Creating Safe & Colourful Play Spaces with the Kutchu Play Mat
We all know that safe play areas are one of the most important things we can provide for our children and the Kutchu Play Mat certainly delivers when it comes to safe play spaces.
Kutchu is a Canadian innovation and was created by a first-time mom while on maternity leave.
The Kutchu Play Mat is made of natural rubber – it contains no plastic or vinyl. It is non-toxic and eco-friendly (the rubber is biodegradable and will not leave a permanent footprint in the landfill the way synthetic foam will). It is a great size (approximately 4.25 x 5.5 feet) and has a nice thickness to it (3/16 of an inch).
It is dual sided; one side is a nice bright green and the other a really nice vibrant violet. Kutchu has the same look and feel as a nice plushy, extra-large yoga mat. It turns any room into a nice, bright, and safe play space.
Kutchu is sold exclusively on Amazon and retails for $179.00 CDN or $159.00 USD. Shipping is free. I know that the price seems a little steep at first but the Kutchu’s quality, ease of use and safety make it well worth every penny.
When I first opened the box I was a little taken aback by the smell. However, that is just the natural properties of the rubber and the smell was gone within 24 hours. I gave it a quick wash with the enclosed cleaning instructions (a mixture of water, vinegar and a couple of drops of tea tree oil).
After 24 hours I put the mat down and let my toddler do his thing. Our entire house is hardwood and he slips and slides all of the time. The Kutchu was a welcome change from that. It is large enough that he was able to dance and jump around without his feet sliding out from under him. I could definitely see this mat being beneficial for babies learning to crawl and walk. The mat provides traction so that limbs are not slipping and sliding all over the place. Because it has a good thickness to it, it also absorbs some of the impact with the ground when kids tumble.
One of the things I like the most about the Kutchu is its ease of use. No more piecing puzzle mats together and then taking them all apart if you want to make your house look like grownups live there too. The Kutchu can be easily rolled or folded and put away and taken back out again in a matter of seconds.
Speaking of the puzzle mats, my kid liked to take his apart and chew on it (so gross) but with Kutchu there is none of that! There are no pieces to pull apart and dine on. I am sure if a child was so inclined they could munch on a corner but I don’t think it would be as satisfying since they could not pick it up and attempt to shove the whole thing in their tiny mouth.
Caring for the Kutchu is easy as well. It is not recommended that you vacuum it because the mat can lose its integrity so just wipe it down as instructed. Kutchu is not for outdoor play.
I can tell you that the Kutchu has been a very welcome addition to our home. We don’t even put ours away anymore. It is a staple in our family room and my son loves it. It is highly recommended!
