What Type of Couch to Get -Safe from Spills from Toddler Drinks

Leather is the best and for us the only kind we'll ever get for a sofa. You can easily wipe clean the smudges and spills and wipe it down occasionally with a leather polish for maintenance. I cannot imagine having any other material, especially when you have kids.

We bought a leather couch after my second son was born. My old couch had formula, milk, juice stains all over it. The first time my son spilled his cup on my leather couch I just wiped it up off - it was the best money we ever spent! My youngest son is now ten and my leather couch still looks great!

nope, leather will stain if you get it wet. I have leather recliners & I have to be vigilant in keeping the kids off of them!

Also, leather tears & punctures very easily......& boys do love those hard cars! AND I am talking about real leather!

EDIT: one more thought....children really don't need to walk around with cups. Just periodically offer drinks in the kitchen....that's what I do with my daycare!

Leather's a good option. The only thing with leather is that tears are really hard to repair (I've heard). Plus it's cold in the winter and you stick to 'em in the summer :)

You could also keep all drinking out of the livingroom unless the drink is in a spill-proof cup of some kind.

Leather IS the way to go. I had a gorgeous (very expensive) ivory leather sofa & love seat that lasted through 10 years of a husky and the first few years of my son. If it had been any kind of fabric--it would have been trashed in 2 years. I have a new leather set now and I just wipe them off with damp paper towels. I've never even used the leather cleaner/conditioning kits that came with any of my leather furniture.

I know a woman who only lets her children eat and drink while sitting at a table. I met her before having kids and employed this strategy. "If you want a drink, sit at the (meal) table." 100% consistency. They are fine, your furniture stays in good condition. No spills. Happy.

ultra suede - it is the best. My mom had one and was in the furniture business and suggested it for our family. I have gotten everything out of it, including sharpie marker. I wouild also suggest not getting one that is too light a color, ours is a ginger color, a nice med shade color, not too light. I have two boys and we had a dog until two years ago. It holds up better than most materials. I just use a sponge and hot water to clean it - I use a designated sponge so as not to get kitchen grease on it, but I highly reccommend it. Good luck.

I bought a Berkline microfiber couch.......I was told that it was stain proof but one thing is to hear it another is to see it............I would constantly scold my husband to be careful and not drop ANYTHING ON THE COUCH.........WELL talented little me was writing up some bills one day on the couch and my pen fell out of my hand and straight down the front bottom cushion............OMG LADIES I WANTED TO OPEN A HOLE IN THE COUCH AND BURY MYSELF LOL..........I was worried and I wet a sponge with a little bit of dishwashing liquid and as if houdini was in the room it disappeared.........THE WHOLE $ INCH LONG LINE......I dried it with a regular kitchen rag and not even a smudge was left.........I trust Berkline line of furniture...........FYI my friend bought microfiber sofas from Bob's and she also said that she has taken out all kinds of stains from her couch......hope this helps!

I read, I think on this site, that you can use a baby wipe on the microfiber, and then blow dry it.
Our microfiber (scotch-guarded) has a real problem where we take out the stain, and then have a water ring! The baby wipe/blow dry method has helped, but I've never had the energy to do it long enough.

Our problem isn't the kids - it is mostly me!

We have all leather in our home and I love being able to clean it.

That said, my 2.5 year old is only allowed to drink beverages in the dinning room/kitchen area. When we have company, she can drink in the living room, but she doesn't sit on the couch, she sits/stands on the floor.

They are also only allowed to eat cherrios anywhere, everything else has to be eating in the "Eating" area. Prevention is always the best policy.

Not that you need more input! But I vote yes for leather and yes also just eat in the kitchen, but I know my little girl sometimes needs to graze during the day and she can't sit in a chair for every snack... We all slip in different ways. Just do your best. I do like how leather is easy to wipe down too!

Keep the food and drinks in the kitchen.
Get a slip cover for now.
Once they graduate from high school, then invest in something you really like.
LBC

Do your covers come off the pillows? Our couch has the stain resistant stuff on it, which doesn't work. I washed all the covers, and they came out great, or at least as great as they can.

I'm not going to suggest your son not drink in the livingroom like everyone else has because I know once this is started its hard to stop (I know because same deal here). I'd say try spill proof cups if you can or just small amounts at a time. Also, I would keep the same couch and maybe put a throw cover on it if its driving you crazy. Another option is to put one of those waterproof covers that you put over their mattress. I definitely wouldn't get a new couch until he is older or would get leather if you really wanted to get one now. Hope this helps!

You could go on craigslist, or some other thing like that in your community, and get a free or low priced sofa. That way it doesn't hurt that much when something get spilled on it.
Mine has a lot of stains on it as well, and it was really nice when we got it, but it was free! I don't feel so bad about it.
L.

I was going to say microfiber. I love mine and do not have one stain,
even after many spills. I wipe up immediately and they are gone. I did not
pay $4,000 for my couch that is for sure. I wonder if it is a different
microfiber?

Well we don't allow drinks or food anywhere but our kitchen or dining room tables and its also shoes off at the door. Is your son potty trained yet? I would not buy any new sofas until then after that instill some rules about food, drink, and shoes and you should be able to purchase any one you want.

What works best is keeping drinks limited to the dining table while seated. I have always done this with my daughter and have never had a spill on any piece of furniture, and she is 4 now. In my toddler classes I also limit drinks to being seated at the lunch table during mealtimes, or water for thirst at other times but also seated at the table. Children at this age just don't have the coordination or attention span to monitor their drink like an adult does.(and some adults don't either:)

I bet you could get the stains out with an enzyme that breaks down proteins, like Nature's Miracle. You can get it at places like PETCO for about $20 a gallon. It's worth a shot to be able to keep the investment in your couch. Good Luck!

The foam backed couch covers/throws work well. When my son was this age, he liked it best if we threw some blankets and pillows on the carpet and watched TV from a pillow fort on the floor. Use sippy cups/sports bottles that are leak resistant.

Our rule has always been no food in the living room, whatesoever. All friends have to obey the rule and popcorn is eaten at the dining room table where they can still see the movie.
Get a good cover for the couch, I got a nice one from Penney's.

I'd suggest not allowing drinks in the living room on the good couches. It's not necessary for little kids to have drinks in the living room. That's really the best way to prevent stains. If he's thirsty, he can drink at the kitchen table.
I have a fabric couch that I had treated with the strain proofing and I got it in a color pattern that I thought would hide any stains and after 20 years, it stil looks good (Jennifer Convertibles)