Where do nap mats go in your kid's school?

naclh2otaffy

I think I'm just being nit-picky, but wondered how it is for others.  It appears that they are throwing all the nap mats in Babytaffy's class into one giant pile both before and after they use them.  In his classroom last year, they were always kept separate for each kid - in their cubbies.

It's grossing me out to have them all together.  They are a mix of blankets, fabric nap mats, and the plastic standard kind.  I am sure they are not being washed or sanitized every day, and they are brought back and forth from home each school day.  Knowing there was a lice outbreak in one class last year, it is creeping me out to have the mats all jumbled up together.

Is this standard procedure?   Or should I say something?

 

hellohappyJ

That would gross me out too.  LO's nap mat at his daycare is stored in a closet.  Each child has an assigned shelf where the big mat (the red/blue one), their nap mat, and blankie or lovie are stored every day before and after nap time.   

ETA: after reading the part about lice in your post, I would definitely ask if that is standard procedure or maybe the pile they are in before they get sanitized and put somewhere else.  When you arrive to pick up LO, where is the nap mat then? Still on the floor in a big heap? 

naclh2otaffy

hellohappyJ:

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ETA: after reading the part about lice in your post, I would definitely ask if that is standard procedure or maybe the pile they are in before they get sanitized and put somewhere else.  When you arrive to pick up LO, where is the nap mat then? Still on the floor in a big heap? 

They appear to be collecting them in a laundry basket during dropoff (I left DS's in his backpack on his hook).  At the end of the day they've been all piled into the laundry basket and you have to dig for your kid's mat.  We're only on the second week, so I'm still unsure of the procedures and if what is happening now is going to be the way it is.  If so, I may just have to say something, especially if this isn't standard practice elsewhere.  I don't want to be the complainer-mom, but it's just grossing me out.

bobcatsteph

They only allow the red and blue ones at DD's school and each child brings a fitted sheet and blanket to use with it. The mats are cleaned after each use, then folded up, and put in a cabinet.

mcurban

Our MDO is super anal about this. We have to use the red/blue and NO covers are allowed. They are wiped down after nap and put (individually) into plastic bags and stored in the office.

hellohappyJ

Unfortunately, it sounds like this may be the protocol for the nap mat placement.  I think I would just raise a simple question about it.  You are new there(? maybe), I don't think you are being a "complainer mom" by wondering about the protocol.  What about asking another parent in your LO's room?  Maybe there are other parents who are similarly grossed out too.

AustinAggie

I would question their procedures.  Knowing that kids spread colds (and lice) like wildfire, why on earth did they think it was a good idea to throw everyone's cover together into a laundry basket.  I would want to wash the cover every single day if that were the case.  That definitely needs to change.  Plus, is it really that hard for the teacher to shove the covers into everyone's bag as they wake up?  Or, better yet, have each child take care of their own as a part of the post-nap routine!

We have the red and blue mats and our cover stays on all the time while at school.  Nap stuff is kept in each child's cubby until use and gets packed up and put back in the cubby as soon as the child wakes up.

I think I'd also try to find a veteran mom of that school and ask her about lastyear's experience.  This may be something new they are trying, or maybe it's just that particular teacher/room.

nanann

So you don't have the little individual buckets in that classroom?  I know they put lunchboxes in the communal laundry basket in many of the classrooms, but hadn't seen them do that with any of the nap mats/blankets.

I'd either say something or maybe bring a smaller blanket instead of the napmat that your LO can put back in his backpack by himself. I think the front office would listen.