Toddlers sleeping on board

We may be having a 15 month old grandchild sleeping on board soon and I was
wondering if anybody has some tips about converting a bunk to a temporary
cot.
I thought about building a complete cot-side framework, but it seems a bit
OTT and difficult to store when not in use (don't say take it home - we
travel by bus and train).


--
JOhn

NB Ernest (that one, not the other one)

John Gwalter wrote:
> We may be having a 15 month old grandchild sleeping on board soon and
I was
> wondering if anybody has some tips about converting a bunk to a
temporary
> cot.
> I thought about building a complete cot-side framework, but it seems
a bit
> OTT and difficult to store when not in use (don't say take it home -
we
> travel by bus and train).
>
>
> --
> JOhn
>
> NB Ernest (that one, not the other one)

Have you considered using a drawer as a temporary cot? You should be
able to make a safe and snug berth for a 15 month old in a large
drawer.

Regards

Howard Anguish

"John Gwalter" <group.stoppage@gwalter.co.uk> wrote in message
news:386hdvF5lmha7U1@individual.net...
> We may be having a 15 month old grandchild sleeping on board soon and I
> was
> wondering if anybody has some tips about converting a bunk to a temporary
> cot.
> I thought about building a complete cot-side framework, but it seems a bit
> OTT and difficult to store when not in use (don't say take it home - we
> travel by bus and train).
>
>
> --
> JOhn
>
> NB Ernest (that one, not the other one)
>
>


I found that putting padding on the floor in a thin cosy place, the the
'little one' cannot fall out of bed

roy

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 17:29:35 -0000, "John Gwalter"
<group.stoppage@gwalter.co.uk> wrote:

>We may be having a 15 month old grandchild sleeping on board soon and I was
>wondering if anybody has some tips about converting a bunk to a temporary
>cot.
>I thought about building a complete cot-side framework, but it seems a bit
>OTT and difficult to store when not in use (don't say take it home - we
>travel by bus and train).

What are the bunks made of? I presume there are two, with the child to
be put in the lower.

I'd suggest some strong netting (or "Anything reticulated or
decussated at equal distances, with interstices between the
intersections"), of small mesh, attached to the base of the lower
bunk. Then attach some hooks to the base of the upper bunk such that
selected, er, interstices can be hooked over them.

Those plastic picture-hooks might be used and could be left in place
afterwards; the net itself could be left in position, rolled up
tightly and attached to the lower bunk, until the next time.

Small mesh might prevent anything vital from getting caught in it.

bjg

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 17:29:35 -0000, "John Gwalter"
<group.stoppage@gwalter.co.uk> wrote:

>We may be having a 15 month old grandchild sleeping on board soon and I was
>wondering if anybody has some tips about converting a bunk to a temporary
>cot.
>I thought about building a complete cot-side framework, but it seems a bit
>OTT and difficult to store when not in use (don't say take it home - we
>travel by bus and train).

Have a google for "lee cloths", used by sailors to stop people falling
out of bed when the boat is tilted the wrong way (while sailing
overnight). The cloths can be stored under the mattress when not in
use.

Here's one mention:

http://www.reachtheworld.org/follow_the/sleeping.shtml

I think I'd prefer netting for a toddler, though, (a) because it might
feel claustrophobic if it couldn't see out while trying to get to
sleep, (b) because parents or guardians might prefer to be able to see
in to check after it has fallen asleep and (c) because air culation
might be better with netting. Nonetheless, designs for lee cloths
might be adapted.

bjg

John Gwalter wrote:

> We may be having a 15 month old grandchild sleeping on board soon and
> I was wondering if anybody has some tips about converting a bunk to a
> temporary cot.
> I thought about building a complete cot-side framework, but it seems
> a bit OTT and difficult to store when not in use (don't say take it
> home - we travel by bus and train).

Sling a line taut between the end bulkheads at the height you want the
cot-side. Lay a double sheet under the mattress, bring the side of it up
over the line and back under the mattress. Improvement would be to sew the
line into the edge of the sheet and instead of a sheet use canvass and
instead of the line use a pipe - now you've got a pipe cot!

regards

David

Brian J Goggin wrote:
> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 17:29:35 -0000, "John Gwalter"
> <group.stoppage@gwalter.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> We may be having a 15 month old grandchild sleeping on board soon
>> and I was wondering if anybody has some tips about converting a
>> bunk
>> to a temporary cot.
>> I thought about building a complete cot-side framework, but it
>> seems
>> a bit OTT and difficult to store when not in use (don't say take it
>> home - we travel by bus and train).
>

If you can get hold of an old cot your sorted, that's what I used when
the kids where babies, just used the bars, other types of saftey rails
can be bought for young children, L shaped so they tuck under the
mattress, try Mothercare. Could be stored the other way round against
the bulk head of the boat.

K

Mike & Krystyna
tug Draco
http://www.draco.org.uk

Thank you all for such useful, prompt and entertaining replies.


--
JOhn

NB Ernest (that one, not the other one)

John Gwalter wrote:
> We may be having a 15 month old grandchild sleeping on board soon and
> I was wondering if anybody has some tips about converting a bunk to a
> temporary cot.
> I thought about building a complete cot-side framework, but it seems
> a bit OTT and difficult to store when not in use (don't say take it
> home - we travel by bus and train).

To stop our kids falling out of bunks, we used a couple of Mothercare net
covered frame thingies, which have "legs" that are inserted under matress.
Dunno if they are still made, we ended dumping ours, along with the todler
lifejackets, as I got sick of trying to give them away.

--
Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest
Follow the travels of the TNC at : http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk