Our in-laws recently gave us an older cab-over camper. We're planning to use it for a few nights camping this summer, and we're trying to figure out the best sleeping arrangement for our 13 month old baby boy. We had thought about putting a pack and play in there on top of the sitting area (where the table would normally be, and a smallish bed sometimes goes) and securing it so it won't tip. Or we were considering getting a bed rail for the top bed (the part that goes over the truck cab.) Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks...
Thank you for all the helpful responses! After looking at all the various options, I think we're going to go with the pack and play in the lower sleeping area... It's sort of the medium-priced option, and I think we'll get more use out of the pack and play (which we haven't purchased yet) than bed rails since we don't know what kind of toddler bed we'll end up getting for him. And I think I won't worry as much as I would have if I had put him in the top part, especially since I won't necessarily be napping with him. Thanks also for the fire alarm suggestion... I hadn't thought of that. Cheers all...
When camping in RV's, we just put the table area down like a bed (minus the cushions) and put the pack-n-play on the flat area. We push it back toward the wall as far as possible, then put the cushions on the floor next to the table area. Hope that makes sense. We've never had a problem doing it this way. Have fun!
We have a tent trailer and twin boys who are almost 3. When they were under a year, we used the pack and plays. Last year we bought 2 Peapod Plus, and have used them for all travel ever since. Just remember to bring a safety pin for when he figures out how to open the zipper.
I use to have a cab over camper... when my daughter was about your sons age we would camp in it. I bought a bed rail that would be for a toddler bed and put it at the end of the bed and my daughter my husband and I slept up there. The camper we had did have a dresser on both sides (a flat door that opened upwards that held clothes) I would put her changing pad mattress there for her to sleep on or we would use a blanket folded in half as a cushion for her to sleep on. it worked great until she was old enough to sleep in the small bed below. even then I would use the bed rail under the cushions so that if she were to roll she wouldn't fall off the bed on the floor.
We have camped in a camper with our children before and the pack n play in the table area is what worked best for us as well. Enjoy and best wishes for your trip.
sleep with him, putting him on the side where he can't roll off
My suggestions are about the same as the others. We just tackled a trip with our 8-month old and 2 1/2 year old. We put the pack and play on the area where the table turns into a bed (without the cushions) and put the baby there (it seemed plenty stable that we didn't have to secure it). We put our older daughter in the bed in the back against the wall and I slept next to her. Any my poor hubby was alone in the bed over the cab!
I grew up with a younger brother and sister and my family had a camper that we used when we went camping for many years. When my brother was small, my mom would bring her bottom drawer of her dresser that was really big and put it up above and he would sleep in it. Of course your little guy could get out now that he is older. Then when we got older she would put a baby gate across the top and keep us up there. There is also a bed that you can buy online at One step ahead. It would work great for the dining area. It is a blow up bed with a zip around tent. Here is the link. I have thought about getting this for my son...he is 2. It can be used indoor or even outdoor. And my son took naps fine during the day when I took him camping. I just had to lay down by him when he was in his crib, until he fell asleep.
Best of luck,
D.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...
When our daughter was a baby, we had a small Motorhome (not much bigger then a camper. We took the pack & play and set it up on the dinnette area that made out into a bed. I felt the safest with her in there. Also, we would put the pack & play outside in some shade for her daytime naps. It was great having a safe clean place to put her during the day and night. Good luck and happy camping.
Hi V., perhaps u could try a secured net for the opening of the top area of camper, kinda like the lil white ones we use to put stuffed animals in but of course bigger? T. mom of 2 boys...
Not sure what a cab-over camper is like inside, but we have a tent trailer and had a similar issue. We ended up putting our son's pack 'n' play over the area where the table and benches are when it is down to make a bed (we removed the cushions) and that works really well for us. We don't need to secure it, as it's a wide space, though. We looked for a bed rail that would fit the slim beds, but nothing was available.
we have a camper as well- here is our sleeping arrangement. We have a 4 year old and a 9 month old so it can be hard..especially since the 9 month old is moving around. We decided since it was only for camping, I would sleep on the top bunk (over cab) with both our kids--baby in the middle) and my husband would sleep where the table is. we talked about a bed rail but part of me just doesn't feel a 100% secure that way either. Basically he doesn't get his naps when we are camping unless it's in the stroller and at night, he's secure next to me. As he gets older, the baby will sleep next to his sister and I can have my hubby back but for now...this is what works for us!!
Good Luck~~
V.,
Try the Phil and Ted's Traveller instead of the usual pack and play. It opens from the side and from the top. I had to get a step stool out to put my little one to sleep in a pack and play because I couldn't reach up and over once it was elevated. The Traveller is also the lightest pack and play on the market--6 pounds!!! This makes it easy to move outdoors if you choose. It also has a covered top with mesh screening to keep bugs and the sun off your baby. The zippers won't be an issue because the pulls are located on the outside. They even give you stakes to attach to the feet for use outdoors. The cost is a little more than most pack and play units, about $150, but it comes with a lot. Have fun camping!
Hi V., I'm assuming that the seating area for the table folds out into a small bed, so would you or your husband consider sleeping there while the other sleeps in the cab over section with your son? I'm probably way off base here and the table area won't work for an adult. If so, forgive me for being obvious. Do you plan on using the table and seating area for eating on? We never do. It's always so cramped. We always eat outside. If you plan on eating outside, you could make that space into your son's personal playpen/bed. Just get some plywood and screws and attach the plywood across the opening of the seating area. You can buy fresh and clean foam rubber from Joann Fabrics or Fred Meyer (to name a few stores that carry foam rubber for camper mattresses) They cost about $15 for a twin size piece. Just cover the foam rubber with a fitted sheet and you've got a nifty little bed. If you need to cut the foam rubber to size, those electric knives that some people use for carving turkeys and other roasts work great on foam rubber. So does any serrated edged knife, but electric goes quicker. Oh ya, be sure to buy a little battery operated smoke detector and screw it into the ceiling of your camper. One of my closest friends is a fire fighter and she tells me that travel trailers, campers and RV's can burn to the ground in just a couple minutes. We have one in ours and I sleep great knowing it's there. Ok, so maybe this wasn't the help you needed, but I hope I helped anyway. Have fun camping!
