Polished timber and tile are unforgiving when someone is learning to walk. The Relax Mat is 35mm of slow rebound foam, so it absorbs the drop instead of passing it straight through. Thick enough to soften a tumble, firm enough that they can still push up, crawl and stand without sinking into it.

The usual problem with soft flooring is that it becomes one more thing to clean. The Relax Mat surface is stain and spill resistant, so what lands on it sits on top rather than soaking in. A damp cloth and you are done. For high traffic rooms, go darker.

Interlocking foam tiles do the job and make your lounge room look like a gym. The Relax Mat comes in neutrals and designer prints that read as a rug, which means it stays down permanently instead of being rolled away before people come over.

Babies spend tummy time face down on this, so what it is made of matters. The materials are non-toxic and OEKO-TEX certified, meaning they have been tested for harmful substances. Worth checking on any foam product before it goes on the floor.

A rug that slides on floorboards is a hazard once there is a toddler running on it. The Relax Mat has a non-slip backing and enough weight to sit flat, so it does not ruck up or travel across the room.

Tummy time, then crawling, then fort building, then a yoga mat, then where you end up on a Sunday afternoon. Same mat. It also folds and rolls, so it moves rooms or goes to the grandparents without a fight.

Older dogs that struggle to climb into a raised bed take to it quickly, because the foam cushions their joints and there is no lip to get over. Muddy paws, drool and accidents wipe off the same as everything else.