Babies sleeping arrangements

Post by **piedpiper** » 12 Jan 2007, 20:07

Hi all,

Looking for some bright ideas here - our 4 yr old sleeps perfectly in the top 'tent' bit of our Devon and the baby slept for a while in a hanging cot from poles over the front passenger seat. Perfect.

The little blighter can now clamber over the side / end of the cot and wreak all sorts of damage and personal injury, so we want to put him up top with the eldest but are struggling to find something to contain him and stop him from kamikaze diving off the end. We need something narrow enough to allow our eldest to sleep alongside (or any other good ideas).

Thanks

Post by **kevtherev** » 12 Jan 2007, 20:40

Cargo net?

Post by **piedpiper** » 12 Jan 2007, 21:31

Hmmmm. I thought about this but then decided it was probably against the Geneva Convention. Having no wish to be carted off in handcuffs with a blanket over me 'ead for alleged human rights abuses, I think I'll wait for some other ideas!

Cheers

Post by **DiscoDave** » 12 Jan 2007, 22:20

tranquilisers??

best bet would be some kind of net at the end of the bed to stop him gettingout! or are you looking for something to stop him getting out and stop them getting at each other??

Post by **piedpiper** » 13 Jan 2007, 08:37

Yep! Medised is wonderful stuff.......

A net or something at the end of the bed might work but it needs to be pretty robust - anybody tried anything like this to fit into the triangular space? I cant see any obvious fixing point at the top without drilling holes in the GRP roof which I don't particularly fancy doing.....

Post by **DiscoDave** » 13 Jan 2007, 14:32

it would be easier to make and fix a frame to the bed board. this way you'll not have to drill holes in the roof!

Post by **piedpiper** » 14 Jan 2007, 08:21

Many thanks for the suggestions - looks like something across the end is the way to go.

I'll try to 'Heath Robinson' something up and see how I get on......

Cheers

Post by **amazingdave** » 14 Jan 2007, 16:11

Hiya,

I solved just this problem by making a fine mesh net which is glued to a batten along the front of the bed with a batten at the top edge that ties up to 2 points epoxied to the fiberglass, our roof is double skinned so there's a few screws to help out the epoxy... The net is reinforced around the edges with canvas to stop the little blighter squeezing through.

If you like I can email some pictures ...

Post by **piedpiper** » 14 Jan 2007, 18:55

Amazingdave!

I'd pretty much come up with a very similar solution - some pictures of how you did it would be excellent.....

Many thanks

Post by **kathyshack** » 14 Jan 2007, 20:21

could I also see the pics please?
pied piper, how old is your little one, and what is this hanging cot you mention? Do you mean one of those bunk things that goes accross the front seats?
thanks,
kathy

Post by **piedpiper** » 15 Jan 2007, 21:02

Hi Kathy,

The 'hanging cot' was another of my heath-robinson-esque devices. It uses the poles that go across the van for the hammock / bunk thing that goes across the front seats.

A sheet of ply hung by tarpaulin type material and closed at the ends to make an open box (cot) about 450 mm deep hanging just above the passenger seat from the passenger door up to the gearstick / steering wheel.

The little one went in this from about 4 months (when we bought our van) until he was able to stand up and fall over the edge at about 10 months (we use a baby sleeping bag - grobag type of thing which tends to inhibit too much escape activity).

Hope this helps - if you want any piccys let me know.... If you want to stump up the postage you can have ours if interested (or collect if passing Bedford).

Pete

Post by **kathyshack** » 15 Jan 2007, 21:48

Hi Pete,
Would love to see some pics if its not too much trouble.
thanks

Post by **ricvw** » 15 Jan 2007, 21:49

Hi we used cargo net in are old bay westy it kept are little ones in and the boys like taz devil,he did make a bid for fredom one night and the net held up fine I think we used bunge straps as well.

Post by **piedpiper** » 16 Jan 2007, 08:57

Hi Kathy,

No probs, I'll get some photos for you but may not be 'till the weekend....

P

Post by **amazingdave** » 16 Jan 2007, 21:57

Hiya,

I'll try to get some snaps taken in the morning and mail you them...

I might be off work tomorrow, the little mite's come down with a lurgie.

Dave