Toddlers over the age of 18 months usually need a nap each day to ensure that their bodies and brains get enough rest.
When toddlers reach the age where they start attending daycare or even preschool, maintaining a healthy afternoon nap schedule can get tricky – but with the right nap mat, it doesn’t have to be!
We have been testing the most popular nap mats for toddlers you can buy through online retailers, and after a lot of ranking and reviewing, we have selected our top 5.
In this comprehensive guide, we will be reviewing our personal selection of the best 5 nap mats for toddlers, complete with an FAQ section and a detailed buyer’s guide!
Wildkin Original Nap Mat With Pillow
Overall, the Wildkin Original Nap Mat with Pillow seems to be the best nap mat on the market for toddlers at the moment.
It is made from polyester and cotton fabric, which makes it soft and safe for sensitive skin. The pillow in the middle also adds extra comfort as well as essential support for toddlers’ necks while sleeping.
Meanwhile, the cotton flannel lining makes the nap mat suitable for colder months as well as warmer seasons.
This nap mat is perfect for taking to preschool because of the roll-up design and handle that allows it to be carried almost effortlessly. It’s lightweight and highly portable.
It’s also worth noting that the Wildkin Original nap mat is available in various colors and patterns, from elephants to trucks to dinosaurs. This makes it a great choice for toddlers with many interests.
However, please be aware that the color of the fabric does fade relatively quickly in the wash, meaning that it doesn’t look vibrant for very long.
With that being said, though, this doesn’t affect the functionality of the nap mat, which is the main thing.
Pros
- Cotton/polyester fabric – Soft and comfortable
- Cotton flannel lining – Extra warm
- Includes pillow – Ergonomic and supportive
- Roll-up design – Easy to transport
- Available in various patterns – For different tastes and personalities
Cons
- Fabric fades in the wash – Doesn’t look new for very long
Also Available At: Wildkin, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wayfair
Hi Sprout Kids Toddler Soft Nap Mat
We were also very impressed by the quality and practicality of Hi Sprout’s toddler nap mat!
Made from 100% cotton on the outside, this nap mat has a soft feel to it and is extremely durable.
It comes with a thick, cushiony polyester in the center, which provides added comfort when lying down.
The pillow, which is included with the purchase of the mat, is removable, so it can be used with or without neck and head support.
You can make this nap mat ready for transportation using 2 different methods: the rolling method and the folding method.
Both methods allow you to make use of the attached handle to carry the nap mat around without any inconvenience.
This nap mat comes in no less than 13 different designs, so whether your toddler is interested in space or summer fruits, there’s a pattern to suit everyone!
Unfortunately, the pillow cannot be washed in the washing machine, so you will need to remove it from the nap mat and wash it by hand on a regular basis.
Pros
- Cotton cover – Skin-safe and breathable
- Polyester filling – Tick and comfortable
- Removable pillow – Supportive and versatile
- Foldable and rollable – Highly portable
- 13 different designs – Lots of choice
Cons
- Pillow is not machine washable – Must be removed and hand-washed
Also Available At: eBay and Fish Pond
Urban Infant Tot Cot All-in-One Modern Preschool/Daycare Nap Mat
If you’re looking for an all-in-one nap mat for a toddler starting preschool that won’t be difficult to transport and has everything your child needs, the Urban Infant Tot Cot is one of the best purchases you can make!
The material used to make this nap mat is elasticated, which is great because it won’t restrict the user’s movements too much, allowing for a comfortable, unconstricted nap.
A detachable pillow is also included, which is ideal because it means your child’s head and neck can always be properly supported during nap time, but you can also put the mat in the wash after use without worrying about the pillow getting damaged.
We also love that there’s a built-in pocket sewn into this mat, which is the perfect size for a toddler’s favorite soft toy.
Young children can often struggle to sleep without something to comfort them, especially away from home, so this is a feature we really appreciated.
If you’re worried about your toddler’s nap mat getting mixed up with another’s child’s mat at preschool, you should choose the Urban Infant nap mat because it completely solves this issue.
You can order a personalized Urban Infant Tot Cot with your child’s name printed on it, so there will be no confusion at the end of the day!
It’s worth noting, however, that the fabric of this mat is pretty thin, which isn’t an issue in warmer climates, but if you live somewhere that gets very cold at certain times of the year, you might want to choose a nap mat that’s made with slightly thicker material.
Pros
- Detachable pillow – Versatile
- Elasticated material – Not constricting
- Built-in pocket – Perfect for soft toys
- Personalized design options – Easily identifiable
Cons
- On the thinner side – Not the best for cold weather
Also Available At:Urban Infant, Walmart, eBay
Angeles Toddler Daycare 4-Section Folding Mat
The Angeles Toddler Daycare 4-Section Folding Mat has been specifically designed for toddlers attending daycare and starting preschool, and after seeing it for ourselves, we knew it had to be part of our top 5!
This product is suitable for both boys and girls, as well as any age between 2 months and 3 years old. It consists of four sections, each measuring approximately 15 x 30 inches (38 x 76 cm), making it easy to fold down for transport.
However, while the sections make the mat more easily portable, it’s possible that some children may need an extra blanket to stop the gaps between the sections from feeling uncomfortable.
With that being said, the thick, 3-ply fabric does help to provide some cushioning, and if you look at the customer testimonials for this product, many children and toddlers have reported finding the mat comfortable for napping.
The material used to make this folding nap mat is waterproof and safe for bleach cleaning, and the seals don’t let any water into the mat, so it’s easy to clean externally without causing any damage.
A name tag is attached to the edge of the nap mat, so you can write your toddler’s name on the tag and bring it to daycare or preschool without worrying about it getting lost.
Pros
- Waterproof material – Easy to clean
- 3-ply fabric – Durable and comfortable
- 4-section design – Easy to fold and carry
- Attached name tag – Low risk of getting lost
Cons
- Gaps between sections – Some children may find this uncomfortable
Also Available At:Discount School Supply
Milliard Toddler Nap Mat
The final nap mat in our top 5 is the Milliard Toddler Nap Mat.
We chose this particular nap mat over other brands like Angelic Designs and Kidsafe because it was one of the first companies to create their own brand of baby products, and they’ve done a great job of creating high-quality products that are affordable.
The features are also perfect for creating a safe and comfortable space for a toddler’s afternoon nap.
This is a thick mat, so it’s more comfortable to sleep on the floor with than a lot of the thinner mats on the market.
Part of the reason this mat is so comfortable is that it’s filled with CertiPur foam, which not only provides excellent cushioning but is also VOC-free, so it’s safe for little ones to sleep on and won’t cause health problems.
Thanks to its tri-folding design, this mat is easy to fold and carry, so it can be transported to and from preschool or daycare without any fuss.
The bamboo cover is eco-friendly, soft, and can be removed to wash in the washing machine.
However, the cover is quite thin, and there is no way of buying a separate replacement cover at the moment, so if the cover does get irreparably stained or torn, you can’t change the cover.
Pros
- CertiPur foam – Comfortable and VOC-free
- Thick mat design – Plenty of cushioning
- Bamboo cover – Soft and machine washable
- 3-sections – Easy folding and portability
Cons
- No separate cover replacement – Cover cannot be replaced if stained or torn
Also Available At: Walmart
How To Choose Nap Mats For Toddlers
Choosing a nap mat for your toddler is a big decision.
After all, for many toddlers, sleeping away from home can be a nerve-wracking experience, so it’s important to choose a mat that promotes comfortable, safe, uninterrupted sleep.
Here are all the features and factors we think should be your top priority when choosing a nap mat for a toddler:
Cover
The cover material used in the construction of your toddler’s nap mat will probably be in contact with their skin, so it’s important that this material is skin-safe and non-toxic.
If you can, we recommend getting a cover made of organic material like cotton or bamboo, but polyester-cotton blends are also generally safe for sensitive skin as well as being durable and easy to clean.
Alternatively, if you’re worried about staining and want to be able to clean your toddler’s nap mat with bleach without worrying about damaging the mat, a waterproof, nylon-based material may be your best option.
If you do choose a nap mat with a waterproof outer cover, make sure that it has waterproof seals as well so that none of your cleaning products seep into the padding material inside the mat.
Cushioning
We all want our toddlers to be as comfortable as possible during their afternoon naps, so the cushioning or padding inside the nap mat is just as important as the outer cover material.
Ideally, you will want to choose a mat that is padded thickly enough to allow your toddler to sleep on the floor without any discomfort.
Thinner mats do work for some toddlers, but others report finding them uncomfortable, so it’s best to make this decision with your own toddler’s sleeping preferences in mind.
Additionally, you should consider what the cushioning material is made of.
It’s very important that the material should be low in or free from VOCs (volatile organic compounds) since these substances can cause respiratory issues and negatively impact the environment.
Pillow
A nap mat for toddlers should come with a pillow.
It’s fine for this pillow to be detachable (in fact, this is recommended if you want to put your nap mat in the washing machine), but the absence of a pillow means that you’ll have to bring your own pillow to daycare or preschool to prevent your child from suffering from neck pain and other postural issues.
Remember, it’s not a good idea to put your pillow in the washing machine in case the stuffing is dislodged in the process, so you will need to be prepared to wash the pillow by hand.
Portability
You will be bringing your toddler’s nap mat to and from preschool every day, so it’s essential for the mat to be very portable.
First of all, the mat should be easy to fold.
This means that it will need to either be extremely flexible or, if it’s made of stiffer material, it should be divided into segments with gaps in between them to allow for easy folding.
It’s also a good idea to prioritize nap mats that come with built-in handles, but many don’t include this feature, and unfortunately, even the best nap mats on the market don’t always come with a carry bag.
It’s up to you whether you feel that these features are important, but you can always use a travel bag that you already have at home to carry your toddler’s nap mat if no other portability-enhancing features are included.
Cleaning
We’ve touched on the subject of cleaning your toddler’s nap mat already, but because toddlers are prone to spilling drinks and even having accidents, it’s a topic that deserves its own section.
If you have a particularly messy toddler on your hands, a waterproof nap mat might be the best choice.
The waterproof material isn’t necessarily the softest, but it will prevent any spills from staining or soaking into the fabric.
Many of these waterproof fabrics can also be deep-cleaned with bleach, which isn’t the case with other fabrics.
If you want to be able to machine-wash your toddler’s nap mat, make sure that the pillow can be removed first.
Also, it’s worth reading customer testimonials pertaining to how well the color of the fabric holds up with washing, because not all toddler nap mats use color-fast dyes.
Always read the instructions provided by the nap mat’s manufacturer when it comes to cleaning the mat because not all nap mats are safe for machine-drying and certain parts may need to be washed by hand.
Additional Features
As with anything your toddler brings to preschool or daycare, it’s a good idea to have a name tag to stop similar-looking products from being taken home by the wrong child.
It’s possible to purchase nap mats that either allow for personalized name printing or come with a name tag that can be written on.
Either of these features will be useful for ensuring that your toddler’s nap mat doesn’t get lost or picked up by the wrong person.
Another extra feature we recommend considering is a pocket somewhere in the nap mat.
If your toddler needs their favorite toy in order to sleep peacefully, a little pocket in the nap mat will ensure that the toy can easily be carried along with the mat and won’t get lost in the classroom.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that there are many types of nap mats available today, each designed to meet the specific requirements of parents who would like to provide their toddlers with a safe place to rest while they sleep.
With so many choices out there, it’s hard to know which one is right for you and your little one.
However, we hope that this guide has given you an insight into the various options available and helped you decide which type of nap mat is best suited to your child’s needs.
Don’t forget to give careful consideration to individual features of any nap mat you consider purchasing, from cover material to folding segments and additional features such as pockets and name tags.
Thank you for reading, and good luck with your purchase!