Where do we put our baby please?

[mistermoo]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone with kids out there had any ideas where we can put our 1 year old when we sleep in our high top please?.... When she was smaller last year, we used a small carry cot which we were able to sit on the table in the cab. This was ideal cos' we could still cook and get drunk etc while she was sleeping. We'd really have to cram her in the same cot now to do this which wouldn't be good. We don't want to put her in the high top yet as she's still a bit little to go up there on her own I reckon. I was thinking of making something out of wood that fits over the front 2 seats and just putting a mattress on top. Or maybe you can get small travel cots I don't know.
Any experience of this anyone please? This post must be tedious to those without kids!!
Cheers
Paul

[jonno]

Have a look at the subject "Bluebird Hammock bunk" lower down on the page there are some ideas there.

Our daughter Olivia is 8 and she sleeps across the front seats as you mention with a board and foam base. I'm sure you could use the same idea for a baby

Jonno

[Mocki]

grandparents

[amazingdave]

We put ours in the hightop from 1 year, fitted a soft mesh panel that clipped up to the roof to stop him fallin out...

Loves having a space that's just for him (and his bear).

We do all our evening cooking in the awning now, or have an early tea...

Once they can fiddle with stuff the front seats option gets a bit tricky (hazard lights mysteriously flashing in the night etc.)

Dave

[lloyd]

Both cab cot and rear cot pic here:
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 9&start=15

[blackfairykitten]

Cool pics of cute beds, we have decided to do the same as Dave we're gonna put our 15 month old little girl in the pop top and use either a mesh or a bed guard to keep her in. I think she'll be fine as she's used to own room and not being able to see anyone!

[woodman]

We put ours behind the r & r bed ( with the bed in the "seat" position/upright). Then closed curtains back/sides and added a cargo net with blanket in the gap between the r&r bed and the roof.Works like a self contained cot! Just remember to lock the tailgate.

[meggles]

grandparents

Oh dear!

[mistermoo]

Thanks for all the ideas. Grandparents are too far away sadly!

We went for putting her behind the R and R seat last night but ended up bringing her in bed with us when she woke up later. It was a bit crammed with three of us in the bed, she's going in the high top next time! I think she's a bit little for the hammock idea yet but I really like the bed you built over the bed at the back of the van....may give this a go. We now have another on the way - are we mad or what........

[lloyd]

the bed over bed in back is what I did with mine. Was great... Easy to check on them if they fussed during the night. Is also great place to put things when traveling... or parked up.

[andylekker]

i went for one in the back too

if you have a parcel shelf in the back you can fit a cot mattress on there. ( i had to make a new parcel shelf because mine was missing - 12mm ply with a couple of small batons for strength)


Babydan also do a bed rail ( to stop kids falling out of bed ) this fits nicely into the gap and should stop them falling out the open side
http://shop.babyworld.co.uk/DisplayDeta ... prodid=438

well thats the theory - i'll let you know how it goes and post a photo if it works!

[Foxy]

We had our maiden voyage in our new van this weekend. We put our 18 month old in the high top with an adapted 'Safety 1st' bed guard designed for a single bed that our brother in law gave us. We had to drill an extra hole in the pole to make it a bit narrower but it worked. The Baby Dan one looks better and lighter.
(He slept up there all night - once he finally went to sleep!!)

Let us know what you choose.

[andylekker]

i went for one in the back too

if you have a parcel shelf in the back you can fit a cot mattress on there. ( i had to make a new parcel shelf because mine was missing - 12mm ply with a couple of small batons for strength)


Babydan also do a bed rail ( to stop kids falling out of bed ) this fits nicely into the gap and should stop them falling out the open side
http://shop.babyworld.co.uk/DisplayDeta ... prodid=438

well thats the theory - i'll let you know how it goes and post a photo if it works!

the parcel shelf thing worked great! - took our 18month old baby a little getting used to and reassurance but she slept fine once she had wound down a little as she was very excited about the whole camping thing.

for a small baby (that cant stand up) those samsonite travel cot tent type things are great - the small one fits on the passenger seat pedestal if you cut a board for it to sit on and bungee the board down - and you have to find somewhere to put the seat once you have detached it!

[Rusty Red]

Hi we've two wee joys 8 and 1 the older wild fidgeting eight year sleeps in the hitop alone. Last summer we had Toby (6months ) on a parcel shelf home made cot built around a bought cot mattress, much like the travel cot idea.Cloth sides, netting mesh window and zip opening .This was over a 3/4 rnr bed, but I got sick of the kicking the parcel shelf.
This year (Toby 18months) in the same cot with sides, and a wood base is suspended over the front seats on curtain poles high enough to sit up but not enough room to escape. This area curtains off to become his own wee bed room and means we can still sit in and use the van after hes in bed. So if you feel a little Blue Peter
Dougal

[jed the spread]

mum and kid in bed, dad in the hightop with loads of room. it has worked for us on our travels, www.freewebs.com/ababyonboard

jed