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Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 11/3/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by Liddenham on 11/3/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 10/3/2009

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There is a lot to be said for a large sturdy cardboard box (check for staples) wedged between two bunks and with a mattress made from a couple of layers of cheap cellular foam sleeping mat, cut to size.

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I usually agree with all your suggestions, Val, but not this one. At nine months old, everything will be going into her mouth and to provide a cardboard box and thin foam sleeping mat for a toddler, who will then be out of sight, is just asking for trouble. It is a choking hazard, just waiting to happen....

 

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Thick box cardboard is pretty strong stuff...my lot used to chew it all the time, but I don't recall any of them managing to bite bits off. I was thinking of the sort of box that a fridge or waching machine came in...I wouldn't like to try chewing a bit of that off, and my teeth are excellent.

As to the matting I wasn't suggesting you use it bare. Enclose it in a single duvet cover or something folded underneath.

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have to agree with Liddenham on this one  my daughter would suck the whole box to bits within a matter of hours. My son on the other hand would have ignored the box if a teething ring was in there with him. All children are different and my two are like chalk and cheese when it comes to chewing things.

As for my son getting in the bed with my daughter I don't think that is a good idea as he would smother her without realising he was doing it.

Well, I've not tried the box method myself, must admit. It's a tried and tested method over on the Dark Side ie the caravan forum though.

Actually, it might be worth asking the travel cot question over there...there might be some specialised piece of equipment that us tenters know nothing about?

may I suggest you find out the make, model & year of manufacture of the van you will stay in - thus making the company make a decision - then, somehow - either through the holiday company website, or the manufacturer, find out the dimensions of the bed your baby will sleep in, & then buy a baby gate to put up as a cotside - we looked to do the same thing for our tourer, but father in law built it for us.

Otherwise, given I know how much 9 month olds move - ours nearly fell off our bed the other evening -  perhaps, invest in a really good monitor, get baby off to sleep on your bed & when asleep put baby into the travel cot with a sensor monitor in place, so you only have to move the cot, rather than wake baby, & put the cot into the lounge area with the sensor on, so you'll know if baby's upset, but equally will hear if sibling gets up & wakes baby.  Yes, travel cots are bulky & a pain in static caravans, but not sure what else you can do

Thanks to everyone who has replied and we have now solved the problem.

We will be staying in a chalet so we can now fit the cot in the master bedroom until we need to go to bed.

OK, here are my suggestions.

In the buggy on lie flat mode in the corridoor/your bedroom, then transfer. We use a buggy shade so its all dark in the buggy but you wouldnt need indoors if there is somewhere dark. For outside or light rooms we use a 'protectabub'. You can make it very dark and they can still breathe. On holiday we go out in the evening or nap time with her all tucked up asleep after a little walk. It can also be used as a sunshade.

Phil n teds travel cot, good cross between the pop up and big tank like travel cots, may squash in somewhere or can go in the corner of the room with the top shade on to keep it dark. We have pushed the travel cot into a dark corner, half in the bathroom, then just had TV on quiet, lamps on. This does mean having to keep a little quiet but I dont find she gets disturbed easily once asleep so we just make it quite dark and quiet for the first half hour or so.

Have you seen the phil n teds 'wriggle wrapper' - handy device for make shift high chair and you can also strap them to the bed! You could do the same with a Mei Tai or a wrap (cloth sling) if you are careful and keep an eye out. I would only use something like this once they were sound asleep so as not to frighten them,

ps. I sound like I work for phil and teds- i dont but I do scour the market for handy solutions!

Durr: why was your last post not there when I just looked, or perhaps I missed it. Anyway perhaps this may be useful for someone else some time!