At what age is it safe for me to buy a nice couch?

[Anonymous]

At what age will my children stop spilling milk on the couch or having the occasional potty accident? I don’t let her eat there, but I do let her have milk, and it tips over. She’s 4 and still occasionally wets her pants.

At what age do you stop needing to tack bookcases and other furniture to the walls? (So they don’t tip over)

I’m planning a reno and I’m going to do everything after my daughter has passed the furniture-ruining and babyproofing stage. I think we must be within a couple of years?

I realize at least for the milk spilling, I could parent differently to solve this problem, but I’d rather just wait to upgrade so that I’m not stressed about her ruining the nicer couch.

[Anonymous]

Potty accidents I would say 1 year from when you started potty training. For us that was 3.5. Milk spills probably about 5. But I have been at adult parties where people spill, so getting a stain resistant or easy to clean couch is a good idea. Or be like my mother and never take the plastic off the couch ever.

Tacking stuff to the wall, that depends on your kids. My oldest never climbed or thought to climb. My middle will ensure everything is secured to the wall until she is 20. But I would say probably about 6-7 for most kids. Once she is tall enough to reach the tops of things, she won't need to open drawers to make a ladder. It is not a bad idea to secure tall bookshelves anyway.

[Anonymous]

I have never let my kids eat or drink on the couch. Done one can shears throw up on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potty accidents I would say 1 year from when you started potty training. For us that was 3.5. Milk spills probably about 5. But I have been at adult parties where people spill, so getting a stain resistant or easy to clean couch is a good idea. Or be like my mother and never take the plastic off the couch ever.

Tacking stuff to the wall, that depends on your kids. My oldest never climbed or thought to climb. My middle will ensure everything is secured to the wall until she is 20. But I would say probably about 6-7 for most kids. Once she is tall enough to reach the tops of things, she won't need to open drawers to make a ladder. It is not a bad idea to secure tall bookshelves anyway.

We had our couch professionally steam cleaned and it looked brand new after for only $60. I’m only mentioning it because it can rescue a couch from a bad spill the sooner you do it. As for our couch—it got messy again about 5 seconds after cleaning but I have a 1 and 4 year old (we also don’t eat on it but this couch easily stains). Like OP we are going to get another one once the kids are older. But in the interim get our couch cleaned once a year so it doesn’t look too shabby over that time.

[Anonymous]

We bought a nice and very expensive leather sofa when my son was 2.5. But I never allowed eating or drinking other than water (in a water bottle). I don't think I'd allow that even if it wasn't as expensive. Anyway, the sofa still looks great. Sure, there have been a few water drops here and there. It's my husband's drinking and eating that is more the issue, haha. But leather, especially burnished leather, is great for kids. So it depends on the fabric.

[Anonymous]

I still have my really nice expensive leather sofa from before kids and vintage rugs in the living room. Oldest is 5 and youngest not yet 2. No milk has ever been spilled there (no food or drinks allowed out of the kitchen/dining room for anyone) and we had maybe 1 potty accident. No jumping on it either. Looks almost new and its 10+ years old. Its not just about the kids.

[Anonymous]

I'm just waiting until mine are a little bit older. I don't want to "have no-snack/no-drinks in the chill-out area" policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potty accidents I would say 1 year from when you started potty training. For us that was 3.5. Milk spills probably about 5. But I have been at adult parties where people spill, so getting a stain resistant or easy to clean couch is a good idea. Or be like my mother and never take the plastic off the couch ever.

Tacking stuff to the wall, that depends on your kids. My oldest never climbed or thought to climb. My middle will ensure everything is secured to the wall until she is 20. But I would say probably about 6-7 for most kids. Once she is tall enough to reach the tops of things, she won't need to open drawers to make a ladder. It is not a bad idea to secure tall bookshelves anyway.

We had our couch professionally steam cleaned and it looked brand new after for only $60. I’m only mentioning it because it can rescue a couch from a bad spill the sooner you do it. As for our couch—it got messy again about 5 seconds after cleaning but I have a 1 and 4 year old (we also don’t eat on it but this couch easily stains). Like OP we are going to get another one once the kids are older. But in the interim get our couch cleaned once a year so it doesn’t look too shabby over that time.

Imagine how gross the cushions must be underneath?

[Anonymous]

Oh wnd if you allow milk now, will you allow milk and soda and whatever when shes okder and has friends over? They can still ruin something when older and clumsy and excited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh wnd if you allow milk now, will you allow milk and soda and whatever when shes okder and has friends over? They can still ruin something when older and clumsy and excited.

8:02 here. Fine with me. It's a house, and it can be cleaned. It's not a museum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still have my really nice expensive leather sofa from before kids and vintage rugs in the living room. Oldest is 5 and youngest not yet 2. No milk has ever been spilled there (no food or drinks allowed out of the kitchen/dining room for anyone) and we had maybe 1 potty accident. No jumping on it either. Looks almost new and its 10+ years old. Its not just about the kids.

You are me! I'm the pp with the leather sofa. And I also have vintage persian and turkish rugs in our rooms! Haha. Also great with kids!

[Anonymous]

Honestly never. You should always anchor tall cabinets. Adults can spill things. You will have guests who have kids.

Get midrange furniture that is comfortable and looks nice, has a good warranty, and can be cleaned. Take care of it (I make my 7 year old eat elsewhere) but feel ok about repairing or replacing it if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At what age will my children stop spilling milk on the couch or having the occasional potty accident? I don’t let her eat there, but I do let her have milk, and it tips over. She’s 4 and still occasionally wets her pants.

She needs a sippy lid and regular reminders to go potty. Everybody spills but honestly both the things you describe are so preventable (and gross).

[Anonymous]

We just got new couches and my daughter was a few months shy of 7-so far so good.

[Anonymous]

Mine are teens and decided to eat pickles out of the jar on the sofa while watching a movie with jump scares. Which is why we have IKEA.