10 Best Nursery Rugs for Your Baby Reviewed & a Complete Buying Guide

Last Updated on April 28, 2021

Decorating the nursery is one of the fun parts when expecting. And one key item needed in this room is a hardy rug. But with so many options, it can quickly become overwhelming, right? Sure, the pattern is a fun aspect, but there are also some other things to consider when deciding between the best nursery rugs. 

I wrote this piece to save you some time. You can see a list with my top 10 picks at the beginning, but you can also dig deeper and check out the buying guide below the reviews.

List of 10 Best Nursery Rugs for DadProgress

DadProgress is a reader-sponsored website, so if you see red product links here, then these are paid links (without any extra cost to you).

1. Extra Large Kids Playmat Rug City Life (Check the latest price on Amazon)

This rug is engaging and stimulating for the first few years of life. The colorful schools, hospitals, airports, and houses are a great way to grab children’s attention. The mat measures 80 inches by 40 inches, making it ideal for a large area and a top contender among the best carpets for a nursery. It can also be conveniently rolled up and stored for when you want to change the nursery’s theme.

PROS

• The vibrant colors are made to grab the attention of a child for hours
• This rug is not only big enough for your toddler or baby but all their toys
• This playmat lays flat, including the edges
• It has a skid-proof latex backing, so it’s safe

CONS

• This product is not the thickest nursery rug but would be a great addition on top of the carpet

2. Modern Hand-Knotted Area rug (Check the price on RugSource)

If you’re looking for a contemporary soft area rug for your nursery, then check out the different options available by RugSource. These are made of natural fibers like wool and silk, and KPI is at least 100. Please note that handmade rugs are one of a kind, so the picture can only be illustrative. This said they have an excellent webpage that’s constantly updated.

PROS

• Natural materials are extremely soft
• You get a unique nursery rug
• Patterns help to hide spots

CONS

• Handmade products aren’t cheap, and you may get too worried about ruining it

3. SoftTiles Children’s Playmat (Check the latest price on Amazon)

The SofTiles Playmat is an excellent alternative for any nursery seeking a thick “rug.” It can easily come apart yet are durable enough to stay together when played on. These mats are made with non-toxic materials. They are ideal for any hard surface such as wood floors or concrete basements. Another important feature is the sloped borders to prevent tripping. The design for these mats is safari animals, with a range of different colors to choose from, such as pinks, blues, and various multi-cored options.

PROS

• This product is easy to clean as any spills are not absorbed into the material. Meaning- it’s waterproof
• Putting it together or taking it to a different room is easy and stress-free
• SoftTiles states that they use only non-toxic EVA foam to produce these mats
• The tiles are 5/8″ (14mm) thick

CONS

• It’s not the cheapest nursery mat out there

4. Modern Hand-Knotted Accent Nursery rug (Check the price on RugSource)

If you’re looking for one of a kind accent rug, then take a look at the selection by RugSource. Their handmade products are made of natural materials and are very soft. While the illustrative picture is of a single colors version, you can choose between various traditional and modern patterns. The KPI should be at least 100.

PROS

• Soft handmade accent rugs add a unique touch to your nursery

CONS

• As with all the high-quality handmade products, they aren’t cheap

5. Ottomanson Collection Shag Rug (Check the latest price on Amazon)

The shag rug can be used for a nursery as it is stylish and functional. It can be bought in different sizes, but the 3’3″ by 4’7″ is a popular choice. The robust power-loomed construction offers your child soft padding with a durable surface. It’s made 100% of polypropylene, a safe material also used in diapers. This is one of the best carpets for the nursery because of how easy to match with other furniture in the room as they do not have loud or intricate designs. It also lays flat without pulling up at the corners for no tripping.

PROS

• Although this is a shag rug, there is little to minimal shedding involved
• The extra thickness and soft exterior make for ideal padding in the nursery
• This rug is usually sold at an affordable price

CONS

• One of the only negative aspects of this product is that it is not the easiest to clean, requiring extra care when spilled on

6. Woolino Naptime and Play rug (Check the latest price on Amazon)

It is made with 100 percent lambskins that are natural and imported from Australia. The size is two by 3 feet with a soft white lambskin appeal, making it a great smaller rug to accentuate items in your baby nursery. If you’re looking for a soft nursery rug, then this may be the one for you.

PROS

• Due to how soft lambskin is, babies tend to fall asleep more easily
• It meets the Oeko Tex 100 Standard, which ensures that no harmful chemicals are used
• Thanks to high-quality material, it will last longer than other rugs
• Machine-washable nursery rugs are a convenient addition for busy parents

CONS

• –

7. Handmade Kilim rug for Your Nursery (Check the price on RugSource)

Kilim rugs have a rich history behind them. They are flat and not very soft, so they aren’t ideal if you wish to place your newborn on them. This said, contemporary versions look excellent in most nurseries and are suitable if you’re planning to buy a playmat to be placed on it. And there’s a lot to discover if you decide to go with a traditional pattern. Most handmade products are one of a kind, and so the picture is only illustrative. This said RugSource offers a wide selection.

PROS

• Handmade Kilim rugs are unique and made of soft cotton
• They are flat and so ideal area rugs if your wish also to buy a playmat or accent rugs for certain areas

CONS

• Kilim rugs aren’t very soft, so they can be uncomfortable for your baby for a couple of months. After that, your little one starts to learn turning, and that’s more easily done on a flat surface. So it may be an ideal place for baby-exercising
• Handmade rugs can cost a lot of money

8. nuLoom Moroccan Blythe Area rug (Check the latest price on Amazon)

This Turkish rug is a candidate for one of the best nursery additions for its materials. It is also made from 100 percent Polypropylene, which is harmless for your infant. This product is typically used as an area rug, taking up a good amount of space with the dimensions of 5 by 7 feet. It is an affordable option, especially for the quality. It can also withstand various stains that children might cause.

PROS

• The pattern used in the design is simplistic and engaging
• Although this rug is large, it is usually an affordable purchase
• The color is more grey than white, so you don’t see stains on it. It can be a blessing if you have a toddler at home

CONS

• You may want to have a softer nursery rug

9. Antique Handmade rug (Check the price on RugSource)

To be honest, genuine antique carpets aren’t the best nursery rugs because they are just too valuable. You can expect to deal with different stains and older babies doing everything in their power to rip pieces out of it. This said, if you’re designing a rustic baby nursery, then it’s nice to know that nowadays, you can get authentic old rug even online. As all of them are one of a kind, the picture is only illustrative, of course.

PROS

• These are authentic old rugs with a rich history behind them. You can find rugs that are over 100 years old and still in almost perfect condition

CONS

• Most people consider them too valuable for nurseries

10. Hand Tufted Nursery rugs With Different Patterns (Check the price on RugSource)

Tufting is a technique where a small tufting gun is used to create different patterns. While the rugs are handmade, the process is speedy, so the price is also relatively low. RugSource offers many different designs, and the picture is only illustrative.

PROS

• It’s easier to find child-friendly patterns if you’re picking a rug made with the tufting technique
• Although they are also handmade, the price is usually relatively low. This said, you aren’t guaranteed a unique product as many of them can look almost identical
• These rugs are usually soft, and the best options use natural materials like cotton

CONS

• –

What are the Advantages of Having a Nursery Rug?

Rugs cover only part of the floor, so they aren’t the same thing as carpets (yeah, didn’t know that either). But should you even get one? Here’s a short list of reasons arguing for it: 

• Noise Reduction: Don’t walk on creaky floors and wake the baby when you can have a soft carpet or rug
• Comfort: Your next nursery rug should be soft enough for both you and the baby
• Warmth: Adding a rug or carpet keeps the room insulated for those cold nights
• Grounding: The right rug can help achieve that intimate space for rest and renewal, which your infant will need in the first few months
• Protection: If you have an expensive carpet on the floor, then a rug is perfect for protecting it

How to Choose Between the Best Nursery Rugs?

Here’s a list of things to consider before purchasing a rug for this beloved room. 

Size of the Nursery rug Determines how big Your Baby Room Looks

How big should the nursery rug be? Larger rugs make the room look bigger and vice versa. But you can accentuate items like your comfortable new glider with small nursery rugs in front of them. So the answer depends on your taste and needs.

Should you go With Natural or Synthetic Materials?

Deciding first on the desired material may help you to make a final decision. 

Wool and silk are natural materials used in most handmade rugs. You can also find many soft nursery rugs made of cotton. But going with a natural material doesn’t automatically make it a safe bet. If cheap dye is used, you may notice some color attaching to your clothes or your baby. And this, of course, is not healthy. 

Additionally, natural materials like cotton can be hard to clean. 

While synthetic materials (polypropylene or polyolefin, for example) or a mix of synthetic fibers and wool may not sound appealing, it may actually be a perfect choice. Reproduction-rugs are cheap, so no worries if it’s ruined in a year or two. Additionally, synthetic materials are usually easy to clean.

Handmade or Machine Made Nursery rug- Which is Better?

It’s not easy to tell if you should go with a handmade rug or not. There are many obvious advantages. You get a first-rate product that’s truly unique as each rug is made by a weaver (at least with most techniques). Hight-quality handmade carpets use natural fibers and good dye and are incredibly comfortable for your baby.

Your first clue about the quality of the rug is usually knots-per-inch (KPI). If you decide to go with a hand-knotted rug, look for examples with a KPI of 100 or higher. This said, there are many different techniques available.

On the other hand, machine-made rugs are cheaper, so you don’t lose your sleep worrying about stains. They are also easier to clean, and it’s effortless to find baby-friendly patterns.

Don’t be Afraid to go With an Unconventional Shape or Pattern

The shape of the rug can change the aesthetic and theme of the room. Choose from rectangular, circular, or even one in the form of a cloud. And you can add another layer of personality with different patterns. And keep in mind that patterned rugs also hide eventual stains😊

Best Nursery Rugs Should be Easy to Clean

You probably don’t need convincing that a hard-to-clean rug can add unwanted stress to your hectic life.

I’ve already touched this topic under previous paragraphs, but I wanted to bring out one more time (sorry for repeating myself) two important principles:

• Patterns help to hide stains
• Synthetic materials are usually easier to clean than natural fibers

After Finding the Best Nursery rug, Where Should I put it?

As I’ve already mentioned (sorry for repeating myself), you can use small nursery rugs to accentuate different areas or cover the entirety of the room with a large one.

Buy an accent rug if you wish to highlight a specific item or area, such as the man-glider or a reading area.

If you want the nursery to look bigger or have a nice big soft playing area, buy an area rug. These typically overlap underneath the nursery furniture.

And don’t forget the safety. Many floorings can be surprisingly slippery. You may want to consider anti-slip rugs if your nursery has a wooden floor, for example. Alternatively, you could put two-sided tapes (or special carpet tapes) under it to prevent sliding.

Is There Anything I Should Avoid?

When deciding which nursery rug to buy, it’s best, of course, to keep your baby in mind.

Beware of Dangerous Accessories:

Rugs with tassels and fun other additives may not be the best decision.

True, these are very interesting for your active one-year-old, but they may become a choking hazard. 

Additionally, after your toddler has done everything in his power to remove all the accessories, your rug just doesn’t look that good anymore.

Choose Function over Design:

Above all, the baby’s safety should come first. If your rug needs anti-slid rubber, make sure to take care of that before the baby uses his or her nursery for the first time. 

Unwanted Chemicals:

As I’ve discussed in my article about baby towels, using different chemicals is part of the manufacturing process. It doesn’t mean that the material is harmful. 

That said, if the rug is machine-made and easy to clean, it’s a good idea to wash it before first use. This ensures that all the residue chemicals are washed off. 

Oeko-Tex Standard is a great way to ensure that no harmful chemicals are used. It’s a global testing and certification system that has an extensive list of forbidden substances. Sadly, it’s not easy to ding nursery rugs that meet this standard.

To Sum Up

Finding the nest nursery rug can be tricky, as all parents have different needs. In this review, we have looked over ten different products, each having attributes that one should consider. 

For parents looking for a unique solution, I recommend a hand–knotted area rug from RugSource. All these products are one of a kind, so this article only includes illustrative pictures. But their online shop offers a large variety, rugs are made of natural fibers, and KPI should be over 100.

You can also pick a beautiful accent nursery rug by the same seller.

This all said, if you want a soft, affordable nursery rug, then go with the Ottomanson Collection Shag Rug (Check the latest price on Amazon).

Woolino Naptime and Play Rug (Check the latest price on Amazon) is an excellent small nursery rug. It meets the Oeko Tex 100 Standard, so it’s also one of the safest nursery rugs out there. 

Extra Large Kids Playmat Rug City Life (Check the latest price on Amazon) is a great nursery rug if you have an older toddler at home and wish for something more engaging.

And if you’re looking for an ideal rug for your man cave, go with an authentic 100-year-old handmade Persian rug (sold by RugSource) 😊

Thanks for reading!