If you are reading this review Best Toddler Nap Mat – it only means that you may want to consider getting your toddler a nap mat. You might have different reasons behind that.
Perhaps your little one has already started visiting daycare facilities and you are worried about his napping away from home; or you are planning some travel and you want your kid to have a nap in familiar surroundings.
I started thinking of a nap mat only when my older kids were at school and I still have a toddler that is left behind at home and still needs some inspiration to have a nap time. And of course, I wanted to provide my lovely girl the best nap mat available for toddlers.
What is a nap mat?
Basically, it’s a thin mattress pad with a pillow and an attached blanket on one long side of the mattress that folds over the kid at nap time. Sometimes it looks like a sleeping bag but a bit smaller. And I can tell you from my own experience that it’s much better than a sleeping bag, in fact it’s a great napping spot ever!
Where to use a nap mat?
There are several situations a nap mat might be used. With my little daughter I use it not only at the daycare center when she is there from time to time, but at her grandparents’ or babysitter’s house or during any travel as it’s a really handy thing to carry around. The nap mat could also be used for camping or as a cozy place to read a book, to play with toys or watch cartoons or movies and fall asleep later.
What criteria to consider?
Which toddler nap mats get the best reviews? Look at the comparison table. I will provide you with more information that will help you in our Buyer’s Guide later.
5 Best Toddler Nap Mat in December, 2024 Reviews
Image | Product | |
---|---|---|
Best Choice | Urban Infant Tot Cot
| Check Price |
Also great | Wildkin
| Check Price |
For a Minnie lover | Disney Minnie Mouse
| Check Price |
Thick Nap Mat | Butterfly Craze
| Check Price |
All-in-one | Lambs & Ivy Little Explorer
| Check Price |
Air dry | Hi Sprout Kids
| Check Price |
Below is a review of my favorite nap mats for toddlers. Let’s get started!
2. Wildkin Nap Mat with Pillow for Toddler Boys and Girls – Best Daycare Sleeping Mats
Wildkin Nap Mat features a travel-friendly design: it is easy to carry around with carrying handle and roll-up any time you need it. The mat has an elastic hook, loop fastening straps, and velcro latches to keep a tight roll.The inner blanket is made from cotton flannel; it’s really very soft, cozy and pleasant to use. An obvious advantage of the mat is that it air dries very quickly.
This nap mat from Wildkin comes in a great variety of patterns, 18 to be exact. I’m pretty sure that your toddler would be happy to choose the one he likes to use!
Note: You can make a theme buying matching lunchbox, backpack, water bottle, and/or duffel bag.
- Lightweight
- Removable pillow
- Easy to clean
- Variety of patterns, colors and themes for boys and girls
- Good value for money
- High quality durable fabric
- Machine washable
- Some users expected this mat to be a little longer for taller kids
3. Disney Minnie Mouse Toddler Rolled Nap Mat – Best toddler sleeping mat
This mat could be a perfect all-in-one nap mat (a mat, a blanket and a pillow) for a toddler girl, a Minnie Mouse fan to be exact. It is designed for kids aged 2 plus. The mat is super easy to use and pack. The pad is soft and not very bulky. And the blanket is nice and cozy.Your kid can snuggle up in there. An obvious highlight of this mat is Minnie Mouse design: it features Minnie in her classic pink bow with white polkadots and matching pumps. It’s adorable and easy to use.
Note: Check up the size before buying: it could be a bit short for a tall toddler.
- Perfect for daycare: super comfortable
- Cute and compact design
- Lightweight
- Good quality for an affordable price
- Durable fabric
- Carrying strap
- Machine washable
- Easy to store
- Easy to clean and quick to dry
- Some parents would like to have a size selection as the kids grow.
- There are some complaints that the mat is not thick enough to use it on the floor.
4. Butterfly Craze Kid’s Floor Pillow Bed Cover – Best Thick Nap Mat
This pillow bed cover is a versatile item that can be used as a toddler nap mat, portable alternative for a sleepover, or as a lounger for playing, reading or watching TV. The cover comes in two sizes: king and queen: the length is the same, but the width is different (queen size is 26” and king – 32”). King size can easily accommodate two toddlers.
It features five pillow pockets and each of them has a zipper. You need to stuff each of the pockets with a pillow and the bed is ready! Mind that it doesn’t come with the pillows, so you have to buy 5 pillows matching the size of the cover.
But even if you choose queen size, you probably don’t need all 5 pillows: 4 would be enough for a toddler.
Make sure you don’t buy extremely firm ones: in such a case you might have problems inserting them and zipping the cover.
If you have some extra pillows from the guest bed, you don’t need to buy anything: just stuff the cover with the pillows you have and when you don’t need it, simply take the pillows out, fold the cover and put it in the drawer.
It’s a very easy to assemble toddler sleeping mat, and, well, it is the best thick nap mat I’ve ever seen.
Note: You can fold it over the 1st section to prop it up for your kid to sit. Tip: don’t put it on floor because it may slide all over, better place it on a rug.
- Versatile and practical
- Well worth the price
- Easy to wash due to removable pillows
- High quality fabric
- Very comfortable
- Supper soft
- Cute and adorable print
- Good quality zippers
- Nice floor lounger
- Pillows are not included
- The mat needs some storage space when not in use
5. Lambs & Ivy Little Explorer Nap Mat – Preschool and Travelling Nap Mat
This one by Lambs & Ivy is more economical choice. It has a handy carry strap, it’s extremely lightweight and easy to close with two pieces of Velcro.
The nap mat features an attached super soft blanket (the blanket is attached on the one of the long sides and has a background with woodland animals: squirrels, bears and foxes to be exact); and it also has an in-built pillow with a cute little fox and a thick enough padded bottom mat.
So, in case you don’t want to spend much, it’s a small daycare sleep mat perfect for a toddler. The mat is pretty easy to fold back with a help of the Velcro closures: it stays secure with them.
The nap mat also has a small name tag, so your little one would know that it is his.
Note: It’s not very padded. However, many kids find it extremely comfortable due to the plush soft fabric.
- All-in-one nap mat
- Perfect for daycare, travel, overnight sleep away from home
- Super soft and snuggly fleece blanket
- Perfect fit for a fold up travelling toddler bed
- Super lightweight
- Cute design
- Pillow is not removable
- Can’t be attached to the cot
- Some users considered this nap mat to be too thin and flimsy
6. Hi Sprout Kids Toddler Lightweight and Soft Nap Mat – best nap mat for kindergarten and road trips
This nap mat is another versatile item that can be used at the daycare, camping, travel or any other visits to friends or relatives. It is made of 100 % cotton, skin-friendly material. It features breathable lightweight blanket, removable pillow for easy care, and plastic safe buckles and simple carry handle. It rolls in easy to carry cylinder.
Note: This mat is a perfect match for a portable toddler bed.
- Variety of cute themes and design
- High quality, skin-friendly fabric
- Worth the money
- Lightweight and breathable blanket
- Super soft mat
- Air dry
- Durable, snuggly and comfortable
- Removable pillow
- Warm enough blanket
- Some users have pointed out that the mat is a bit bulky once folded
The Best Toddler Nap Mat – Buyer’s Guide
What size to choose?
Nap mats come in different sizes. Make sure you know exactly which one you need for your kid.
- If you want it to grow with your little angel, you’d better buy a bigger one;
- if you are looking for a really compact one, than go for one that is good for your child right now.
Design
Nowadays the nap mats come in a variety of themes, colors, and designs. If your little one loves unicorns or any other cartoon characters, go for them! Don’t forget to let your kid choose the color he likes. It’s more likely that he will be willing to use it more often. You can also come across the nap mats with backpack straps so your little one can carry it on his own.
Fabric
You can also take into consideration the fabric: some are softer and more pleasant to rest than the others.
Conclusion
If you want your little angel to feel cozy and comfortable sleeping away from home, a nap mat is a great solution.
And the most important feature of the best nap mat for toddler is that your kid should love it and want to sleep on it. At least it should be a familiar item helping him to get used to a new environment and support his emotional comfort.
Perhaps it would be even better if you have a chance to buy a nap mat one-two week in advance and get your little one used to it before taking it to a daycare or any other place.
FAQ
Are there nap mats with detached blankets?
In most of the nap mats I’ve come across the blankets are attached to one long side of the mat.
How to take care of a nap mat?
It’s an obvious plus when a nap mat is a washable one. Make sure to check all the wash care labels and find the one you can wash. Removable pillow is also an advantage.
How to wash a nap mat with a built-in pillow?
Check wash care labels. Almost all nap mats are machine washable.
Do all mats fit on standard cot bed?
Not all of them. Before buying any mat make sure you know what size you need. Moreover, not all nap mats have ways (special straps) to secure the mat.
Does a nap mat have to be with an attached blanket and an attached pillow?
For my little girl I’ve bought all-in-one nap mat: a mat, an attached blanket and a pillow and I don’t have any regrets. My daughter loves it!
Table of Contents
Sharon says
The Lambs & Ivy Little Explorer looks beautiful. Simple but beautiful. Good to know there’s a name tag already provided and that it’s extremely lightweight. There are really times when I need to leave my toddler in a daycare for just a bit because of my work. At least I know he’ll still be comfy even when I’m not around.
KimberlyCEE says
My kids always sleep on the floor when they’re tired of watching TV. Maybe with the Butterfly Craze they’ll have a more comfortable nap. The floor can be very cold sometimes and can make their back hurts so I’m worried.
Deborah says
I hope she likes this for her birthday. She’s making her room to be minnie mouse themed. And the Disney Minnie Mouse nap mat is a perfect addition to her collection. She just loves collecting stuff but at least the nap mat has an actual good purpose for her.
JessicaSimons says
The Hi Sprout Kids seems to be a very good option because it’s heavy which indicates that it’s softer than the rest. I think that’s what we all need. Something comfortable for our kids to sleep in whenever they need to.
Sarah says
I don’t really mind that the Hi Sprout Kids Nap Mat is bulky once folded since it’s still comfortable for my kids when we’re going out camping. It’s breathable and has a high-quality skin fabric that makes it more comfortable for the kids. It makes me want to sleep on it too sometimes.
Shirley says
Thanks for the tip about the fabrics. I almost forgot that my kid is allergic to other types of fabric. I’ve seen a few toddler nap mats that are best for my kids. Thanks for all the research you’ve made about them. It makes it easy for us to decide what to buy.
Laura says
We’ve tried the Urban Infant Tot Cot before and we loved it! It’s super lightweight and very comfortable for our kids. We’re thinking of buying a new one as well for our 3rd one. And it’s really compact in case you’re gonna bring it elsewhere.
Michelle says
Thank god the Disney Minnie Mouse is machine washable! That makes it really easy for me. It is the best toddler nap mat for me. Sometimes my kid still can’t control his pee at night so I really need to wash the blankets and everything more often. At least it wouldn’t be too hard with this nap mat just in case since it’s machine washable already.
Carol says
This is amazing. I didn’t even think about using nap mats until I saw your reviews about it. Come to think of it, if a kid suddenly becomes sleepy, you’d rather not stop them from doing it. Might as well be prepared with a nap mat once that happens.
Ruth says
All of them look so cute and what I really like about them is that they all have compact sizes which are perfect when you’re traveling with them. It makes it easy. I hope they’re not too heavy though so even they can carry it themselves sometimes.