The excitement of parenthood comes with the realization that your child fully relies on you to provide the best environment for growth and exploration and one that prioritizes safety and well-being. You've probably baby-proofed your entire home, but since your child spends most of their time in the nursery, it's the one room in your house that needs to meet their unique needs.

As a fun space for your baby to rest, play and explore, your nursery likely features the best design, colors and entertainment objects appropriate for your child's age. But does it have the right flooring to ensure a safe, secure and fun surface for your child to play, crawl or walk on?

Features You Want in a Nursery Flooring Choice

How you approach flooring in other rooms differs from a nursery because you must consider the role your desired flooring type plays in fulfilling your baby's needs. Here are features to consider when choosing nursery flooring:

• Soft and warm: The softness and warmth of a floor type provide a safe and comfortable environment for your child. The floor needs to be warm enough to protect your little one from getting cold when they sit or move around and safe enough to prevent bruises and injuries when they tumble.
• Low maintenance: The best flooring for nurseries should also meet your maintenance needs. Kids are naturally messy, so a low-maintenance floor will be easier to clean without needing special tools and cleaning agents.
• Slip-proof: Small children are not steady and sometimes walk fast or run on the floor. You need a flooring type that creates friction when your child plays, resisting slippage.
• Waterproof: A waterproof floor eases your mind about spills, so you can allow your child to play freely. You may want to consider the convenience of relatively waterproof flooring materials like laminate and luxury vinyl.
• Noise-canceling: Flooring materials vary in their ability to absorb sound. Flooring types with high acoustical value allow your toddler to play freely and make it easier for you to move around when they sleep.

What Are the Best Flooring Types for Nurseries?

Nursery flooring should prioritize your child. It should also be durable and easy to maintain. Here are the best flooring types to consider for your nursery:

Luxury Vinyl

Today's homeowners are fond of luxury vinyl flooring because of the artisanship and technology involved in manufacturing a product that mimics wood and tile without the drawbacks. While it's a synthetic alternative that saves money and looks great in every room, its features make it ideal for nurseries and children's playrooms.

Due to structural layers like foam, LVT is soft underfoot and warmer than many flooring types. The layers absorb sound, allowing children to play without worrying that the noise will bother those below. Additionally, LVT is highly durable, waterproof and scratch-resistant, making it perfect for rough play, spills and messes.

Carpet

Carpet is a popular choice for parents due to its many benefits, ranging from softness and warmth to unmatched comfort underfoot. The plush texture and different fabric options make selecting just the right style for your baby's room easy. As the ultimate baby-friendly option, carpet flooring offers exceptional cushioning, perfect for a wobbly toddler.

The soft carpet surface will be easy on your child's joints, reducing the risk of injuries and providing a safe and comfortable area to sit and move around. The best carpet for a nursery offers noise-canceling abilities and is durable and easy to maintain. When shopping, you can choose between shallow or deeper piles, which is great when considering comfort and ease of cleaning.

Laminate

Laminate is a manufactured flooring material made from pressed wood fiber. It is designed to mimic natural wood or stone. It features several strong layers that make it durable, scratch-resistant and stain-resistant. While laminate is not the best waterproof choice, the top wear layer can withstand moisture and small spills.

Additionally, laminate flooring has an underlay layer that increases its insulation and sound-proofing capabilities, making it a worthwhile investment for your child's nursery. Considering the chaos and mess that toddlers and older children are capable of, you may need the wear-resistant feature that laminate floors offer.

Hardwood

Hardwood is an excellent flooring material with all-around benefits that make it an incredible investment for every room in your home. For nurseries, hardwood flooring provides a hard but warm surface, free from allergens and chemical buildup. If warmth and comfort are your main priorities, this flooring type can retain heat well enough.

However, hardwood's strengths lie in its beauty and remarkable durability, as it can withstand high-foot traffic, spills and messes. While the finishing fades over time, a new coat of finish instantly restores the original look. If hardwood doesn't fully satisfy the warmth, comfort and cushioning you need for your child's nursery, you could bring in an area rug to ensure a child-friendly space while still retaining the magnificence of hardwood flooring.

Tips for Selecting the Right Flooring for Your Child’s Nursery

Consider these tips to help select the right flooring suitable for a nursery:

• Health: Your baby's health must be your first priority. Choose a floor type made from safe materials that don't produce chemicals or trap dirt and allergens. 
• Safety: Consider floors that facilitate play and movement for your baby without causing bruising. These should feel soft to the touch but not slippery. For example, investing in premium carpets for nurseries guarantees exceptional cushioning compared to other floor types.
• Quality: Consider quality before selecting a flooring material, regardless of the type and expected benefits. High-quality floors live up to their unique features. If you're unsure, ask about strengths and weaknesses and confirm if the provider has warranties to back up their claims.
• Budget: You can get the best flooring for your baby's nursery without breaking the bank. If a store doesn't have quality offers within your budget, find one with competitive pricing. Carpet & Tile Mart has long positioned itself in the industry as an affordable superstore that helps you get the most out of your money.

Find Quality Flooring at Carpet & Tile Mart

Best carpets for nurseries put your little one first. They are soft underfoot and provide warmth and comfort. As you shop for the type that meets your needs, consider features that make the floor a great place for your baby to play and explore. At Carpet & Tile Mart, we have everything you need to create the perfect flooring for a nursery.

As a one-stop shop for all things flooring, Carpet & Tile Mart has a large inventory, ensuring variety. We also offer discounts and deals on certain products, allowing you to save money. Once you make an in-store visit, we help you every step of the way, from taking measurements to installing your floor. You can also upload pictures of your room to our room visualizer feature to get a sense of how different flooring types will look. Find a Carpet & Tile Mart store near you to get started!