Question

I'll probably regret asking this, but. new carpet installation just before baby arrives? Yes or no? I want to replace the carpet in our new home and my MIL is giving me the side eye. EDIT TO ADD: She thinks it's a huge risk to newborn's health and that he could die. Trying to find some kind of science to back this up is pretty impossible, but it happened in her family so I can't really argue with her either. ‍♀️

Answer 1

I would recommend doing it early enough to air the house out due to off-gassing of Volatile Organic Compounds. New carpet has a chemical smell and your whole house will smell like it and its not healthy for you or new baby lungs.  

Comments

@treen I was just going to post the same thing. Definitely air out well and give yourself plenty of time.  

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What she said. Often times you can also ask the company to unroll it in their warehouse first. This would be my concern by doing it right before baby is born, both for you and the baby.  

Answer 2

I say yes  

Answer 3

Yes, your home, be comfortable!  

Answer 4

Yes! You won’t want any one bothering you after baby arrives. Especially installers.  

Answer 5

Great thing about it being your new home. it doesn’t matter how sideways those eyes get unless she is paying for it.  

Comments

That wasn’t supposed to come off that salty. Lol. It was said nicely in my head

Answer 6

Congrats! Yes I wish we had gotten new when we moved in.  

Answer 7

I would say yes! You don’t know what is in the previous owners carpets and if your baby will have allergies! I didn’t have that chance and just had them all cleaned with baby 1, replaced before baby 2.  

Answer 8

Yep. So much healthier for a new baby to come home to fresh carpet!  

Comments

^ For this reason alone, yes! Carpets trap so much dirt and tons of allergens. Start fresh!  

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@durazzo4799 thisss!  

Answer 9

Yes! Absolutely

Answer 10

When i had my first, we were in an apartment so i couldn't change it but we got a shampooer and cleaned them good

Answer 11

Do it! We got rid of our carpet in our old house prior to our first being born and put in hardwood laminate floors and we were so happy we did.  

Answer 12

Yes! Who knows what’s lurking in the existing carpeting.  

Answer 13

Do MILs ever NOT give the side eye?!?  

Answer 14

Yes, and then no shoes in the house.  

Answer 15

Yes! I installed new carpet in our new house, a month before my due date. Too many germies  

Answer 16

As long as you install it with enough time to off gas.  

Answer 17

Do it. Call Lenny Santora. He just installed our carpet in the fall (whole house) and did a great job. (630) 543-3766

Comments

@dunseath Did you purchase carpet through Lenny, too?  

Answer 18

Congrats on the house!  

Answer 19

I did before my daughter was born my entire house where I had carpet !  

Answer 20

And you’re listening to your MIL (about your own home), why?  

Answer 21

Be like Nike and Just Do It!  

Answer 22

Yes. We did that before my daughter was born

Answer 23

I would be concerned with offgassing. If you do it, maybe try to open the windows and get away for a day or more to let the house air out.  

Answer 24

Go for it but just open windows while you aren't home for a few days to help get the chemical smell out. Better before than after. ‍♀️

Answer 25

It's sad that you felt like you might regret asking this. You're talking about the health of your newborn. Even if you get a couple of cray cray comments, it's worth it for one valid statement. They cant all be Pearl's. My husband and I had a painting and dec business for at yrs until he retired. I can tell you that fumes are a real hazard, especially to tiny lungs. I'm shocked by the fumes in paint and wallcovering, even though I oddly love it, lol. If you can get it well in advance, open windows than I'd say ok, otherwise, no.  

Answer 26

It’s hard to believe that these days carpeting and paint kill babies.  

Comments

@yodel trump is president tho and asbestos is now cool again

Answer 27

I'm sure the debris under the current carpeting is way worse than what that new carpet will be. I hope your mil isnt planning on instilling her advice on your baby as well  

Answer 28

I personally love wood floors they're so clean and you can always put down rugs

Comments

@secondclass McGorman as long as you don’t stain, varnish or clean them!  

Answer 29

Can u get the new carpet n than maybe have it professionally cleaned to get the new carpet chemicals off of it? I know this might be pricey

Answer 30

Its the Formaldehyde in it. Just buy a Dyson HP06 Air Purifier to clean out the gasses the carpet gives off. They're on sale if you call into Dyson. Dyson customer svc knocks down the price.  

Answer 31

Put some carpet in and get some ventilation going get some fans going put the fan on in your heating system is a fan let it circulate if it's in the baby's room open the windows. I think it's better to have clean carpeting in a floors before the baby then after the baby so the baby baby would Breathe it in I think you're right just do it like that lady said Nike

Answer 32

Depending on the kind, carpet can outgas VOCs for months. Many carpets are made with formaldehyde. If you get wool carpet or US made hardwood floors it would be better for the baby. If it was me, I would get wool carpet or wood floors before the baby arrives. Lots of things have formaldehyde including furniture made with particle board - like the furniture from IKEA. Get real wood furniture for the babies room, not pressboard, particle board or MDF.  

Answer 33

I wouldn’t unless you have time for it to off gas, and pray you don’t have a refluxer. I can’t tell you how many times my kids puked up entire bottles.  

Answer 34

We put in all new carpets before our baby was born. He’s now 3 years old and thriving  

Comments

@loriannlorianna5 unbelievable!