My son starts preschool this fall - he's two. I need to find him a nap mat - but I don't want to spend more than about $50 at the most - anyone have any good recommendations? I'd like to get it early so I can start having him nap on it now.
Thanks!
We ended up making one - www.jennygarland.com has a great pattern! It turned out precious and he loves it!
I got my son's naptmat at an embroidery place in Plano (Parker and independence I think). It was around $40-$45 I think and then I had his name put on the blanket part. I think most places like that sell them.
Learning Express sells some really cute ones, made by a Dallas woman, I can't remember the name of her company.
I bought my son's at JCPenny's. About $20.
Try JC Penney's. That is where we purchased my daughter's nap mat when she started preschool this past year. They have the Disney character mats with a pillow attached so they are not only cute but according to our daughter they are really comfortable! I think it was about $30.
Uniform stores have them. I bought my daughters at Academic Outfitters, and it has held up very well. I think it was $32, and then I went to the mall to have her name embroidered on it.
Have you thought about making your own? They are very easy to make. You can buy everything at Wal Mart very cheap. I made my sons with the blanket and pillow attached. That way you only have to keep up with one thing. I added a tie to tie it up for easy carrying for easy carrying.
I ordered nap mats for my kiddos from www.lillianvernon.com. They were $19.99/each and they put their names on them. They are certainly not the most expensive or elaborate mats, but the pillows are attached and the whole thing is machine washable :) Have fun!
Check out aSpecialGift.com - here's the link to the page:
http://www.aspecialgift.com/Nap-Mat-3.asp
The nap mats have a snuggly fleece blanket and a pillow that is removable for washing. Great quality and they personalize too.
Try a school supply store or website:
www.constplay.com
www.discountschoolsupply.com
www.lakeshorelearning.com
AS AN ASIDE: I would first check with Texas' licensing bureau (here in AZ it's Department of Health Services, in IL it's Department of Children and Family Services) about requirements for sleeping/napping arrangements in licensed facilities. Here in AZ, the law states that children must nap on cots that are raised off the ground, but MANY licensed facilities (especially preschools) skimp on that and use mats that lie on the ground. While I won't say that a facility that skirts that part of the law is a bad facility, I would also question what other laws concerning childcare they are ignoring and getting away with ignoring...IF TX law requires children to be on cots raised from the floor.
The nap mats here are good - especially the 2". I've been known to use it too if my child is sick and I stay in his room at night.
http://educationalwarehouse.com/search.aspx?Search=nap%20...
Check out www.etsy.com. You can search napmats. That is where I bought mine and love it!
I just ordered (and received) a nap mat for my two year old daughter from http://www.nap-n-go.com. The mat only cost $22.00 (compared to the much more expensive ones I was seeing online), so I was worried that it would be low quality -- but it is AWESOME!
Mypolkadotdreams.com is the website I ordered mine from. They are about $40, she lives in Keller, you could even pick it up if you didn't want to mess with shipping and handling.
WOW...I got mine from walmart for 10 bucks. And it had WAY more padding than a simple cloth roll up one.
Kinda wondering what kind of preschool your kid is going to to NEED a $50 nap mat...lol
Good luck to you.
I have bought several napmats.... and the one that has held up SO well that I bought for my oldest son, I got on www.ebay.com for about $40. That included having his name embroidered on it. You can search by any theme your son likes, and will find one. I found a lady who makes them herself, and it was SO great. The pillow is so much thicker, and the napmat itself is such great quality. I bought it 5 years ago. Another I bought for one at JC Penny for $20.. and it ended up falling apart after about 5 months, so now my younger son is using the handmade one. I wash it almost every week, and it has never had any problems. If you find one you like, I would read their feedback to get comments on the quality.
I have also seen napmats at Kid to Kid.. they are brand new. I think they are around $50. My friend bought one there that really held up, but the styles are pretty basic
Good luck!
Mardel christian book/bible store sells nap mats and I think Walmart might have them as well. That is the only places I can think of.
I actually got our nap mat at Tuesday morning for 12.50!
