Camp Baby Sleeping Setups

[R_Lefebvre]

Ok so... camping with an infant. Nights possibly cold. What options do we have? I'll be camping in a large Maggiolina if that matters.

I need some sort of mini-crib to put her in. I guess co-sleeping makes a lot of sense for warmth, but worries about crushing her in my sleep.

I saw this thing at Toy'r'us, it was like a folding little mini-crib thing that was actually intended for co-sleeping at home. Just some foam walls and fabric. I think that might work because we use a queen-size sleeping back in the Maggiolina.

 

[Corey]

What about the new cargo nets from Mike for the Maggiolinas?
Suspend her from the ceiling hammock style

The X and I took both our sons camping when babies, we had small down sleeping bags for them handed down from my sister when her two sons were small.

 

[Herbie]

There's also the PeaPod infant travel bed:
http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5
I saw these at Babies-R-Us and I think I've seen it mentioned as used by others on here also.

I've got camping reservations for 4th of July weekend which is providing a suitable motivation to keep myself moving on building my camping van. If I get the main bed built but don't manage to get the pop-top installed, then we'll either co-sleep the three of us in the main bed or get one of the PeaPods and put it on a board stretched across the front seats or the floor next to the bed. If I get the pop-top done, then I'll go upstairs and wife/baby will co-sleep downstairs.

The long-term plan is for the pop-top to be "Annika's Loft" for her use along with any friends or eventual siblings, but obviously we won't be putting an infant up there while she's still rolling around...

 

[91runner]

We have a portable bed from walmart that could work. Has pop up soft sides and a little mattress probably similar to what you found at toys r us.

 

[BIGdaddy]

There's also the PeaPod infant travel bed:
http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5
I saw these at Babies-R-Us and I think I've seen it mentioned as used by others on here also.

I've got camping reservations for 4th of July weekend which is providing a suitable motivation to keep myself moving on building my camping van. If I get the main bed built but don't manage to get the pop-top installed, then we'll either co-sleep the three of us in the main bed or get one of the PeaPods and put it on a board stretched across the front seats or the floor next to the bed. If I get the pop-top done, then I'll go upstairs and wife/baby will co-sleep downstairs.

The long-term plan is for the pop-top to be "Annika's Loft" for her use along with any friends or eventual siblings, but obviously we won't be putting an infant up there while she's still rolling around...

These are freakin' awesome. our girls have inflateable air matresses that they love to sleep in, but one of these would be perfect for the baby for a long while...

ahhh, Rob. babies and RTT. been there, done that.

It's either ground tents(turbo tent?) or camper vans for us now. RTT's become very hassle-y with kids plural.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

There's also the PeaPod infant travel bed:
http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5
I saw these at Babies-R-Us and I think I've seen it mentioned as used by others on here also.

Those are cool, I think I want to get one for my son now!
Even in a hotel room, that would probably be faster/easier than setting up his pack 'n play that we have used in the past.
Of course, he could easily escape that PeaPod, and get me up when he wakes up at 5:30 am... I don't think it would take him long to go through the zippers... lol

 

[datrupr]

I like the looks of the Pea Pod too. I have been thinking about a sleeping solution for junior when he comes. I want to get out and camp when he is strong enough to hold his head up, so I'm thinking in June sometime. I might have to check out the Pea Pod.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

The peapod was my first idea. But at 48x30, it takes up WAY too much real estate in the Maggiolina. For a large family tent, it would be perfect.

What I'm thinking is something like a... small... dog's bed. Stick it between us in the bed.

I wonder how old they should be before they sleep in the lower section of the trailer I built for them. Phil will be 4. Just a little nervous about it. It will have a dead-bolt from the inside, we'll have (many) keys.

 

[greenmeanie]

We started my son when he was 6 months old and he's almost 4 now. Our 9 month old will go for her first camp trip at easter. We sleep in a large family tent which is laid out with as a central space with two 'bedrooms', one off each sides.

From the very beginning we used our surplus adult equipment for him to sleep on. We have a couple of 2/3 length thermarests, an adult down sleeping bag zipped open and laid flat all below him, a cotton sleeping bag that zips up and buttons over his shoulders or fleece pygamas and a fleece blanket on top. He has always been snug, even in sub zero temps.

We simply create a perimeter round his sleeping area with our packs and he is reasonably contained.

Its simple, doesn't take up undue room in th tent or in the truck and, above all, it cost nothing as everything is either used at home or our surplus gear.

 

[Rev]

great thread. We have a 3.5 month old. We would like to camp this summer and we wondered about sleeping arrangements.

I am also concerned about cold temps at night.

 

[Pskhaat]

I guess co-sleeping makes a lot of sense

Yep.

 

[greenmeanie]

We tried co-sleeping and discovered that nothing wriggles in the night like a 6 month old. Nobody got a good night's sleep which made everyone pretty miserable so it was better to have them sleep close but separated.

 

[john101477]

There's also the PeaPod infant travel bed:
http://www.kidco.com/main.taf?p=4,5
I saw these at Babies-R-Us and I think I've seen it mentioned as used by others on here also.

awe crud now i gotta go buy another thing to camp in lol. We just bought the Big Agnes flying Diamond and that little thing looks like it would fit perfect in the small secondary room.

 

[Brian McVickers]

Rob,

Any sort of stand alone or separated sleeping enclosure will be too cold. I think even a basinet will get too cold.

Ideally you'll need to have your infant in your sleeping bag with you for warmth but then, as you mentioned, you run the risk of rolling or laying on top.

How about this, it's called the secure sleeper and looks like it could fit right in your bag or under the covers with you:

Another good, and inexpensive, solution is a four sided baby changing pad combined with a full body sleeper for the infant. Some of the baby changing pads have four sides and others just have two. You may also like some of them that have extra bolsters that can be velcroed into place, these are most usefull if the infant is still so young it does not have full head or trunk control to keep itself from rolling around uncrontrollably.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

McVick, that secure sleeper is exactly what I was thinking of. I saw those at Toys'r'us. I think if we put that between us in the queen-size sleeping bag, with her in an additional fleece sleeper thing, that would work. The change pad is another really good idea. Thanks. These things should also help with the wriggling.

Not to suggest this is the be-all-end-all for everybody. Just for our situation with the somewhat cramped Maggiolina. I really like those Pea Pods for warm weather in a big tent.

The little swaddling sleeping bag thing wouldn't work. She likes her arms above her head. Doesn't like to be swaddled anymore.

Now it still leaves the question about the 4 year old boy. Last year, he slept in his own sleeping bag on his own mattress in the family tent in the height of summer. No problem with warmth. When we camped in September, it was quite cool. Probably 40F at night. In that case, we all slept in the Magg, with him simply between us in the queen-bag. The wriggling was a problem though.

So now with the baby between us... where does Phil go? I have thought he could sleep between us, rotated 180° at the foot of the bed, in his own little bag on top of our bag. Or is he ready for his own space? I'm sure he'd be fine down there alone, meaning, he won't be afraid. It's more ME that's afraid. He'd be directly below us, behind a plywood wall, with a hatch that locks with a dead bolt. I think he'd be safe from anything at night. My only fear would be him getting up and wandering off or something. Or, what if an electrical fire started in that compartment? I guess I could put a battery operated smoke detector. That would help a lot! And I've seen battery operated, wireless door chimes. We could hear if he opened the door for some reason.

My plan with the trailer was, when he's 6, Elise will be 3, the 2 of them can stay down there, no worries. But is 4 too early? I think a smoke detector would give me huge peace of mind. As would a door chime.