Good Questions: A Child-friendly Tablecloth?

We caught this question on Open Thread #12: With a toddler running around the house I really want to save my beautiful dining table from completely getting dinged :( Our coffee table has got a fair share of it !!

Any recommendations on nice modern tablecloths that don't look too frumpy ?

That's a great question. We've been on our own personal search for the perfect placemats, so we're a bit partial to the placemat idea. Check out the selection at Unica Home including this design by Marimekko.

Here's an option for a tablecloth over at Egiggle.com . This might work well for you, depending on the size you need. It's toxic free, wipes clean, and is machine washable.

If you do decide to go with a tablecloth, be sure to attach it to the table with clips. Toddlers will definitely reach for a dangling tablecloth to help them up.

Any other readers have ideas? How do you protect your table or coffee table?

Pic via Sangroid.com

Comments (4)

This spring I bought a pretty oilcloth table cloth from IKEA that I intended to use outside. It's a nice modern Inhabit-like print of leaves on a burnt orange field with steel blue and avacado green dots accenting the leaves. I decided it's best use was inside b/c it can be wiped off---I just keep it on the table all the time and wipe off after dinner.

I can't find it on the IKEA website, sorry! But oilcloth is a great solution if you will be dining frequently on that table.

posted by avimom on June 14th 2007 at 4:38am
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Another IKEA lover!

I just get a couple of yards of fabric and then hem up the edges. It's even more lowcost, same bright, modern fab-o design. Easily washable. IKEA fabric tends to be wider than your avg American fabric store, making it suitable for a normal width dining table.

posted by diber on June 14th 2007 at 5:47am
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Sorry to say... we can't have a table cloth because our toddler loves to pull at them to play with the cause and effect. "What happens when I pull this?... oh look, everything moves and falls off!... oh look, Mama is laughing and Papa is turning red!"

posted by rella1 on June 14th 2007 at 6:10am
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Leather placemats from Roots. They are indestructable (look good a little "weathered"), protect the table (as they are quite thick), don't slide, wipe clean, and make the table look more grown-up.

posted by mschatelaine on June 14th 2007 at 8:22am
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