known.

To date, the market for children's products offers a large selection of various rugs. The most popular puzzle mats, which consist of six or more parts, each of which differs in its shape. The principle of their docking with each other is similar to collecting puzzles - hence the product got its name.These rugs are ideal for kids who are just learning to crawl, and for older kids, they can be a good educational toy. The elements of the rug are rather dense, their thickness is 10 mm, but at the same time every detail is rather lightweight. The product is made from a special environmentally friendly polymer material that does not cause allergies. In addition, it is very easy to take care of it - the parts can be washed separately, they are easily cleaned from a variety of contaminants, and in addition, they dry quickly. Such a rug can be spread at home, and you can take with you on a trip to nature - in disassembled form, it will not take up much space in the trunk of a car.

For production use hypoallergenic raw materials with good noise insulation characteristics., so the neighbors below will not get a reason to complain that your child is disturbing their peace. It is noteworthy that such a rug is safety, which is very important. If desired, they can cover the entire floor, even if the free space has a complex geometry. Children's psychologists have long noticed that puzzle mats stimulate the mental and physical development of the crumbs through tactile and visual perception.

Very popular models designed to fully cover the children's room. The elements in it have a standard thickness, the material retains heat well, so that the baby is comfortable on the floor. The texture of the elements is slightly convex, so the crumb can cling to the rug and, if necessary, push off from these details. This is a great option for the youngest fidget.

For parents who do not want their child to leave the rug, it is better to opt for models with bumpers. In them the edges are closed with soft protective barriers that are fixed in the slots. If the child is on such a floor mat, then parents can calmly at any time go to the kitchen, to the bathroom or to another room, without worrying that the little one will get out of the play area and cause misfortune.

A very popular model is a massage mat, in which every detail has numerous convex elements that not only entertain, but also have a therapeutic effect - they contribute to the treatment and prevention of flatfoot.In addition, such models contribute to improved color perception and stimulate the development of fine motor skills, and this, in turn, largely contributes to the better development of the baby’s speech.

Another interesting type of floor mats are gymnastic models that are covered with crumb rubber. They are not suitable for frequent use, but for a short stay baby and for elementary sports exercises are ideal. They are in demand due to the low price and lack of slip, in addition, such a rug is quite easy to clean and is durable. Such products often carry with them to the dacha or the nature, so that the baby in any situation can improve their crawling skills.

In recent years, models of puzzle mats with sound and lighting effects have appeared on the market, as well as products equipped with buttons, various mechanisms and other touch-enhancing elements.However, such products, as a rule, have a high cost, and they are sold mainly through online purchases.

Puzzle mats have undoubted advantages:

• cushioning effect due to the softness and elasticity of the material;
• have high thermal insulation characteristics;
• are made from environmentally friendly raw materials, do not emit harmful volatile substances;
• they are easy to clean, so a child can be on such a coating even without a diaper;
• compact in storage and transportation;
• details of such a rug can be easily replaced in case of damage and deformation.

A good alternative to the puzzle mat can be roll coverings, which take up very little space and can easily be stored in a closet or under a sofa. These rugs perfectly soften the blow and retain heat, but their lifespan is small.

Some parents acquire developmental mats for their children, however they cannot in any way be considered as an alternative to creeping coatings, since they are rather small in size, this means that the child will constantly crawl beyond its borders. In addition, the products are made from textiles, so do not hold the shape, slipping on the floor, and do not protect the baby from injury during a fall. This product is optimal for newborns.

For information on how to choose a baby rug for use, see the following video.