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-   -   What Kind Of Nap Mats Do You Use?? (https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32860)

Crazy8 07-28-2011 06:35 PM

What Kind Of Nap Mats Do You Use??
 
And where/how do you store them??? Does your licensing have any restrictions on thickness, etc??

Links would be great!!!

Michael 07-29-2011 12:07 AM

Some ideas here: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=mats

PitterPatter 07-29-2011 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by LittleDiamonds:
And where/how do you store them??? Does your licensing have any restrictions on thickness, etc??

Links would be great!!!

I use those little flip out sofas/couches. They stay in the corner of my living room in a 1/2 circle when not used as a bed. We use them as seats for soft reading spots then line them up and unfold for nap. I like them because the covers can be unzipped removed and washed. Each child has their own assigned. I only paid $35-$40 a piece.

SandeeAR 07-29-2011 07:18 AM

I have a separate room for sleeping, so I use toddler beds and pak-n-plays for the babies. I got them off craigslist for $35 each, including mattress and sheets.

If we slept in the den/play area, I like the kids sofa idea!

Crazy8 07-29-2011 07:57 AM

thanks. I'm trying to find something smaller, more compact than the mats I have now, so the sofas won't work.

MamaBear 07-29-2011 08:05 AM

I use the 1/2 " thick plastic mats (since my carpet is soft underneath) with the red on one side & blue on the other. I ordered mine from a company - BUT they sell them right now at Walmart & Target for the back to school season. They are even cheaper there. They only sell them this time of year, so if you need some - I'd get them now before there gone. I think they are about $7 per mat. :D

erinalexmom 07-29-2011 08:05 AM

I saw these cute little fold up cots at walmart that fold like a canvas chair and fit in a little bag. you might check thier website :)

Crazy8 07-29-2011 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by MamaBear:
I use the 1/2 " thick plastic mats (since my carpet is soft underneath) with the red on one side & blue on the other. I ordered mine from a company - BUT they sell them right now at Walmart & Target for the back to school season. They are even cheaper there. They only sell them this time of year, so if you need some - I'd get them now before there gone. I think they are about $7 per mat. :D

I was looking online and saw one on walmart.com but it looked like really cheap vinyl. Which is fine by me if it will hold up ok - do you think it does???

Our licensing requires 1 inch mats but the ones I have now are 2".

And I'm really curious as to where everyone keeps them. Right now I have them on the shelves under the changing table but I'm getting a new changing table soon so was looking for other ideas.

Zoe 07-29-2011 10:26 AM

http://www.ecmdstore.com/Product/Pro...&Brand=&Price=

I use these. So far they've held up well and are easily cleaned. I use travel sized pillows with them and they just get propped up against the wall when not in use.

JaydensMommy 07-29-2011 11:09 AM

I use the lakeshore cots and we just leave them out since we have a separate napping room.

DCMom 07-29-2011 11:12 AM

http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/...&Brand=&Price=

I have 10 of these; they hang on the wall when not in use. They are spendy, but I have had six of them for nearly 10 years now and I just bought four more for kids coming in this fall and to replace two of them because they were kind of flat.

I've used sleeping bags (kind of uncomfortable on the floor), fold-able mats (they tear at the seams), stacking cots (take up a lot of room when not in use) and these have been by far the best choice for me.

Meeko 07-29-2011 11:23 AM

1 Attachment(s)
I used the Walmart ones at one time, but they lasted about five minutes and then ripped at the folds.

My playroom/nap room has thick carpet AND a huge rug over that. When kids enroll, their parents are require to pay for a nap mat that I order from Lillian Vernon. They roll up and have a strap embroidered with the childs name. They get to take it home if they leave our care. They are $25 each. They have both boy and girl styles., but I just order the primary colored one for everybody. The kids love rolling them up themselves and looking for their name when it's nap time. My oldest one is 5 years old and still looks good...just a bit paler than the others from repeated washings!

These will not work if you have a regulation about thickness. They are just like a blanket really. Utah does not require a certain thickness mat, and as we have double layer carpet, these are fine.

MG&Lsmom 07-29-2011 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by LittleDiamonds:
I was looking online and saw one on walmart.com but it looked like really cheap vinyl. Which is fine by me if it will hold up ok - do you think it does???

Our licensing requires 1 inch mats but the ones I have now are 2".

And I'm really curious as to where everyone keeps them. Right now I have them on the shelves under the changing table but I'm getting a new changing table soon so was looking for other ideas.

Where are you seeing these online? I've been all over walmart.com and can't find them.

I'm in the market too. I have been using a 5" thick twin mattress from Ikea (used to be on the top bunk before DD1 started sleeping there) but it's just too much to move every single day from under my DDs bed. I have a super cushy rug in our napping room. I've even slept there comfortably all night when DS was sick.

MG&Lsmom 07-29-2011 11:39 AM

I found these ones. Does anyone use these KinderMats? They inexpensive to what I've seen out there on other searches. I wonder if that means they will fall apart too easily.

http://www.kinderkidzstuff.com/index...arentcat/15673

Meeko 07-29-2011 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by MG&Lsmom:
I found these ones. Does anyone use these KinderMats? They inexpensive to what I've seen out there on other searches. I wonder if that means they will fall apart too easily.

http://www.kinderkidzstuff.com/index...arentcat/15673

These are pretty much the same as Walmarts. I used them for a while, but they split at the folds in just a couple of months. Here in Utah, we were not allowed to repair them with tape or anything. I found them to be a waste of money.

Then again, we have 16 children...so more wear and tear.....

sharlan 07-29-2011 12:40 PM

I've never used nap maps. I've always used pack n plays, the sofa, or my bed. Right now, only my 3 yo naps, and he sleeps on my bed.

MamaBear 07-29-2011 02:47 PM

Yeah I use Kindermats... I got it from a school supply company.

Crazy8 07-29-2011 08:04 PM

for everyone who uses the fold up mats..... where do you store them????

we can't use the roll up ones because of our 1" requirement and my room is laminate flooring w/thin area rug so need the cushion. Now, if we have the 1" requirement what about cots??? They are not 1" thick - I don't even know if we could use them???

childcarebytori 07-29-2011 09:24 PM

I just newly purchased new nap mats for my older daycare kids. I got rid of my Angeles SpaceSaver cots (which were the best things ever!) because I no longer had anywhere to store them.

I got the Angeles 2" Germ Free Rest Mats.


My kids went completely crazy over them. I've laid on them and they are super comfortable and thick. I'm pretty sure they make sheets for mats on one of the daycare supplies websites but I made custom ones to match my kids' daycare blankets and pillows that I specially make for them during their first week of care ;)

As far as storing them goes, I also purchased the 4-Section Rest Mat Storage shelf. It was almost too easy to put together and although it is currently in my hallway, I plan on putting it in the daycare room.

My shelf with mats folded-up:

http://tinypic.com/r/ei2g42/7

http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/1892/937/...ucts/26379.jpg


Crazy8 07-29-2011 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by childcarebytori:
I just newly purchased new nap mats for my older daycare kids. I got rid of my Angeles SpaceSaver cots (which were the best things ever!) because I no longer had anywhere to store them.

I got the Angeles 2" Germ Free Rest Mats.


My kids went completely crazy over them. I've laid on them and they are super comfortable and thick. I'm pretty sure they make sheets for mats on one of the daycare supplies websites but I made custom ones to match my kids' daycare blankets and pillows that I specially make for them during their first week of care ;)

As far as storing them goes, I also purchased the 4-Section Rest Mat Storage shelf. It was almost too easy to put together and although it is currently in my hallway, I plan on putting it in the daycare room.

My shelf with mats folded-up:

http://tinypic.com/r/ei2g42/7

that is really neat. The measurements on that aren't too far off from one of my bookcases - I'm wondering if I can make something similar out of closetmaid pieces.


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