Caravaning with babies

[Kevin_5128842]

We're thinking of buying our first caravan, but having a 10 month old baby, we can't work out where she'll sleep, without blocking the entrance to the awning/entrance to the bathroom etc. (We think the travel cot would do this) Has anybody got experience of taking a baby caravaning. If so, any tips would be gratfully accepted.

 

[cokey1970]

Hi Kevin.

We first took our son caravanning when he was 14 months old and initially he slept on the bottom bunk using the normal seating cushions. We would also spread a liberal amount of cushions on the floor just in case he fell out. It wasn't ideal but seemed to work okay.

A lot of people recommend the Tomy bedguard that can bought in places such as Argos for

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

hi, i have a 4 year old that is the size of a 1 year old because he was only 14oz when he was born.

he sleeps on the bottom bunk with a bedguard he has a normal sleeping bag now. he did have a thomas bed that martin was speaking about but we found the thomas bed didnt fit properly onto the bottom bunk so we just got him a small child sleeping back but i wouldnt recommend that for a baby. just blankets and bedding stuff from the cot from home with a bedguard and see how you get on. the baby will adapt belive me.

we got our 1st van in sept 05 and go away at least 2 weekends out of 4. we love it and i have been so converted into caravanning.

you and your family will enjoy it so good luck.

jo-anne

 

[DaveBev]

WE have been caravanning with all our 3 kids as babies. we used the travel cot for the awning and then dave made a rail like the side of a cot and then placed some fixings on the single bottom bunk, that were placed on each side of the wood, just under the cushions, and then put the other part of the fixings on to the side of the rail ( i can't remember what they are called).

then at night we just made the bottom bed up and slotted the rail into place. at the top of the rail there was an eye and this just slotted in on the hook that he had fixed onto the wall, this then made it secure for when the kids stood up and lent on the rail.

this was just a home made version and they might be something better on the market but it did the trick till they were old enough not to have to use the rail.

bev

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

hi, great idea dave and bev didnt think of that one to take the travel cot with you and use it in the awning for the little one to play and use toys.

 

[DaveBev]

We got fed up of tripping over toys and you know what they are like getting places where they shouldnt be, like trying to get underneath the van, was a lot easier with the travel cot for the awning, shame now thery are bigger ( 7,9 and 12) that we cant do the same with them, would be so much easier!!

Bev

 

[joanne_5119923]

i posted a similar question on this forum a couple of months ago as we had just brought our 1st van and have a (then) 21 month old daughter who still sleeps in a cot. The advise i was given was the tomy bedgaurd for the bottom bunk. I went on ebay but with posting and packing it was still coming to about 20 pounds. I eventually brought one from Argos, cost 19.99. We have recently been away for a week, and i would make the bed up like at home with sheet and quilt, and slot the bedgaurd in place, my daughter slept all night. I was really worried about this and was considering having her in our bed but didn't want to set a prescedent as at home she would expect the same! But I needn't have worried, she took a little time to sleep as was all a little strange for her, but like the previous person said, children adapt really quickly. Hope this helps. p.s when we set up the bedgaurd we had to take off the long poles that usually go under the matress due to the small width of the bed, however it still works fine.

 

[LadyMaureen]

Kevin,

I've just been reading a brochure which might interest you.

www.riverswayleisure.co.uk

They are selling bunk safety nets.......if you go on line and type in item no.0067 you will be able to see it.....price

 

[Frederick1]

Hello There, You can get a bed guard, part of it slides under the cushions and the other part stickes up preventig the child from rolling off.