Baby sleeping in a Westy pop top?

Hi all.

I have managed to convince my wife to hire a camper for a few days next month as a taster to buying a van of our own (currently a 62 bug owner), we've booked a Westy (looks like a continental to me). We have a 19 month old daughter who is going to sleep on the double bed in the pop top but am concerned either that with the flap closed she won't get the warmth from the van below or with it open she'll roll out - I'm curious as to what other people have done in this situation? And what about preventing kids rolling on to the side canvas when it's wet and getting soaked? We have booked an awning too but it would be much more fun if we were all in the van. Any suggestions please?

Cheers,

Jon


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Front seat hammock would be better and safer for all.

 

I'd be a honourable man and let the Mrs sleep downstairs with baby and go upstairs myself if I were you

 

^^^^This. Unless your hire bus has fancy Dan seats that don't allow for a front hammock....

 

You wouldn't, the bed in a front hinger is only about 5 ft long.
Another vote for cab bunk, kids love them.

 

And another vote for cab bunk

 

We have our daughter (now 15 months) on the cab bunk in a pop up travel cot: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0014DGU1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
She loves it and sleeps really well

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. The website doesn't mention the cab bunk, I'll ask if it is included. I'd be concerned about her rolling / climbing out of it though - she has a habit of standing up in her cot at home.

I have a mate with a splittie and they put their daughter in the cab bunk but they've had to sew her sleeping bag to it so she doesn't wriggle out.


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Try one of these on the floor.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produ...&gclid=CP-1s9WG-MwCFRDhGwoddXgGgQ#pdpFullDesc

I used to let people borrow one when I rented my camper out.

 

The pop up travel cot I linked to keeps them in place. It's flexible so wedges in against the roof and is all zipped up so there is no escape!

 

Its a tricky age for camping with them - its easier when they are very little (and can be put in a carry cot on the font seat), or just a bit older so they understand that standing up is bad!!

Up top is probably a bad plan at that age - there is a gap down the sides to roll into, zips to the outside world to explore and the magic hatch back to mummy and daddy to try and pry open and jump out of...

Cab bunk is good, its pretty tricky for them to stand on it, as the fabric sags to capture them. That said, at 19 months my experience is that they will be in bed with you and the missus (too hot/cold/dark/scary/exciting etc etc) for the first part of the night, then for the second part of the night you'll give it up as a bad deal and kip on the floor/awning/under the van/contorted in the top bunk etc... Its all fun though!

Form experience it may be more fun to sleep in the awning with the little one in a travel cot - that way they can't escape, and you can still use the van for sitting in, making tea, drinking etc. after they've gone to bed!

 

I slept upstairs in my bay when we took grandkids but it was rear hinge

 

A world of difference, front hinged is tiny and mattress is about 20mm thick.

 

He might be short and light....

 

I just fitted our baby hammock. not used it yet.
Maybe I'll end up sleeping on it. @ 75kg's that's probably not a good idea.

 

I still managed a leg over in my front hinger ......tho was a few years ago ......come to think about it I got a lot more action back then .......

 

Isn't this what grandparents are for?

 

I like the look of the ready bed, will it fit in the floor when the r&r bed is folded out?

I'm keen to have everyone in the van as we camp quite a lot so are used to sleeping under canvas - it's the van side of it that I'm really trying to convince my wife we need and sleeping in the awning would defeat the object a bit.


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It should fit. Make sure its the smaller one as shown. Its 1.3 m long. Some are 200mm longer.
They are good as the sleping bag is fixed to the airbed so the little un can't fall out.