When I began decorating our nursery in preparation for our firstborn, finding thebest nursery rugs was of utmost importance. As a person with cold feetand I mean that in the most literal senserugs are an absolute essential in my home. In a shoes-off household, I like knowing that my toes will be nice and toasty no matter what room Im in or what the weather is like outdoors.Rugs are one of my favorite items to shop for while travelingI have multiplehand-tufted rugs from Morocco, a patterned rug that I found in Bogota, and a kilim rug I love so much that Ive transported it through five moves. But with a newborn, my rug priorities quickly shifted to outfitting ababys nursery. Once focused on pattern, style, and story, my sights are now set onkids rugs that are hypoallergenic, plush, easy on the knees,machine washable, pill-free, andstain-resistant.My partner and I spent months researching, testing, spilling, spot cleaning, spilling some more, and chatting with parents in the design industry to identify whichnursery rugs came out on top for beautifulbaby rooms. Here, some of our favorites that will suit both you and your little one.Our Top Picks:BestRound:Nestig Plaid Rug, $399BestMulticolor:Nestig Sunrise Rug, $399Best Rainbow: Nestig Arches Rug, $399Best Checkerboard: Irregular Checkerboard Rug by Sarah Sherman Samuel, $548Best for a Playroom:HAY Tapis Rug, $645 $483Best Flatweave: Revival Halo Flatweave Wool Rug, $299Browse by category:BestRound:Nestig Plaid RugNestig Plaid RugMaterialsOrganic cotton and nontoxic dyesCare InstructionsWash separately with a low-pH detergent. Run an extra rinse cycle if possible, then tumble dry on delicate using the machines lowest heat setting.Tester: Shoko Wanger, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? Its soft, almost towel-like, and appealingly fluffyall things my toddler loves. Its an ideal surface for stretching out and reading books or snuggling. Since its generously sized, we can both fit on it comfortably. Its a greatplayroom addition.How do you like sitting on it? Its very comfortable, and I appreciate that a rug thatsmachine washable can be made from natural materials. The combination of organic cotton and easy cleaning is hard to pass up!BestMulticolor:Nestig Sunrise RugNestig Sunrise RugMaterials100% natural cotton fibers, woven by local artisans in Brazil using nontoxic dyes.Care InstructionsMachine washable, baby! I also found that throwing the rug in the dryer for 10 minutes really fluffs it up and makes it look less towel-like! Highly recommend!Tester: Briana Feigon, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? Our daughter enjoys the tactile element of this rug, running her fingers through the fibers of the rug and trying to grasp onto the threads.How do you like sitting on it? I was drawn to this rug for the playful color scheme and the fact that it is made of soft 100% natural cotton fibers. I was impressed with how compact the rug is able to fold up into because of how plush andcomfy it is. The colors are just as rich in person as they look online. That said, I do wish this rug had a bit more padding. I found that the rug looks and feels somewhat towel-like and wouldnt make for a greatplay rug. I imagine this accounts for how easy it is to throw in thewashing machine, and since our daughter is a spit-up queen, this has very much come in handy, but I would recommend putting over arug pad to add some extra cushion.Best Rainbow: Nestig Arches RugNestig Arches RugMaterials100% organic cotton. Its available in two colorways (pink or seaglass, which is a light blue) and uses nontoxic dyes. Each rug is handmade in Brazil.Care InstructionsThe recommended care instructions for this particular rug from Nestig are to wash on a cold, delicate cycle using gentle detergent with a low pH.Tester: Malena Galloway Rivas, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? Theres a shagginess to the rug, which I loveit adds a bit of depth and fluff which makes it cozy to sit on. Also, cleaning the rug is a breeze, considering the size. I appreciate that its pretty lightweight so shaking off the dust/dirt isnt too much of an arm workout.How do you like sitting on it? As soon as I enter my daughters nursery, I love stepping onto the rug with my bare feetits soft and the perfect size for both of us to sit on and play. The colors in the rug (dusty rose, beige, orange, and sage) complement the accent wall (forest green) and the natural tones of the furniture. We wanted the nursery to be filled with jewel tones and muted hues and the rug is the perfect addition that ties the space together.Best Checkerboard: Irregular Checkerboard Rug by Sarah Sherman SamuelLulu and Georgia Irregular Checkerboard Rug by Sarah Sherman SamuelMaterials90% natural wool and 10% cottonCare InstructionsIts normal for shedding or loose fibers to occur with this rug and it should diminish over time with regular vacuuming or trimming. I want to note that this rug is easy to vacuum, though it is not recommended to use powerful vacuums or vacuums with beater bars. Blot stains and clean professionally.Tester: Clara Haneberg, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? Baby loves sitting on this supersoft, beautifully imperfect rug, and its irregular square shapes always draw his eye. The rug provides a plush foundation for our nursery while also doubling as a whimsical backdrop for our sons toysits unique, contrasting high-low pile create dips for his trucks to drive down and act as pretend parking spots to put his tiny dinosaurs. He always giggles when we enter his room, and Im highly certain this rug has something to do with it!How do you like sitting on it? I enjoy sitting on this well-made rug. Its contrasting high-low pile doesnt negatively affect its comfort when sitting. Its plush enough for me to get on all fours and play along with my little one for hours.Best For a Playroom:HAY Tapis RugHAY Tapis RugMaterialsJute and cotton with a nonslip polyester backingCare InstructionsVacuum regularly and spot treat stains with a product made for natural fibers. Professionally clean as needed.Tester: Shoko Wanger, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? He loves playing on it! It definitely sees a lot of action. We have this rug in our playroom and its absolutely perfect for that areaits understated but still characterful, soft but still serves as an ideal surface for play. It really checks all the boxes. And its nonslip backing is a godsend. With all the movement that happens in this area of our house, it would be a terrible nuisance to have to constantly reposition a rug pad.How do you like sitting on it? Im so happy with it! It really feels like an ideal rug for a high-traffic, multipurpose spacedurable, attractive, and so comfortable. And I love the subtle hint of color. Its not a rug Id immediately turn to for a nursery, but for a playroom its a perfect 10.Best Flatweave: Revival Halo Flatweave Wool RugRevival Flatweave Halo RugMaterialsHand-carded all-natural wool on cotton foundationCare InstructionsVacuum regularly with a rug-friendly machine (no beater brush!). Spot-clean by blotting with a paper towel or cloth. Then add clean water or use a damp cloth to dilute the stain before blotting again. Repeat until the stain is removed. Gentle detergent can be used for particularly stubborn stains. Do not dry-clean or steam clean. Professionally clean as needed.Tester: Shoko Wanger, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? He plays really happily on it. The weave is flat enough that he can roll his trucks over it with ease and soft enough that its a pleasant surface to walk, run, and dance on. When I asked his opinion on it, he said, Feels like Santa!which is unquestionably a compliment.How do you like sitting on it? Its an impressive rug. You really get a sense of the quality of the hand-carded wool when you sit on it. Also, as a parent who appreciates understated uses of kid-friendly color, I love how subtleyet impactfulthe pink fibers are.Best for an AnimalThemed Nursery: Nestig Tiger RugNestig Tiger RugMaterials100%cotton and made with natural dyesCare InstructionsItsmachine washable, which is one of the reasons I chose it. Since its made with natural dyes, Nestig recommends using a mild detergent with a low pH instead of harsher ones like Tide that might cause the colors to run. They also recommend running an extra rinse cycle to ensure the detergent is fully washed from the rug.Editors note: While this pick is sold out, the Hand-Tufted Velvet Rug in Blue Tigger from Maisonette is a similar and great option if youre looking for a tiger rug option, though made from 100% wool instead of 100% cotton.Tester:Elaheh Nozari, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? My three-month old niece didtummy time on itit is supersoft but not itchy, which makes it good for a baby. I also have hardwood floors and I found that its an easy rug to move around to parts of the apartment that might need more cushioning fortummy time or playing. It does slip so if youre planning to keep it in one place as anarea rug, Id recommend buying arug pad to make sure it stays in one place.How do you like sitting on it? Its very comfortable! I was worried that it would feel itchy, but the cotton is supersoft and cushioned.Best for ExtraTummy Time:Lorena Canals Washable RugLorena Canals Washable Rug, Lanes Vintage BlueMaterials97% cotton, 3% other fiber.Care InstructionsMachine wash on delicate wash using a mild detergent (no bleach, no softeners.) Do not leave the wet rug in the washer, as colors may run or stain. Tumble dry at low temperature. Avoid drying in the sun. During the first few days, it is advisable to sweep the rug with a hard brush in the direction of the plush, and then it is recommended to use the vacuum cleaner but not a robot vacuum.Editors note: While this pick is sold out, the Casablanca 704 Rectangle from Maisonette is a great alternative, featuring a very similar design and plush pile texture.Tester: Briana Feigon, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? This rug has been a huge hit in the house. Beautiful design and high-quality materials, this gender-neutral rug quickly creates a focal point in any baby room. It is plush enough that I can put our baby down directly on it without needing to lie out a blanket orplay mat. Its also supersoft to the touch and fluffy. The instructions guided us to put in the dryer for 10 minutes after unpacking, and this makes all the difference in fluffing it up!How do you like sitting on it? I actually just set up a set of drawers in the nursery while sitting on this rug, and it was the perfect padding for my postpartum knees and wrists. Very comfortable. I envision many hours of play on this rug in the years to come! Best of all, Lorena Canals pieces are feel-good purchases, as the brand donates a portion of proceeds to support childrens education in Northern India.Best For the Emerging Artist:Ethan Cook RugDesign Within Reach Ethan Cook Flat Works RugMaterialsHandwoven wool and cottonCare InstructionsVacuum on low-power setting. Absorb stains with a paper towel, dab with a damp cloth and mild detergent. (Ive tested this with some of my daughters spit-up and it worked like a charm!)Editors note: While the Ethan Cook Rug is sold out, the Willa Wool Handloom Rug from DWR has a similar design, handloomed from wool and cotton with a similar flatweave, kilim-style to the Flat Works Rug.Tester: Briana Feigon, contributorHow did your baby/kid like sitting on it? The vision for this rug was a kid-friendly rug in an adult room. We spend a substantial amount of time with our daughter in theliving room, and wanted a rug that would be suitable for her but also elegant enough to feel adult-appropriate. Posie loves the color blocking of this rug and we love that it is made of hypoallergenic fibers. Sometimes our daughter will haveplaytime directly on the rug, and other times we will spread out aplay mat or throw blanket on top of the rug to offer Posie some extra padding to play on top of.