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Old 02-20-2017, 11:58 AM   #1
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Toddler in a corner bunk

What kinds of things have you guys/gals come up with for keeping your Tot in the lower bunk without making it feel like you're caging up you kids?

We have a Grey Wolf 26DBH, so the entire lower bunk is enclosed with the exception a 30" wide opening to get in. My biggest concern about putting anything across it is being able to get out in a hurry if we need too (Fire or Carbon Monoxide.)

Thank!

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Old 02-20-2017, 12:39 PM   #2
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How old is the toddler?
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Old 02-20-2017, 12:45 PM   #3
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He'll be 2 in May.

He sleeps extremely well in his crib at home, so we don't know exactly when we're going to transition him to a toddler bed at home, but our last experience with his pack n play did not go well.

It's also under consideration because we will now be taking our 70 Goldendoodle camping with us whereas in the past, he's stayed with relatives on our adventures....so space will be a little more of a premium.
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Old 02-20-2017, 12:55 PM   #4
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Ok, yeah- 2 is a tough age. Re-enforcing "stay in your bed" only works so well and by the 17th time out of bed, you're ready to pull your hair out. You'll get a ton of parenting advice on a post like this- mostly from older folks who will recommend you just smack his butt.

I think I'd go the cage route and hinge it on the bottom. Make it tall enough that it isn't an entrapment hazard (though that does mean a determined tike could climb out). Make the catches simple enough that in an emergent situation, it isn't hard to undo. And worst case, don't overbuild it to be able to yank like heck to break the frame.
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Old 02-20-2017, 01:09 PM   #5
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I agree.

Build it tough enough to contain the little angel but not so tough that you can't tear it out in an emergency.
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Old 02-20-2017, 01:43 PM   #6
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My opinion is to just let him go. You'll be fine.
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Old 02-20-2017, 01:53 PM   #7
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For what it's worth, my solution is to put a pillow or anything to create a very soft crash landing if the little one falls or climbs out. Some little tikes have been know to fall out of bed and not even wake up.

Good luck, I wouldn't worry to much about it unless mom and dad sleep like a rock and wouldn't know if the little one was awake or not.
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:06 PM   #8
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We started camping with my twin girls when they were about that age.

My wife would sit in the camper until they fell asleep around 7 or so, while I started dinner.

Once they were out, they were out.

Get a swing down bed rail to keep him in bed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0070WGV9K/

Also, side suggestion. We found using tree tagging or caution tape to make a barrior around our campsite. "don't go past the orange tape" is a lot easier for a young child to understand than "don't go too far".

We'd get some stares for our oddly decorated site, but it worked great.

Edit - also, get an alarm or chain for your door, sonic he DOES get out, and you are asleep, he can't take off.
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:08 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buffalohunter View Post
Good luck, I wouldn't worry to much about it unless mom and dad sleep like a rock and wouldn't know if the little one was awake or not.
I think the fear in both myself and my wife is that with 2 dogs and a toddler, that we may never sleep unless "everyone" is confined to a spot! We also have a Dachshund that we lock in the front bedroom with us to keep her from jumping up and down waking up the baby. Life's an adventure with us!
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:09 PM   #10
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I'm with buffalohunter... and you might think of putting something that makes a loud noise under the pillow /pad so when the 2yr old figures out how to escape, everyone will know.....
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:10 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lugoismad View Post
We started camping with my twin girls when they were about that age.

My wife would sit in the camper until they fell asleep around 7 or so, while I started dinner.

Once they were out, they were out.

Get a swing down bed rail to keep him in bed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0070WGV9K/

Also, side suggestion. We found using tree tagging or caution tape to make a barrior around our campsite. "don't go past the orange tape" is a lot easier for a young child to understand than "don't go too far".

We'd get some stares for our oddly decorated site, but it worked great.

Edit - also, get an alarm or chain for your door, sonic he DOES get out, and you are asleep, he can't take off.
Thanks for the suggestion, but that rail is going to be way too wide for our opening....I can't remember for sure, but it's close to 28"-30" wide. When he was an infant, he slept like a rock. Now he wakes up when we walk by in the hallway at home with the doors closed!
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:16 PM   #12
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One of my daughters is autistic, and likes waking up in the middle of the night and exploring.

We out these on the doors so she can't leave the camper without waking us up.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00178HMCI/
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:17 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by JustB_Rad View Post
Thanks for the suggestion, but that rail is going to be way too wide for our opening....I can't remember for sure, but it's close to 28"-30" wide. When he was an infant, he slept like a rock. Now he wakes up when we walk by in the hallway at home with the doors closed!
They make them in adjustable widths. The one we had would go down to 24" wide.
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:28 PM   #14
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They won't be little for long... You could do this....

[IMG]img_2095[/IMG]

or this...

[IMG]img_2545[/IMG]
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:31 PM   #15
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No pics...

Click image for larger version

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Attachment 1
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:33 PM   #16
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I'm losing it...

Click image for larger version

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Old 02-20-2017, 02:35 PM   #17
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you can buy short bed rails that will fit there that slide under the mattress: Kids & Toddler Bed Rails - Babies"R"Us
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:38 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lugoismad View Post
They make them in adjustable widths. The one we had would go down to 24" wide.
Oh! Awesome! Thanks!
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Life is good...Live it!
Nights Camped - (2014) - 16 in 6 trips (2015) - 20 in 6 trips
(2016) - 21 in 7 trips
(2017) - 12 in 3 and going seasonal for at least the rest of the year!
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Old 02-20-2017, 02:39 PM   #19
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I'm losing it...

Attachment 130281
He does enjoy crawling into the dogs crate....in full view of the patio door at home. I'm afraid the neighbors will see an I'll find CPS at my door someday!
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2016 Grey Wolf 26DBH following a 2014 RAM 1500 Outdoorsman

Life is good...Live it!
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(2016) - 21 in 7 trips
(2017) - 12 in 3 and going seasonal for at least the rest of the year!
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Old 02-20-2017, 03:28 PM   #20
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This is what we used...

When my guys were small, we used these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CCKC108...dv4512w_b&th=1

Peapod travel toddler bed. It's basically a small pop-up tent that has an air mattress (don't need to use if it's sitting on a bunk) inside a tent that cannot be unzipped from the inside. It's very small when packed, and sets up quick.

I would however try to fasten the top of the tent to the bottom of the upper bunk so the toddler cannot push on the tent wall and get the bed to roll.

With it's small size you can bring it along as a backup if you get tired of trying to get them to sleep in the bed unconfined.

When my guys got a little older, I had issues with them rolling out of bed and falling to the floor (many times they didn't wake up - I'd just find them on the floor in the morning). I then used a Toddler Bed Wedge: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Bumpers...dler+bed+wedge

I'd put the wedge UNDER the mattress at the entry to the bunk. Made it so they had to climb over it to get in and out. Worked like a charm.

We also used an alarm on the door to make sure that they didn't get out of the camper unnoticed.

One more complication of camping with toddlers (or my oldest autistic child) - they had a remarkable proclivity for turning on the stove propane valves while your back was turned (with three small children, something was always happening). The only way we could stop it was to shut the propane off at the cylinders whenever we weren't cooking or showering.

Eventually, we bought a coach that had an all-electric kitchen. Made life much easier...

Hope this helps!
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