Hiya. I need ideas for sleeping arangements for a baby in a travel trailer. I have just learned that I am pregnant. :D My husband and I have a travel trailer that we were looking into moving into on a permanent basis, due to his field of work that will require traveling soon. The trailer that we have has a queen bed in front, with just enough room to stand sideways between it and a partial wall. In the rear is two bunks. Was thinking of something to go on the bottom bunk since they overlap only on one end, and using the top as a changing station. Any ideas would really help.
Sounds good! Get a bed rail. We also traveled in an RV and put a small toddler cot in the tight spots, so there was no rolling. LOL
Sounds like you have it figured out. I would get a bed rail as well. Who knows, what works and doesn't work may change once you get settled in.
We lived in an RV for about 3 months during our transition from Dallas to Houston.... oh the stories you will have. Good Luck!
If there is not room for a porta crib or a pack and play, you will have to remove the bunk beds and make room for it.
Congratulations on your pregnancy.
We go camping in the summer with my dad and stepmother. We bought a bed rail (a really long one that goes nearly the full length of a twin bed) and put our then 5 month old up in one of the top bunks for bed and naps. Surrounded the top and bottom of the bunk with pillows 'cause he's a mover when he sleeps and likes the corners of his bed. Worked great for us last summer and we will use the same this year when we're out camping. I think we bought this one from Wal-mart ...
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Regalo-Hide-Away-Extra-Long-Bed...
We have a travel trailer. When we started camping we actually had a pop up and our oldest (now 4 1/2yr) was only about 3mo old. We used pool noodles tucked under a sheet around him (hard to explain, but it worked). We only did that one time. The next time we camped we had upgraded to our travel trailor and he was probably not even 1 yet. We put him on the bottom bunk with a bed rail - the one we got works perfect on the space that's open (the bunks back up to the bathroom). With our youngest, we first took him out around 6wks old. We used a co-sleeper (I think it was First Years) and we put it on the dining room table bench (it's right next to out bed which is a slide out). The next time we went he had outgrown that so we moved our oldest to the top bunk and used the bottom bunk with the bedrail for the baby (just turned 1yr). Once they can stand it's a little difficult with the rail if they stand up and push on it and cry to get out - just make sure you get one that you can secure so it doesnt' push off. It's worked well for us and we will cont this till the baby is old enough to not have it. Eventually our oldest did learn how to slide the rail over to get out on his own, but atleast it kept him from falling out of bed :)
Dont know the age of your child but a bed rail might not be safe enough if he/she is under a year old. We had a similar situation years ago and just took a porta crib with us and set it up on the bed. There wasnt enough floor space so this worked great. I had one of the old fashioned ones with wood slats and the little drop side so it made it stable and easy to get to our son when I needed to. It made the mattress of the crib just about the same height of a regular crib on the floor. have fun!
Sounds like this is your first child since there is no mention of finding a spot for any others, correct? In that case, the bed rail seems like your best option. Personally, I would not put pillows in a bed with a little baby as that could cause suffocation especially when they are learning to roll around and don't have the strength to get themselves out of potentially harmful sitautions. Our DD was over one year old before a blanket and toys were even considered. (We come from the 'Naked Crib' mindset). We have a pop up camper and were able to move the table out and put her pack n play in that spot. It was a tight fit but she was safe. If you can get away with a mini bassinet while they are still little, I would try that. Otherwise, fitted sheet on the bed with the railing and maybe some pillows on the floor, just in case. :o) Congrats too!
With both my kids we just dropped the table down on the dinette and put the pack and play there. If there is enough room with a slide you, just put the pack and play on the floor in the main living area if it won't be in the way. Most of the bunk designs I've seen the past few years won't allow for a bedrail unless it is on the top bunk. That's how ours is. You won't want to stand on the bottom bunk as those aren't meant to hold that kind of weight as they are normally a sheet of plywood.
Good luck and congrats on the baby!
S.
