Blankets/Sheets?

[newtodaycare22]

Ok...last thing I have to buy before my initial inspection It says I have to have a blanket/sheet for each child. I'm finding just receiving blankets in the stores, for babies. I'm looking for something for toddlers/preschoolers, but I feel like there is a huge jump to kid stuff that is like 20 bucks per blanket. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Lianne]

Can you sew or do you know someone who can? I bought lengths of fun cotton, flannel and fleece and hemmed all four sides on the sewing machine (Iam not a sewer but have my mother's old machine). It was super simple and the kids love them. I use the cotton blankets in the summer, the flannel blankets in thespring and fall and the fleece in the winter. In my home daycare each kid gets a character-themed pillowcase and, just because I wanted to, I matched the cotton, flannel and fleece to each character pillowcase.

[melskids]

with the type of nap mats i have, crib sheets fit perfectly.

as far as blankets, i have each family supply their own to keep here. much cheaper that way

[mac60]

I bought the lightweight fleece throws that are 50 x 60 and cut them in half. I bought them when they were on clearance for $2 a piece.

[newtodaycare22]

Thanks so much for the advice. I'd love to let the parents buy them but unfortunately, I have to provide them. Everything has to stay on site and I must have it ready for them. ohhh licensing

[JenNJ]

I have the parents supply a blanket for each child. I do wash them here each Friday, but I do not make the initial purchase. For the extras I do have, I picked up fleece throws for $1 at Old Navy during a Christmas sale. I agree with buying cheap fleece at a fabric store or even Walmart. Fleece is great bc you just cut it and there is no sewing needed.

[nannyde]

Originally Posted by newtodaycare22

Thanks so much for the advice. I'd love to let the parents buy them but unfortunately, I have to provide them. Everything has to stay on site and I must have it ready for them. ohhh licensing

They require blankets for infants? I don't allow ANYTHING but the baby in the bed.

[legomom922]

I would check out garage sales or the goodwill stores, where you could get that stuff dirt cheap!

[misol]

Originally Posted by mac60

I bought the lightweight fleece throws that are 50 x 60 and cut them in half. I bought them when they were on clearance for $2 a piece.

IKEA! I got my fleece blankets from IKEA and they were $3 apiece. They are 51x67 and are plenty big so I always have to fold them over. It never occurred to me to cut them! Thanks Mac60. I will be cutting mine today at naptime!

[Daycare Mommy]

Originally Posted by JenNJ

...buying cheap fleece at a fabric store or even Walmart. Fleece is great bc you just cut it and there is no sewing needed.

That's what we did too. I've seen some that cut the edges to make fringe and that's pretty cute too, but by no means necessary. Crib sheets and fleece are the way to go if you're on a tight budget.

[newtodaycare22]

Originally Posted by nannyde

They require blankets for infants? I don't allow ANYTHING but the baby in the bed.

No, not for the babies...but anyone over 1 can sleep on a nap mat, and they must have a blanket or sheet

on YouTube there are videos on how to make no sew fleece blankets. Very easy and cute.

[originalkat]

I have the parents provide the blanket. I provide the sheets. I wash them weekly and keep them here.

[MarinaVanessa]

Originally Posted by originalkat

I have the parents provide the blanket. I provide the sheets. I wash them weekly and keep them here.

Yes me too. I buy the mat & crib sheets and they provide their own blankets but they all stay here so that I can wash them regularly. I like that this way each child knows which is theirs, otherwise I'd end up having to buy or make my own color coded blankets to match their cubbies and utencils (each child has their own color).

[Childminder]

Fleece doesn't fray so no need to sew! Just by cheap yardage or throws on sale cut and go! Btw if you don't use fabric softener when you laundry then fleece won't pill - so I was told by a rep from a fleece company at a sewing workshop. Sheets I pick up from garage sales and cut to size, hem the edges on the machine add elastic to the corners and voila.

[safechner]

FYI, I saw Fleece blankets at Target last night. It is $2.50 each (40 in x 40 in) and it is very cute. They have a lot of different looks on fleece blankets so it should be in around $1 area that is where I saw it last night. Hope it helps.

[Former Teacher]

Originally Posted by legomom922

I would check out garage sales or the goodwill stores, where you could get that stuff dirt cheap!

I was going to suggest Goodwill or the thrift stores but someone beat me to it

[Abigail]

Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa

Yes me too. I buy the mat & crib sheets and they provide their own blankets but they all stay here so that I can wash them regularly. I like that this way each child knows which is theirs, otherwise I'd end up having to buy or make my own color coded blankets to match their cubbies and utencils (each child has their own color).

How do you assign a specific color to children? I like this idea as seven colors are in the rainbow and seven children can be in my care. I also worry about children fighting over colors, so I'm a little hesitant.

[SunflowerMama]

I have parents provide a napmat and blanket. 3 of my dcks came from a center that required napmats so they already had them. My younger one (19 months) sleeps in a p&p so I just use one of my crib sheets and blankets for her.

[Lianne]

Originally Posted by Abigail

How do you assign a specific color to children? I like this idea as seven colors are in the rainbow and seven children can be in my care. I also worry about children fighting over colors, so I'm a little hesitant.

If you tell the child what their colour is and then don't accept any complaining, they can't fight over colours. They may try but your response would always be, "Bobby is yellow, you are green. Stop complaining." Or my kids' favorite, "You get what you get and you don't get upset." They chant this and it works in any situation!

[AmandasFCC]

I have different blankets for each child too and I've never had anyone fight over blankets. When they start care I tell them here is your blanket, they accept it and it never turns into an argument.

[lilrugrats]

I supply the cots and cot sheet, and on each cot is a name tag for each kid. They are to supply the blanket. It is to be kept here, and they know that. Licensing ( at least here) just says there has to be one, I dont think they can MAKE you buy one. Most parents are fine with supplying that.

Before I had cots, parents would supply sleeping bags since my Wisconsin rule is sleeping bag or cot.

[Abigail]

"You get what you get and you don't get upset."

I like this quote! I'll probably mess it up when I say it. LOL

[lilrugrats]

My daughter heard at school

"get what you get, dont throw a fit"

[janiebee.com]

The San Francisco Gate recently reported that the Center for Environmental Health found you should always purchase NapMats made without polyurethane foam. Options that are not usually treated with flame retardants are, polyester fiber fill, cotton, or wool.

You can find NapMats at janiebee.com. Not only are they made with poly fill, but they are handmade in the USA and are adorable!

[youretooloud]

I got the $2. fleece kid's blankets at Walmart in the fall. There are five different patterns, they are throw size, so they fit on the mats. They were on an end cap rolled up in little rolls.

I made sheets for each mat out of kid's sheets from Goodwill. Each kid has a different sheet. It's sewn pillowcase style.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Originally Posted by Childminder

Fleece doesn't fray so no need to sew! Just by cheap yardage or throws on sale cut and go! Btw if you don't use fabric softener when you laundry then fleece won't pill - so I was told by a rep from a fleece company at a sewing workshop. Sheets I pick up from garage sales and cut to size, hem the edges on the machine add elastic to the corners and voila.

I use solid colored fleece. I think it's 1/2 yard or 3/4 yard for each child. I have the whole rainbow.
I use crib sheets for the cots as well. I bought them all used for around $1.99-2.99 each.

[MissAnn]

Originally Posted by mac60

I bought the lightweight fleece throws that are 50 x 60 and cut them in half. I bought them when they were on clearance for $2 a piece.

Me too!

[LoraJenkins]

I use crib sheets for my cots. They fit perfectly. As far as blankets...I knit & crochet and made a cot-sized afghan for each child. I made a few extra for new children and put them up. The kids love picking their own blankets and it only takes a few days for me to make one. Maybe searching on etsy.com for some crib-sized afghans if you cannot make your own.

[Little Star75]

[quote=newtodaycare22;35485]No, not for the babies...but anyone over 1 can sleep on a nap mat, and they must have a blanket or

Do you already have kid's in care? If not why would they require that before?

[Rachel]

Originally Posted by nannyde

They require blankets for infants? I don't allow ANYTHING but the baby in the bed.

I am actually required for infants, and my supervisor last year had a huge problem with it once she came in to check and there were no blankets on babies. She said it was cultural. I have a different supervisor now, and yes, I do cover the babies because they require it but only half way and with something very light.